YYZ Airport Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Flying from Pearson

Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3: Which Airlines Are Where

Pearson has two terminals, and knowing which one you need saves you from that panicked sprint across the airport. Terminal 2 was demolished in 2008 as part of the Terminal 1 expansion — so if someone gives you directions to "Terminal 2," they haven't flown in a while.

Terminal 1 is the larger of the two, handling about 30 million passengers per year. It has three concourses: D (domestic), E (international), and F (transborder/US). Terminal 3 handles about 17 million passengers per year and is the hub for WestJet and most leisure carriers.

Airlines by Terminal

Terminal	Airlines	Concourses
Terminal 1	Air Canada, Air India, Air North, Avianca, Copa Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines	D (domestic), E (international), F (transborder/US)
Terminal 3	WestJet, Delta, Air Transat, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Air France, Korean Air, most other Oneworld & SkyTeam carriers	Single terminal building

The Terminal Link Train (also called the LINK) connects both terminals 24/7. The ride takes 2–8 minutes depending on your stop, and it's free. You'll find it on the arrivals level of both terminals. If you have a connecting flight between terminals, this is how you get there — no need to exit security and re-enter in most cases, though international-to-domestic connections will require re-screening.

Getting to Pearson: All Your Options

This is the section most people need. Getting to and from Pearson is either painless or miserable depending on what you choose and when you're travelling. Here's every option with real pricing:

Transit Options Compared

Option	Cost	Travel Time	Hours of Operation	Best For
UP Express	$12.35 ($9.25 PRESTO)	28 min from Union Station	Weekdays 4:55 AM–1:00 AM; Weekends 6:00 AM–1:00 AM; every 15 min	Downtown travellers, reliability
TTC Route 900	$3.35 (TTC fare)	20–25 min from Kipling Station	Mon–Sat 5:30 AM–2:00 AM; Sun 8:15 AM–2:15 AM	Budget-conscious, west-end travellers
TTC Route 52A	$3.35 (TTC fare)	Varies	Connects from Lawrence West and Eglinton stations	North-end travellers
Uber/Lyft	~$35–55 from downtown	30–60 min (traffic dependent)	24/7	Groups splitting the fare, late-night/early-morning
Taxi	Flat rate ~$60 from downtown	30–60 min (traffic dependent)	24/7	Guaranteed pricing, no surge

When Each Option Makes Sense

• UP Express is the best option for solo travellers or couples from downtown. It's fast, predictable, and cheaper than rideshare. The 28-minute ride never varies — you can plan your departure time precisely.
• TTC Route 900 is the cheapest option if you're already on the Bloor-Danforth line. Transfer at Kipling Station. It's slower and less comfortable than UP Express, but at $3.35 per person versus $12.35, the math works if you're not in a rush.
• Uber/Lyft wins for groups of 3–4 splitting the fare, for early-morning flights before UP Express runs (before 4:55 AM weekdays, 6:00 AM weekends), and when you have heavy luggage you don't want to haul through Union Station.
• Taxi — the flat rate means no surge pricing at 4 AM or during rush hour. Worth considering during peak times when Uber prices spike.

Parking Options and Costs

If you're driving yourself, Pearson has several parking options at very different price points:

Parking Type	Location	Rate	Best For
Express Park	Terminal 1 garage	From $6/20 min	Quick pickups/drop-offs only
Express Park	Terminal 3 garage	From $5/20 min	Quick pickups/drop-offs only
Daily Park	Terminal garages	~$35–40/day	Overnight trips (1–3 days)
Value Park Garage	Via Terminal Link train	~$22–28/day	Longer trips (4+ days)

Security and Customs: What to Expect

Pearson handles over 44.8 million passengers a year across 65,000+ scheduled flights. That volume means security lines can range from 5 minutes to 45+ minutes depending on the time of day. Here's how to minimize your wait:

Security Tips

• Arrive 2.5–3 hours before international flights, 2 hours before domestic/US flights. Yes, this is conservative. But Pearson security wait times are unpredictable, and missing a flight over 20 minutes of extra buffer is never worth it.
• Early morning (5–7 AM) and late afternoon (3–5 PM) are the busiest security periods. If your flight allows flexibility, aim for mid-morning or evening departures for shorter lines.
• NEXUS cardholders get dedicated security lanes at both terminals. If you travel even a few times a year, the $50 USD (5-year) NEXUS card pays for itself in time saved.
• Remove laptops and liquids before you reach the belt. Pearson uses both traditional and CT scanner security lanes. In CT scanner lanes, you can leave electronics in your bag — but not all lanes have them yet.

US Preclearance — A Major Pearson Advantage

One of the best things about flying to the US from Pearson: you clear US Customs and Border Protection before you board your flight. This means when you land in the US, you arrive as a domestic passenger — no customs lines, no immigration queues, and you can connect to domestic US flights without re-clearing security.

US Preclearance is located in Terminal 1 (Concourse F) and Terminal 3. Plan for 20–40 minutes for the preclearance process on top of regular security screening.

