9 hour layover each way at Pearson

wendyt_ca · Nov 24, 2015

We are heading to Honolulu in April and on the way to Honolulu we have a 9.5 hour overnight layover at Pearson. And on the way home we booked our flight through Aeroplan points so we had the option to go to Orlando for a week in between and have another stopover during the day for 9 hours from 1pm-10pm at Pearson International.

First off would the 9.5 be long enough to get a hotel and sleep overnight.
Secondly on the way home would that be enough time to leave the airport and take a subway to Downtown Toronto for a few hours and maybe grab some supper?

Donald - my hero · Nov 24, 2015

I'll step up to the plate for this one .... it may sound like a LOOOOOOONG lay-over but don't forget that you'll need to go through customs/clearance 2-3 hours ahead of boarding. So now you're down to close to 6-ish. Also you'll need to get from the gate to the actual terminal so better put in another 30 -45 minutes. Looks to me like you don't have any kids? I would suggest choosing either the Sheraton Gateway hotel which is right inside the airport. OR a cheaper alternative is the New ALT which is also easily accessible from the terminal (and cheap!) http://www.althotels.com/en/torontoairport/services/

For your way back ... sorta the same thing ... gotta take into account the possibility of late landing & then you'll need to clear customs. When it's time to go home you won't need as much time to get to the gate (i think they say 90 minutes?) BUT to take the UP express downtown is about 30 minutes each way. That takes you right into downtown TO my quick math means 2.5 hours used just going back & forth and getting to gate on time ... and to be generous let's say another 30-45 minutes to get from plane & clear customs (not sure if you'll be getting bags or not?) SO that now means your 9 hr layover is 6 hours (correct me if i'm using Disney math here )*should be* enough time here's the link for the UP Express train https://www.upexpress.com/Tickets/Tickets it looks like there is a discounted rate for a long layover!
Either way have a BLAST!

ny0090 · Nov 24, 2015

I had an 8 hour layover in Toronto a few weeks ago and I was planning to go to downtown but decided against it. Now I kind of regret it because sitting in the airport with my two year old was so boring.

Last week I stayed at the ALT hotel and it was very convenient. You take the LINK train from Terminal 3 for one stop (Viscount) and it's right outside. The rooms are quite small and have a European feel to it.

My husband took the Union Pearson Express and it cost $27.50. That gives you a one way trip to downtown and a free trip back to the airport if you use it within the 6 hour limit.

Blackadder337 · Nov 25, 2015

I would agree that 9 + hours probably does seem like a long time, but with customs, luggage etc. you'd be surprised how quickly that time could fly by. If I have longer layovers, I just make a point to treat myself to a nice meal in one of the airport restaurants, no rushing. Lots of time afterwards to use wash rooms, get snacks/drinks for the flight etc.. Maybe put some movies on your ipod/ipad/tablet/laptop as well ?

You never know what you'll find when you go into the city of Toronto. With traffic jams, police/fire/ambulance scenarios, construction in the city etc.. you can never really predict how long it will take to get to and from the city and airport.

From my travelling experience, I wouldn't take the chance of heading into the city.

minnie mum · Nov 25, 2015

I would agree with the PPs. Get a room at either the Sheraton or the Alt for that night layover. It will take an hour to get your bags and get to the hotel. Then you will need to check in at the airport again 2 hours before your flight. But you can also least get 5 hours of sleep.

On the return flight, I'd just stay at the airport. Between getting your bags and clearing customs, and the travel time to and from Union Station, you wouldn't really have much usable time before you had to be back for your connecting flight. And what would you do with all your carry on luggage?

Do you have a card that would get you into the Maple Leaf lounge?

mort1331 · Nov 25, 2015

.There are some nice restaurants in the area instead of heading downtown. Also check out when your going and if anything is at the International Center. They have lots of trade shows open to public during the year and its a 5 mins cab ride from the airport.

wendyt_ca · Nov 25, 2015

I just looked again and it's actually a 10.5 hour layover for the overnight flight (there were a few flight options at booking so I mixed it up). We arrive in Toronto at 10pm and our flight leaves at 8:30 the next morning. I had a work trip back in 2012 to the Bahamas and one last year to New Orleans where we flew to Toronto the night before and then had an early morning flight and we were booked at a hotel for the night...of course I cannot find any paper work to see how long the time between was. And I feel like we just got to the airport 2 hours before our flight left to check our bags and go through customs and still sat around waiting for a while. It is only the 2 of us so no children.

Coming back from those trips I keep trying to think back to our time in the airport. I feel like we were through customs and had our bags within about 30 mins. Then rechecking the bags and security was probably another hour. I wish I could remember the timing on everything. Taking the Express is a great idea for if we go to downtown. I would just go to the CN tower area and maybe walk up the the Eaton Center. And I thought I read somewhere that there was a place to store carry on bags in the travel stores. I don't have access to any of the lounges.

kiford · Nov 25, 2015

wendyt_ca said:
I would just go to the CN tower area and maybe walk up the the Eaton Center.

Just a warning: it's a good 30 minute walk up to the Eaton Centre from Union. And the CN Tower is about 5-10 minutes to Union.

wendyt_ca said:
And I feel like we just got to the airport 2 hours before our flight left to check our bags and go through customs and still sat around waiting for a while. It is only the 2 of us so no children.

