Toronto Airport
- Pearson International -
Lasting Impressions....
"Pearson International... now there is a hell on earth like no other. It is doing a fast race to the bottom and appears to be intent on winning." (Dave Herman)
"We spent the night on the floor using our dirty clothes as a way to keep warm." (Kanatagirl)
"I thought that I would be surrounded by young people but amazingly, the people sleeping in the terminal all seemed middle aged and middle class... all very respectable" (Danielle)
"there were lots of other people sleeping there, the airport staff, were friendly they even provided foamy mats for people to sleep on!" (?)
"Considering I had shared rooms with homeless people at a hostel in Toronto the airport was actually a rather pleasant experience." (Chris)
"a very nice security guard there promised she keep an eye on me and my stuff which made me feel a lot more secure. I told her the time I wanted to be woken up and 5 minutes prior to that time she gently shook me and off to check-in I went." (Chris)
Quick Reference Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date info:
- helpful airport employees will tell you where the best spots are located
- terminal 3 has better sleep spots than terminal 1
- more seats without armrests at terminal 3
- seating with armrests at terminal 1
- friendly security
- prayer rooms
- pre-security Tim Hortons in Terminal 1. There might be one at Terminal 3, but I did not see it.
- cafe area with long cushioned benches
- clean
- baggage crew apparently do not unload planes when there is thunder or lightning, so you may have to wait in baggage claim for longer than expected
A few airport reviews from the archives
by airport_sleeper
I was out at the airport today hoping to get some photos of people stranded due to weather delays. I started at Terminal 3, the older of the two terminals (we only have Terminals 1 and 3....Terminal 2 is being knocked down I think). The terminal shows signs of ages, carpets are old and faded. They are probably fine, but I probably wouldn't want to sleep on it. And no need to, the seats both on the arrivals and departures levels do not have armrests. Considering flights were being cancelled and the airport was packed there was still lots of seating. Head down to the car rentals hallway on the arrivals level. It is quiet there. Both levels are warm making your rest even more enjoyable.
Terminal 1 on the other hand is the newest airport, so considerable effort has been made to make this building as pretty, but useless as possible. Large. Airy. Lots of wasted space. Armrests on every single chair, except for two 3 seaters on the 2nd level. Cold. There was always a draft on every level. Tim Hortons was easy to find on the arrivals level. I didn't see one at Terminal 3, but there must be one....they are everywhere. I recommend that you take the train to Terminal 3 and rest there if you needed to. It takes less than 2 minutes to get from terminal to terminal.
by ?
"It's the same story I hear many people tell. How long has this Canadian-mafia-run airport been under construction? Why is that after your plane has landed it seems to taxi around in circles for almost as long as you've just spent in the air? Why is it that the aircraft finally stops nowhere near the terminal? Why is it that you have to get on a bus and travel around in circles for almost as long as you've just spent in the air and taxiing on the ground? Why are the roads under six inches of water when it rains? Why does nobody tell you until you've been waiting over an hour, that the union p
b------- don't want to get wet, so your bags will stay on the plane until it stops. I've been in airports where they've unloaded in electric storms! And why is it that the people who work in Lester B are the most unfriendliest surliest little w-----s you could ever not want to meet. Wife, baby and I were stuck there for over three freakin' hours until we got our bags: no water, no food, no leaving the hall, no nothing. Montreal next time, even if our destination is Toronto. I write this 18 months after the fact. It still makes my blood boil. Avoid LBP."
