Untroddenways

My young daughter will be coming through Pearson airport next winter. She will arrive there at a little past midnight from England at terminal 3 and has to be at terminal 1 at 4:30 for her trip home to the U.S. The weather may be bad, and besides, she really doesn't have enought time to leave the airport and to go somewhere else. Will she be safe and warm at the airport? and what is the best procedure for her to follow.? Does she go through customs at Terminal 3? Should she stay in Terminal 3 as late as possible or get on over to Terminal 1 as soon as possible. Can she stay in secure areas at all times. Thanks for any help that you can give.

brookwood

I hope the reworking of Pearson has progressed since last September and will continue to progress over the summer so that what is true now will not be true in 6 to 7 months time..

I suggest you get a full update closer to the actual time of arrival. Given the uncertainies of the weather, nothing is an absolute.

Last August when we first arrived, we were unable to land because of a violent thunderstorm. As a result we were sent to Ottawa where we waited for the storm to pass.

I would not wait around at 3. Get the first shuttle bus to Terminal 1.

Hopefully someone who uses Toronto - Pearson frequently will be able to fill you in with more exact details in about 6 months.

I hope that everything has been consolidated some 7 months or so from now.

BAK

I was in Terminal 3 last Monday for a while, and there are some restaurants and waiting areas, but my temptation would be to get to the next airport, and do the waiting there.

I have not been inside Terminal 1, which is very new.

To get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1, there's a bus system that departs from frequently, although I have no idea what the schedule is like late at night.

Yes, she'll be safe and warm. The real worry is bored.

But keep in touch here. I want to go see Terminal One anyway, and next time I'm at Terminal 3, I plan to take the shuttle to Ternminal One, and I'll try to find out info for you.

there's also a monorail train at the airport, which I;ve seen from the bus-waiting spot. I don't know much about this, and want to learn more.

So, ask again in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, others will report, I'm sure.

BAK

Gavin

The Toronto airport web site may shed some light on things: www.gtaa.com

Which airlines is she using? I was unaware of any US departures from T1 yet. I had a (2 AM) domestic arrival at T1 recently and all the shops were closed.

Untroddenways

Gavin, you are right. I am sorry. I have gotten the terminals mixed up. She will arrive from England at Terminal 1 in Toronto at midnight and will leave from Terminal 3 at 6:30 (needs to be there at 4:30?) for home here in the US. In which terminal should she more or less spend her time on that winter night? Brookwood, should she stay in terminal 1? Bak, we will check back. Thanks to you all!

nospam

Hi there!
Been to both terminal 1 and 3. Terminal 3 has a temporary feel to it. I would stay in Terminal 1. The buses to take you are frequent -- no schedule required as they are ALWAYS parked and open until they leave, and then another one pulls up to take its place. About 45 minutes before boarding, she should make her way to terminal 3. Other than that, Terminal 1 is the place to be.
Have fun!

Gavin

I have no insight into which terminal the has the best floor for sleeping on. I have taken that late flight back from London and it is very tiring so she will likely be able to sleep on a floor somewhere. There is a Sheraton attached to T3 if she wants to pay for comfort. My advice is to get to T3 after arrival. The free interterminal shuttles do operate all night but at a reduced frequency (two busses serving all three terminals between midnight and 6 AM). After checking in at T3 she will need to clear US customs and immigration. Two hours is lots of time. Air Canada recomends 1.5 hours minimum. I don't know about the airline she is taking to the US.

brookwood

t3 is best described as makeshift.
When we went, we tranferred from T1 to T2.
Then to get our flight, we got on another bus.

I hope all of that is a thing of the past.
I travelled in the day and don't know what type of operation there is for night connections.

I have no reason to think any dangers lurk. To reach T3, all passengers have been screened by US border officials, both immigration and customs.