Definitely do not count on that being the norm. We went to Orlando two years ago, got to the airport 2-2.5 hours before the flight and had little more than about 30 minutes at the gate before boarding. It took probably 45 minutes to check in and over an hour to clear customs and immigration. That was for an early morning flight. Pearson is not the most efficient of airports.

mort1331 · Nov 25, 2015

wendyt_ca said:
I just looked again and it's actually a 10.5 hour layover for the overnight flight (there were a few flight options at booking so I mixed it up). We arrive in Toronto at 10pm and our flight leaves at 8:30 the next morning. I had a work trip back in 2012 to the Bahamas and one last year to New Orleans where we flew to Toronto the night before and then had an early morning flight and we were booked at a hotel for the night...of course I cannot find any paper work to see how long the time between was. And I feel like we just got to the airport 2 hours before our flight left to check our bags and go through customs and still sat around waiting for a while. It is only the 2 of us so no children.

Coming back from those trips I keep trying to think back to our time in the airport. I feel like we were through customs and had our bags within about 30 mins. Then rechecking the bags and security was probably another hour. I wish I could remember the timing on everything. Taking the Express is a great idea for if we go to downtown. I would just go to the CN tower area and maybe walk up the the Eaton Center. And I thought I read somewhere that there was a place to store carry on bags in the travel stores. I don't have access to any of the lounges.

With this then just grab a sleep at one of the hotels close. The tower will be closed by the time you arrive as will Eaton center. Grab a late dinner and half a sleep

wendyt_ca · Nov 26, 2015

mort1331 said:
With this then just grab a sleep at one of the hotels close. The tower will be closed by the time you arrive as will Eaton center. Grab a late dinner and half a sleep

These are two separate days

For the overnight I am looking at getting a hotel. On the way home we have from 1pm-10pm in Toronto so the Eaton center would be open

wendyt_ca · Nov 26, 2015

kiford said:
Just a warning: it's a good 30 minute walk up to the Eaton Centre from Union. And the CN Tower is about 5-10 minutes to Union.

Definitely do not count on that being the norm. We went to Orlando two years ago, got to the airport 2-2.5 hours before the flight and had little more than about 30 minutes at the gate before boarding. It took probably 45 minutes to check in and over an hour to clear customs and immigration. That was for an early morning flight. Pearson is not the most efficient of airports.

I'm thinking I would likely check our bags as soon as we get it at the airport to get that part out of the way. And I can probably limit my carry on to just a bigger purse so I wouldn't need to store anything.

Donald - my hero · Nov 26, 2015

wendyt_ca said:
I'm thinking I would likely check our bags as soon as we get it at the airport to get that part out of the way. And I can probably limit my carry on to just a bigger purse so I wouldn't need to store anything.

I know that Air Canada wouldn't accept my bags more than 4 hours in advance when i flew out of Vancouver in September so i just checked them at a storage location. I know Pearson has them as well in both terminals. Otherwise there is no way that your bags won't get lost! Hubby and I used the link in September and it is quite the hefty walk from the subway station BTW ... easily 10 minutes i'm thinking so don't forget to include that. Just because they all say "Union Station" doesn't mean they are within the same block :O BUT you could easily have some fun

starvenger · Nov 26, 2015

There are some places just outside of the airport area if you're looking for places to eat. Getting there might be an issue although I think you could get on a hotel shuttle to the chain restaurant area.

With that said, there's a 24 hour diner called Zet's on airport road that's pretty good if you need something late at night.

Also, there is a Wendy's further down the road that is directly in the flight path of a landing strip.

For the trip back, if you do take the UP downtown, you can hit the Hockey Hall of Fame and eat at Marche in the same building, about a 5-10 minute walk from the UP exit.

And I don't know if you're travelling with kids, but if you are NOT, and decide to go to the CN Tower, you can take the Steam Whistle brewery tour across the street.

Cheerio · Nov 27, 2015

I'd stay at the Sheraton airport location it's right across from terminal 3 and you can use the free tram if you come in via terminal one.

During the daytime layover, def check out the UP express - just leave all your luggage at the airport with one of the storage places it's a pain to drag around downtown not to mention crowded!

dancin Disney style · Nov 28, 2015

If you are content with only spending approx 3hours downtown then go for it. Though, IMO, it's a lot of trouble for only 3 hours.

Here's my math....
1 hour to collect your luggage (yes it will take that long...YYZ is very slow). Then you have to take it to the storage room.
2 hours transportation time on the UP (the ride it self is 30 minutes each way but you need to wait for the train and build in a cushion for delays)
2 hours is the required minimum check in time at YYZ (yes you need that time the airport is huge)
1 hour of walking time to/from Union Station (it doesn't actually take that long to walk to the Eaton Centre but you're a tourist and will take your time looking around along the way)

To be very honest there isn't a whole lot that is near Union Station. You have to venture off farther to see/do things and you just don't have the time. The closest thing to Union is the Hockey Hall of Fame, next would be Ripley's Aquarium or the Bell Light Box. There are also lots of nice restaurants but it's quite a hike just to eat.

If you just want to go to a mall then take a taxi to Sherway Gardens. It would be about a 10 minute ride at most from YYZ.

9 hour layover each way at Pearson

wendyt_ca

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ny0090

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wendyt_ca

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