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With more than 50 million passengers a year, Toronto Pearson airport (YYZ) is the busiest hub in Canada and the country’s main eastern gateway. Close to 50 airlines connect the airport to over 160 destinations worldwide. In this complete guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to navigate Toronto Pearson International Airport, from ground transportation to lounges, hotels, and credit card perks.
Toronto Pearson International Airport sits at 6301 Silver Dart Drive in Mississauga, Ontario, near the western edge of Toronto. Both Mississauga and Toronto belong to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and the airport is roughly 25 km from the downtown core.
The Union Pearson (UP) Express is the fastest way to travel between the airport and downtown Toronto. The train connects Terminal 1 to Union Station in just 25 minutes, with departures every 15 minutes during service hours. A one-way adult fare starts at $12.35 CAD, and the train also stops at Weston and Bloor stations.
Several public transit operators serve Toronto Pearson airport from both terminals. As a result, you can reach the airport affordably from almost anywhere in the GTA.
Licensed taxis and limos run on fixed zone-based fares. You can hire them at doors C and D in Terminal 1, and at doors D, E, and F in Terminal 3. Uber and Lyft also pick up and drop off passengers at the airport, although a $3.15 CAD airport fee is added to every rideshare trip.
Many nearby hotels offer complimentary 24/7 shuttles to and from both terminals. In addition, the free Terminal Link train runs around the clock between Viscount Station, Terminal 1, and Terminal 3, with direct access to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel and the ALT Hotel.
Toronto Pearson airport has two active terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. They are connected landside by the free Terminal Link train. The original Terminal 2 was demolished in 2007, and that area has since been used to expand Terminal 1. Both terminals handle international, domestic, and US transborder flights.
Terminal 1 is the largest terminal in Canada and one of the biggest in the world by floor space. It serves Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners, plus Air North, Canadian North, and Emirates. The terminal spans four levels:
Terminal 1 has three departure concourses: D for domestic flights, E for international flights, and F for US transborder flights. The D and E concourses are connected airside, while the F concourse is separated because it is a US pre-clearance area.
Terminal 3 is set on three floors and hosts WestJet, Delta, and most Oneworld and SkyTeam carriers. Level 1 handles arrivals, with a Tim Hortons, Subway, Smoke’s Poutinerie, and SIM card kiosks. Level 2 handles check-in and departures, while Level 3 is an airside mezzanine for arrivals and connections.
Terminal 3 has four departure concourses: A for transborder flights, B and C for international and domestic flights, and the Infield Concourse (IFC) used as needed. The B and C concourses are connected airside, while the A concourse is separated for US pre-clearance.
Toronto Pearson hosts close to 50 airlines flying to more than 160 destinations worldwide. Generally, Star Alliance carriers operate from Terminal 1, while SkyTeam, Oneworld, and most other carriers operate from Terminal 3.
Toronto Pearson airport currently operates 14 lounges. Some are open to passengers with a premium cabin ticket or elite status, while others welcome travellers with the right credit card or a paid membership. After security and customs, the airport’s lounges are by far the best place to relax before a flight.
As Air Canada’s main hub, Terminal 1 includes three Maple Leaf Lounges (domestic, transborder, and international), one Maple Leaf Lounge Express near gates F84–F99, an Air Canada Café near gate D20, and the exclusive Air Canada Signature Suite near gate E77.
The Signature Suite is reserved for passengers flying on higher-fare Air Canada business class tickets (fare classes J, C, D, Z, and P). If you booked through Aeroplan, you must hold a Business Class (Flexible) or First Class (Flexible) fare to enter.
Plaza Premium operates six lounges at Toronto Pearson, one in each concourse across both terminals. Cardholders can typically access these lounges with the American Express Platinum Card or with eligible cards via DragonPass. In addition, you can book a lounge visit (and shower facilities) for a fee.
The Air France/KLM Lounge in Terminal 3 welcomes SkyTeam premium-cabin guests as well as Priority Pass and DragonPass cardholders. The American Airlines Admirals Club is open to AA premium-cabin passengers, members, elite-status holders, and selected credit cardholders.
For more lounge access strategies, see our guide to the Best Credit Cards For Airport VIP Lounge Access.
If you fly in a premium cabin, hold elite status, or carry the right credit card, several priority services can speed up your trip through Toronto Pearson airport.
The following American Express cards include Priority Security Lane access at YYZ:
Two hotels sit directly on the airport site. The Sheraton Gateway Hotel is connected to Terminal 3, while the ALT Hotel is at Viscount Station and links to both terminals via the free Terminal Link train. Furthermore, the Sheraton Gateway is a Marriott property, so you can earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points and use Free Night Awards.
Beyond the airport, dozens of nearby hotels offer 24/7 free shuttle service. Many participate in popular loyalty programs, which makes it easy to stack points on top of regular travel rewards.
Car rental options at Toronto Pearson airport are plentiful, with on-site counters at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. In addition, several off-site companies operate near the airport and run shuttles from Viscount Station.
If you arrive from outside Canada, you must meet Canada’s entry requirements, including any required visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA). Even when you only connect between two international flights (for example Amsterdam–Toronto–Cancun), you still need to clear the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at Toronto Pearson airport.
Because Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are not connected airside, any transfer between the two requires you to claim your bags and move them landside via the Terminal Link train. By contrast, when you connect between two international flights in the same terminal on the same day, your bags are typically checked through to your final destination. When in doubt, ask the airline ground staff at check-in or on arrival.
Toronto Pearson airport is Canada’s largest and busiest hub, but a little planning makes it easy to navigate. Confirm your terminal in advance, build in extra time for security and customs, and take advantage of the UP Express train for a quick ride to downtown Toronto. If you travel often through YYZ, the right credit card can unlock lounge access, priority security lanes, and hotel points at on-airport properties — all of which transform a long layover into a comfortable break.
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