Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

...are planning a trip to Toronto, you will encounter Toronto Pearson International Airport, also known as Lester B. Pearson International Airport or YYZ. The airport now consists of three terminals. Established in 1939, this airport is located approximately 20 miles from downtown Toronto and is ranked at number 28 amongst the world's busiest airports, handling nearly 30 million passengers in 2005. But is the airport really equipped to please all these ...
...British Airways means that you will be arriving at and departing from Terminal 3, which was built in 1989 to offset traffic from Terminals 1 and 2. As you disembark from your airplane, you will be asked to have your passports ready for inspection, as immigration officers will meet you at the end of the gangway before entering the terminal. We found the process to be very slow, as immigration officials are quite thorough in their approach, often ...

Delicate_Orchid 06.08.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

Recently I had the misfortune to fly into Pearson International Airport on a trip from Glasgow to Atlanta. Nothing wrong with the flight, or indeed with the view on the way in (Toronto looks like a beautiful city from the air, just on the edge of Lake Ontario). The airport itself is pretty grim, with lots of concrete in evidence. However I had been told about this, and even warned that there was lots of walking to do, but trust me you cannot prepare ...
...upon landing it seemed okay. Canadian immigration was very swift in processing us, and once we survived the bun-fight to get our bags customs was okay too. We then deposited the bags and started walking as the shuttle buses to terminal 2 were not in evidence. We walked and walked and walked. By the time we got through American immigration and customs it had been an hour and a half since we landed. My girlfriend was exhausted and desperately needed ...

toneboy7 24.08.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

I first stepped foot into the Toronto airport on my way to Edmonton. I was talking to a guy beside me, also heading to Edmonton, and he was telling me how terribly confusing it was to try and find your way around this airport. Well, let me tell you, I wasn't about to take his word for it. No, I thought I could figure it out no problem. First I stepped out from my gate and asked the nearest person where my gate was. He stared down at my ticket, stared ...
...I think I had realized that he had no clue at all before he did because after a few half sentences and a couple scratches of the head. He handed me my ticket and walked off. It was about at this time that I thought I would start walking and hopefully make some sort of sense out of the gate order. Well, this was definitely my first mistake. I walked around for about 45 minutes until I had realized that there was no sort of order at all! Enough was ...

Opinionated4 07.05.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

Few airports can offer a more depressing or unpleasant experience than Pearson International (YYZ) in Mississauga, near Toronto. But arriving at the airport is like Russian Roulette - fly into Terminal 3 and enjoy a world-class terminal; fly into Terminal 2 and you can survive on an old badly-designed building that has been rebuilt to some improvement; but fly into Terminal 1 and say goodbye to all that is right with the world. Terminal 1 was a disaster ...
...the parking gagrage on the TOP of the Terminal. This has essentially turned the guest areas into prisoner of the concrete garage above, as it crumbles on the cars - many of its floors are closed and near collapse, and concrete often falls right onto parked vehicles, with rusty rebar poking out everywhere. A trip in the 1960's death-trap elevators takes you to the Terminal below (if they work). Arriving in Terminal One means you will have to traverse ...

Vistaway 08.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

Ignore those pre-2004 reviews -- they describe a state of affairs that simply doesn't exist anymore. I have been flying in and out of Pearson for years, and the new Terminal 1 makes all the difference in the world. Though a portion of it is still under construction, most Air Canada flights (and those of its Star Alliance partners) now use the new terminal. It is well laid out, architecturally impressive, and features attractive dining and shopping. ...
...CDG. With its sweeping ceiling in the main concourse, I prefer to think of it as a modern version of Dulles International in Washington. Users of other carriers, particularly discounters and carriers from countries with few connections to Canada, will typically land at Terminal 3, which was built in the early 1990s and is still quite attractive and serviceable. There is a hotel attached directly to this terminal for those who want to sleep in until ...

johnnycanuck 07.06.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

Since my wife is wheelchair bound and we had arrived early, we sat in the Special Assistance departure area in T2 for some 3-4 hours in October this year (2001). A number of passengers arrived after us and left before us. The area has its own security guard but frankly she was as much use as a chocolate fireguard. We noticed that someone had left a carrier bag under one of the seats and waited to see what would happen. Absolutely nothing !! After ...
...attention to the bag. The reply she got was "Oh, don't bother, it is empty" !!! This guard evidently had X-ray eyes since she had never been near the carrier bag, nor did she go near it then. About half an hour later a cleaning lady came by and the guard told her to get rid of it. Still not even bothering to look inside it! Worse still, on the roadway just outside the lounge, a car with an orange roof light (inactive) was parked for about 2 hours ...

aardvaark 21.11.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

After departing from YYZ to my journery to my former country of residence; England, i was blinded by the beautiful new T1 although it was reminded me of Paris Charles De Gualle Airport. The new T1 was big. modern but easy to get lost in. Everything was all over the pklace including Check-in. They had an absoloute gigantic food court, it was B 747 compared to T3's food court efforts. There were several cafe's and restaraunts and fast food parllours ...

sleepyhead123 23.11.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

OK After much thought I am going to try and tidy my report up. This is my first one so please bear with me if it is a bit sloppy. On arrival in Toronto the first thing we saw was SNOW SNOW and more SNOW. Both tired but very excited, we began our long long trek through the terminal to Immigration. Unfortunately this airport is way too big, which makes for a lot of walking. I thought it was just me as a child that thought it when Iw as last there. ...
...was right all those years ago, it is a long long long walk. I know they are only doing their job but Immigration SHOULD be easy but everyone is treated as though they are going to run away and not leave the country (the thought did cross my mind I have to admit. A simple smile would go a long way, unfortunately not everyone does it. When you are getting your baggage, please be aware that the porters do expect to be paid for their services, also ...

deb1701 05.12.2002 (06.12.2002) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

The Toronto airport is one of the most ugly airports I have ever visited. I went to Fortlaulerdale, Montreal and other places and Toronto wins the prize for the most old and badly built airport. The corridors are confusing and everything looks decrepid. You have to go there for yourself to see this. If you can avoid going to Toronto do so. The restaurants aren't that bad. The food is good. The duty free shop isn't bad either. The service was the ...

cacou 01.09.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)

Pearson Airport, just outside of Toronto, in Mississauga (Ontario) is one of the finest I've had the pleasure of depatring and arriving at. No long lines at customs nor at departures(especially in new Terminal Three). Many shopping options for last minute souvenirs and other taxfree goodies, as well as interesting and particularly light architecture. Pearson is a well oiled machine with good service, clean facilities and decent foods for those who ...

Misha13 23.06.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Toronto, Canada (YYZ)