Airport Lounges at Pearson

You don't need a business class ticket to access a lounge at Pearson. Here's a full breakdown:

Terminal 1 Lounges

Lounge	Zone	Access	Key Features
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic)	Concourse D	Business class, Star Alliance Gold, Aeroplan 50K+	Hot food, bar, showers, Wi-Fi
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Transborder)	Concourse F	Business class, Star Alliance Gold, Aeroplan 50K+	Full bar, hot buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (International)	Concourse E	Business class, Star Alliance Gold, Aeroplan 50K+	Largest of the three, best food selection
Air Canada Maple Leaf Express	Concourse D	Same as Maple Leaf Lounges	Smaller, grab-and-go format
Air Canada Signature Suite	Concourse E (International only)	Business class on international long-haul, Super Elite 100K	Premium dining, private spaces, best lounge at YYZ
Plaza Premium Lounge (x3)	Domestic, International, Transborder	Pay-per-visit (~$50–70), Priority Pass, credit card memberships	Open to all passengers, hot meals, showers

Terminal 3 Lounges

Lounge	Zone	Access	Key Features
Plaza Premium Lounge	Departures	Pay-per-visit (~$50–70), Priority Pass, credit card memberships	Hot food, bar, showers, comfortable seating

Food and Amenities

Pearson's food options have improved significantly in recent years, though prices remain... airport prices. Here's what to know:

Terminal 1 Highlights

• Concourse D (Domestic): Tim Hortons, Paramount Fine Foods, Wendy's, Purdys Chocolatier. The Paramount is one of the better airport food options — real Middle Eastern food, not just reheated chain fare.
• Concourse E (International): Best food selection at Pearson. Kinka Izakaya (Japanese), Twist by Roger Mooking, and several sit-down options. If you have lounge access, the Signature Suite dining rivals downtown restaurants.
• Concourse F (Transborder/US): Mill Street Brewery, Fetta Burger, Tim Hortons. The Mill Street is a solid pre-flight option with local Ontario craft beer.

Terminal 3 Highlights

• Fairtree Brasserie, Hero Certified Burgers, Tim Hortons, and a few other casual options. Terminal 3's food is generally considered weaker than Terminal 1's — if you're in T3, eat before you arrive or grab something quick.

Other Amenities Worth Knowing

• Free Wi-Fi throughout both terminals — no time limit, reasonably fast for browsing and email.
• Power outlets are available at most gates, though they fill up fast. The newer gate areas in Terminal 1 have USB charging built into the seats.
• Currency exchange — avoid the airport kiosks. Their exchange rates are terrible. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card or withdraw from an ATM at your destination instead.
• Duty free shops in both terminals for international and US departures. Alcohol and perfume are the best values. Electronics and clothing are rarely cheaper than regular retail.
• Goodlife Fitness in Terminal 1 (pre-security) if you have a long layover and a membership.

Connecting Flights Through Pearson

If you're connecting through YYZ rather than starting your trip here, the experience varies a lot depending on your routing:

Domestic to Domestic (Same Terminal)

Straightforward. You stay airside — no need to re-clear security. Minimum connection time is 45 minutes, but aim for 1.5 hours if your first flight might be delayed.

Domestic to International or US (Terminal 1)

You'll need to go through additional security screening and, for US flights, US Preclearance. Budget 2–2.5 hours minimum for these connections.

International to Domestic

You must clear Canadian customs and immigration, collect your bags (even if they're tagged through), re-check them, and go through security again. This is the most time-consuming connection type at Pearson. Budget 2.5–3 hours minimum, and 3+ hours during peak arrival times (2–6 PM when transatlantic flights cluster).

Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 Connections

If your connecting flights are in different terminals, you'll need to take the Terminal Link train. Add 20–30 minutes to your connection time for the transfer. If both flights are on the same alliance (Star Alliance in T1, or SkyTeam/Oneworld in T3), your connection should stay within one terminal.

What's Coming: The Future of Pearson

Pearson is in the middle of some significant upgrades that will change how you get to and move through the airport:

Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (Line 5)

The biggest change coming to Pearson is the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which will connect the airport directly to Toronto's Line 5 LRT. This means a direct rapid transit link from Pearson through midtown Toronto to Scarborough — no transfers required.

The expected completion is 2030–2031. When operational, this will give travellers in midtown and the east end a direct transit option to Pearson that doesn't require going downtown to Union Station first. For someone living near Eglinton and Yonge, this could cut airport travel time from 50+ minutes (TTC to Union, then UP Express) down to 30–35 minutes direct.

Terminal Improvements

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has ongoing projects to improve passenger flow, add more automated screening lanes, and expand gate areas. Terminal 1 in particular is getting additional retail and dining options in Concourse E (international departures).

Find Your Next Flight from Pearson

Now that you know the airport inside and out, here are some of our most popular destination pages with current deals from YYZ:

Sun and Beach

• Toronto to Cancun — Direct flights year-round, often the cheapest international sun destination
• Toronto to Punta Cana — All-inclusive paradise, frequent sales in shoulder season
• Toronto to Miami — Year-round direct flights, great for weekend getaways
• Toronto to Cuba — Budget-friendly all-inclusive options from Pearson

Europe

• Toronto to London — More daily nonstops than any other transatlantic route from YYZ
• Toronto to Paris — Direct on Air Canada and Air France from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3
• Toronto to Lisbon — TAP Portugal nonstop, one of the best-value European destinations
• Toronto to Dublin — Aer Lingus seasonal nonstop, great shoulder season deals

Domestic and US

• Toronto to Vancouver — Canada's busiest domestic route, multiple daily nonstops
• Toronto to Calgary — Flair Airlines competes hard here, driving prices down
• Toronto to New York — Dozens of daily flights from Pearson and Billy Bishop
• Toronto to Las Vegas — Direct flights on WestJet and Air Canada, often under $400 roundtrip

Long-Haul

• Toronto to Tokyo — Air Canada nonstop from Terminal 1
• Toronto to Hong Kong — Cathay Pacific from Terminal 3, one of the world's great airlines
• Toronto to Dubai — Emirates nonstop from Terminal 1, connecting to 150+ destinations beyond