Ditch the second leg of a return flight and avoid checked baggage issues

Question

I have a trip coming up with Air Canada for which the itinerary looks like this:

1. YYZ - DXB
2. DXB - YYZ followed by a 14 hour stopover
3. YYZ - EWR

My objective is to end my journey at step 2 while being able to obtain my one checked bag.

The options I could think of so far:

• I can ask the check-in agent in Dubai to check my bag only to YYZ but I don't know if this is even possible.
• In Toronto, when flying to the U.S., one usually has to pre-clear U.S. Customs and so I am hoping I may be forced to pick up my bag before attempting to clear U.S. Customs.

Are any of the above alternatives feasible? Do I have any other options?

Answer 1

Yes, you can do this. When you check in at DXB inform the check in agent that you have a long layover at YYZ and need to get your checked baggage there, and ask them to short check it.

If you don't do this, your baggage will be checked through to EWR, because it's no longer necessary for people transiting YYZ via US preclearance in T1 to go through Canada immigration and recheck their bags landside (except for overnight layovers). Such baggage would end up in the baggage claim in US preclearance, rather than the landside baggage claim where you want it to be.

Note that you'll get your baggage just fine, but the airline will be annoyed at you later, for engaging in "hidden city ticketing".