FlyerTalk Forums - USA to Canada to USA Cabotage situations / booking (2024)

Is there some reference for this? I have had a several one-day trips US-Canada-US and never really gave it much thought. I do actually have something to do in Canada on those trips, but my take from what you're saying is that doesn't matter. So if there's a magic number of days for "legal", I guess I'd need to watch out for doing those on all AC metal, for example?

3-4 day for TPAC to Guam/Saipan.

In the past, AC configured their websute to alert for 4 hour at the search results level , but I don't see it anymore now. Their engine allows LAX-YYZ-EWR with 3 hour layover, but I haven't gone thru to final page to see if there's a warning

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35141984-post22.html

UA 's website, as far as I can tell, doesnt give you same-day all AC metal (only UA metal options for the second leg), but does if you try next day

Invalid booking = cabotage itinerary. As in AC, for example, roots out any potential cabotage itinerary at booking.

But that's the thing. The law doesn't specify what constitutes an exception to illegal cabotage. It seems obvious to us that if you fly a foreign airline from LAX overseas, and then return 11 months later to SNA, you took two trips; the law is less clear.

Now, the DOT is using common sense and isn't trying to prosecute 11-month stays. But it's up to each airline's lawyers to decide what they're comfortable with. It seems, from the examples posted on this thread, that UA and AC differ. However, AC reserves the absolute right to deny OP transport if they feel the trip constitutes illegal cabotage, even on separate tickets, or even if UA sold it to them. That's why I maintain that this is a question for the AC forum, but also that the issue could be clearly avoided if OP flew AS from SEA to YVR.

Howdy. You cannot book a domestic flight through a second country. This is called cabotage. If you want to do what you propose you’ll need to book two separate itineraries.

-G

You can fly through a second country, that's not the problem. The problem is the foreign carrier. OP can avoid cabotage by having a 24+ hour stopover in Toronto.

If you are finding good award options on YYZ-LAX, you can do one of two things:

1) Buy a separate ticket from EWR-YYZ on operated by UA, and leave sufficient time in between.

2) Buy a separate ticket from EWR-YYZ operated by AC, leave sufficient time in between, and hope AC don't cancel. AC also has flights from LGA and JFK.

AC is not going to sell you a (one) ticket between NY and LA, connecting in Toronto. Non-US carriers are subject to US cabotage rules.

I don't know how diligent AC is about checking, but some carriers will cancel that itinerary even if booked on separate tix because of the cabotage issue. OZ got hit with a pretty hefty fine several years ago (it was actively promoting the illegal connection).

I would be looking at different ways to get from LAX to NYC, including other carriers. AA generally has much better award prices than UA.

Absolutely, positively, 1000% inaccurate.

This is not allowed, even with a stopover. If the fare constructed is USXXX -- Canada -- USXXX, it is illegal. The operating airline will be fined.
Air Canada also will not allow a stopover in this region, so you can forget about it - and US carriers won't sell this at all.
I think you'd struggle to construct such a ticket EVEN in revenue systems.
If the tickets are EWR-YYZ and then YYZ-LAX on two separate ticket numbers, they are unlikely to be problematic (despite others' comments here).

Also the whole thing is just stupid. With the huge plethora of 1 stop connex between NYC and LAX within the US, going via Canada is just ASKING for it.

-G

Not if one segment is flown by a USA flagged carrier. Who tickets is of no consequences.

This is not accurate. The analysis is more nuanced. For anyone who's interested in DOT's reasoning and guidance, including examples of situations that that are or are not likely to give rise to enforcement action, you can read DOT's Order here: https://www.transportation.gov/sites...2002-10-20.pdf

Was looking for some award travel for my in-laws, got an odd option that smells like cabotoge: FCO-ORD-YYZ-LGA (UA-AC-AC), maybe originating EU exempts it but feels like its something that probably shouldn't happen.

That routing is not a problem. You are not allowed to book US to US via Canada. Italy to US vis US/CA is not a problem