Toronto Pearson International Airport

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Airport GUIDE

Airport Lounges

Airport WiFi

Airport Hotels

Traveller Comments....

"We spent the night on the floor using our dirty clothes as a way to keep warm." - Kanatagirl

"I thought that I would be surrounded by young people but amazingly, the people sleeping in the terminal all seemed middle aged and middle class... all very respectable" - Danielle

"there were lots of other people sleeping there. The airport staff were friendly. They even provided foamy mats for people to sleep on!" - ?

"Considering I had shared rooms with homeless people at a hostel in Toronto the airport was actually a rather pleasant experience." - Chris

"a very nice security guard there promised she keep an eye on me and my stuff which made me feel a lot more secure. I told her the time I wanted to be woken up and 5 minutes prior to that time she gently shook me and off to check-in I went." - Chris

Recent Review

by nwojewoda
"On my way to London from the US, stayed at the airport (Terminal 1) from around 11pm to 6:30am, in the lounge area that other reviewers have already written about. Had a good sleep, thanks to my sleeping bag, the seating without armrest (I'm 185cm 6'1' and I could stretch my legs, which was awesome!) and a t-shirt on my face to avoid lights. There was some background noise (music at low volume, with occasional announcements which were pretty loud), but other than that it was a pleasant experience. I found seating next to power sockets, which was cool. WiFi was free, which was even cooler. What sucked was the lack of food options in the Terminal (the few that were there were closed or were airside)."

The last review for this airport was in 2011. Have you been there recently? Tell us about it!

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Toronto Airport Guide

Toronto Pearson airport has two terminals - Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 2 was knocked down and I guess they will rebuild in the future.

Terminal 1 is the newer terminal, so considerable effort has been made to make this building as pretty, but sometimes useless, as possible. It is large and airy with lots of wasted space. You'll enjoy privacy here! Many seats landside are armrest-free. There is a free rest lounge at the far end of the terminal beyond aisle N with more armrest-less seats to stretch out on. I think it is called "Q Lounge" or something like that. There is a door and I suspect they lock this at night, so don't count on this space to be your bed for the night. You need not worry though, there is plenty of space in the terminal if you don't mind stretching out on the floor and come prepared with your travel blanket.

Terminal 3 is the older of the two terminals. It is smaller, but comfortable. Again, there are lots of armrest-free seating (see the photo above).

Free WiFi is available. What a difference Free WiFi makes at this airport. I intentionally showed up 5 hours before a recent flight and actually enjoyed this airport for the first time in my life. My one recommendation for this airport would be adding more landside recharging stations.

Staff are friendly and helpful in both terminals with the exception of the US Immigration officers who treat you like a security risk and potential illegal alien. Its one thing to explain your motives for visiting their country when you are actually in their country, but you may just want to cancel your trip after having to explain yourself on your own soil. Yes, if you are flying to the US, you will go through US Immigration in Toronto not in the US.

Overall, as of my November 2011 visit, I really like Pearson Airport. With its free WiFi, armrest-free landside seating and Plaza Premium lounges (airside), this is my personal pick for best airport in North America.

Airport Lounges

There are 10 lounges at the Toronto airport that you can buy your way into:

• Plaza Premium Lounge
  Offers food & beverages, alcoholic drinks, Internet / WiFi and more. Rates: CA$ 30-35 for 3 hours.
  
  • Terminal 1 - Pearson Lounge - Airside, near Gate 177 on Level 3.
  • Terminal 1 - US Transborder - Airside on level 2.
  • Terminal 1 - Domestic - Airside.
  • Terminal 3 - Domestic - Airside, Level 2.
  • Terminal 3 - International - Airside, Concourse C, Level 3, across from Gate C32.
• Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
  • Terminal 1 - Domestic
  • Terminal 1 - Transborder
  • Terminal 1 - International
• American Admiral's Club Lounge- Terminal 3 - Airside, Concourse B
• KLM Crown Lounge - Terminal 3 - Airside, Concourse C, next to Gate 33. Offers beverages (including alcohol), Internet/WiFi, and more. Hours: 1300-2359.

Airport WiFi / Internet

Free wireless internet access is available at the Toronto Airport. Connect to the "Toronto Pearson WIFI" network.

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in the Toronto Airport does not appeal to you, there is a hotel at the airport....

• Sheraton Gateway - connected to the Terminal 3
  The hotel has a 24 hour fitness center with gym, pool, whirlpool, sauna and change room. Purchase a day pass at the front desk for $ 25.

More Services, Facilities and Things to Do at the Airport

• FOOD
  Landside: Tim Hortons is open 24 hours in both terminals. Plenty of good food options are available landside and airside. I prefer the landside options such as Wolfgang Pucks (Terminal 1) or Swiss Chalet (Terminal 3).
  Airside: There are no 24 hour food options.
• Baggage storage / Lockers
  Terminal (Level 3) - hidden at the far end of the terminal behind the A section ticket counters.
  Terminal 3 (Level 2) - located at the center of the airport in the Canada ticket counter. It is hidden behind the ticket counters before entering security.
  Rates are per day, according to size $4 (small), $6 (medium), $8 (large), $10 (extra large). Open 05:00-01:00
• Showers
  Airside in the Plaza Lounge (Terminal 3). See also Sheraton Gateway (in the Nearby Hotels section listed below)
• Prayer Rooms
  ...or the Aviation Interfaith Ministry as it is referred to at the Toronto airport. According to the airport web site, the interfaith centers "provide an oasis for people of diverse faiths to enter into reflection, prayer and quiet time amid the bustle of airport life. " Worship services are offered throughout the day. Rooms are located landside Terminal 1 (Level 1) and Terminal 3 (Level 2)
• Children's Play Areas
  Your little rugrats will be mildly entertained here with a few small play areas available airside.
  Terminal 1 (Level 2) - You'll find them at gates 105, 124 139, 145
  Terminal 3 (Level 2 ) - this play area seems to be an after thought. It is located at the far end of the terminal at C35. Any further away and it would be on the tarmac.
• Art and Exhibits
  Terminal 1 currently offers large scultures (airside), a changing art display (landside) and a dinosaur display (landside). Terminal 3 has a film exhibition created by the Toronto International Film Festival,
  
  

Airport Hours

Open 24 hours

Airport Transportation: Getting There

Public Transportation - The airport is accessible by public transit.

• TTC - 192 Airport Rocket - express bus service to/from Kipling Subway Station. Departs from Arrivals Levels at Terminals 1 and 3. Journey time: 20 min Fare: $3.00. No additional payment at the subway which you will take to continue to downtown. See Schedule here.
  

Express Airport Shuttle Buses
The Airport Express is a direct shuttle link between downtown and the airport.
Journey Time: 30-60 depending on time of day. Fare: $ 20

Taxis
While you can take a taxi to the airport, taxis are not permitted to pick-up passengers. You need to take a Limosine.

Airport Limo
They have set fares according to what zone you are going to. It really annoys me I have to pay $ 50 + tip for a 15 minute ride home.

Airport Transportation: Getting Around

The free 24-hour Link Train connects Terminal 1 and 3.

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Last Updated: 14 Jan 2012 | Sources: Toronto Pearson International Airport

The information in this Airport Guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airport's and their web sites. When you see "information not available" and "unknown", the airport has a lousy web site and/or has been uncooperative in providing information. The information above is subject to change without notice. Use it for informational purposes only to help you during your stay. To report errors, or to add/change any items quoted in the guide, please email me.