Toronto Pearson Intl Airport (YYZ) Flights & Information

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the busiest airport in Canada with more than 44 million travelers passing through its gates each year. It’s also the second busiest airport in North America after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the busiest in the world.

I travel through Toronto Pearson International Airport on a near-monthly basis and while it certainly feels busier than its sister airports in Montreal or Vancouver, YYZ is very well-run and never feels overcrowded or chaotic given its status as such a busy international hub.

If you’re planning a trip to Toronto or perhaps connecting through the airport before continuing onward, you’ll want to read on. The following tips and tricks will make it easy to navigate Toronto Pearson International Airport while taking advantage of everything the mega-airport has to offer.

Arriving at Toronto Pearson airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport is one of the busiest international airports in North America, which means you should anticipate some wait time when checking into your flight or connecting through the airport to get to your next destination. If you’re flying into Toronto from a domestic flight within Canada it won’t be too bad as you’ll skip customs and be on your way to baggage claim or straight out to arrivals.

If you’re flying into YYZ from abroad, you’ll have to go through Canadian customs. The customs and arrival process tends to be pretty fast, even during peak hours. That said, you can expect a fair amount of walking to get from your gate, through to customs and then onward to your domestic connection.

I’m always tired when I land in Pearson and I find the walk to get from my arrival gate to my connecting gate to be pretty tedious. If you have mobility concerns, I would strongly recommend reaching out to the airline you’re flying and requesting assistance – a golf cart or wheelchair is typically available and free of charge.

Getting to and from YYZ by public transportation

Toronto Pearson International Airport isn’t the most conveniently located if you’re looking to get from the airport to Downtown Toronto. There’s a lot of traffic between the airport and the downtown core and as such it makes more sense to take public transportation if you have the ability to shlep your luggage on your own.

The public transportation from the airport into the city isn’t as streamlined as it could be, but it’s worth it if you’re keen to travel economically (like me) and it really isn’t difficult to navigate once you’re on your way.

There are a few different options depending on where you’re going. The TTC will be your main public transportation while in the city and offers express buses that connect to the city via subway, which means you have to connect in order to get into the core of the city.

There’s also GO Transit, which offers express bus services to many of the Toronto suburbs including Hamilton and Pickering. It’s also worth noting that there are express buses that run to satellite cities Mississauga and Brampton.

Getting to and from Toronto airport by car

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is known for its impenetrable traffic – you can expect to sit in the car for a long time while commuting from the airport to the downtown core. That’s why I suggest taking public transportation over hiring a taxi or taking an Uber. It’s hard to say exactly how much a car service will cost but if you get stuck in traffic (which is likely) it’ll really eat into your budget.

The total distance from the Toronto Pearson International Airport to the downtown core is about 15.5 miles and you can expect it to take anywhere from 35 to 60 minutes to get from the airport to your hotel. Sometimes more.

Keep in mind that if you do hire a taxi, you won’t have to worry about being scammed or getting into an unlicensed taxi as it’s heavily regulated in Ontario. The 2 main taxi companies are Beck Taxi and Co-Op Cabs and they’re both safe and reliable. Uber is usually a little less expensive than a cab, depending on where you’re going.

Both taxis and rideshare cars have designated passenger pick-up areas so be sure to follow the signs the make sure you get where you’re going without causing any issues with your driver.

Security lines at YYZ

The security lines at Toronto Pearson International Airport are very efficient and relatively fast given its status as one of the busiest airports in North America. The security lines for both domestic and international flights tend to move pretty quickly – I’ve never waited for more than 20 minutes in line.

It’s worth noting that if you’re flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport into the United States, you’ll cross US customs within the airport before boarding your flight. This is also a relatively quick experience, but you’ll still want to show up within lots of time to make it to your gate.

The airport also offers NEXUS and CLEAR to make it easier to pass through security. You can also take advantage of various travel credit card privileges that often include passing through the VIP security lane.

Free Wi-Fi at Toronto Pearson International Airport

I’m a full-time travel writer and digital nomad so having free Wi-Fi at the airport is extremely important to me. I love that Toronto Pearson International Airport offers unlimited and easy-to-use Wi-Fi all throughout the airport. It’s fast and reliable and you can use it on multiple devices at the same time.

You can connect to the free Wi-Fi by simply selecting “Toronto Pearson Public Wi-Fi” from the drop-down list on your device. You’ll have to agree to the terms and conditions and then you’ll be good to go. You won’t have to go to a sign-up kiosk or use your mobile phone to confirm an SMS or anything like that, which is a huge time-saver.

Souvenir shopping at Toronto airport

The souvenir shopping at Toronto Pearson International Airport is really good, especially if you’re on the international side. You’ll find classic duty-free and souvenir shops throughout the airport where you can shop for items like Toronto Blue Jays caps and Toronto Maple Leafs gear as well as perfumes, alcohol and electronics. You’ll also find more luxury-leaning shops, including Gucci, OMEGA and Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques.

There is also a pretty decent variety of airport convenience stores that range from 7-Eleven to Relay. These shops offer your classic travel essentials that you might have forgotten as well as a variety of snacks and refreshments that are slightly less expensive than buying them from an airport bar or restaurant.

Lounges at YYZ

I will be honest with you: having lounge access makes the whole travel experience much more pleasant. I personally have access to the variety of Air Canada lounges within Toronto Pearson International Airport – there are 6 across terminals – but these are reserved for travelers with Air Canada status, Star Alliance Gold members and those flying business class with a Star Alliance carrier. They tend to be comfortable and well-stocked with hot food, alcohol, snacks and coffee.

There are also a handful of Plaza Premium Lounges accessible to those with Priority Pass and LoungeKey. You can also pay for a day pass when there is availability in these lounges. Finally, there are a handful of airline-specific lounges, including an American Airlines Admirals Club on the US side and a KLM Crown Lounge on the international side.

Service animal relief areas at Toronto airport

If you’re traveling with a service animal or a pet, Toronto Pearson International Airport will make it easy for you and your furry friend to travel comfortably. There are a lot of animal relief areas at YYZ – possibly more than I’ve ever seen at any other airport.

There are a total of 6 relief areas spread out within Terminal 1 and another 6 relief areas in Terminal 3. There are an additional 4 relief areas in the Infield Concourse as well. The animal relief areas are easy to find and are well-equipped to make your pet more comfortable with items like artificial grass and fake fire hydrants.