Officially opening up on December 2, the new lounge is offering up gourmet foods, live cooking stations, showers that look like they belong in a spa, and some A+ views from the window.
This new concept is actually two different lounges, with a reimagined Plaza Premium Lounge (PPL) and the Plaza Premium First (PPF), and it's only the fifth of its kind in the whole world.
The new YVR lounge is in the International Terminal of the airports and has enough room to fit 251 travellers.
There are live cooking stations at the lounge that have things like noodle and pasta bars, and a signature poutine station (of course, a must in their Canadian location).
Families can also request board games, and there are shower facilities you can use for $25. There's also a self-service bar there, and private relaxation areas to top it all off.
Are you travelling from Toronto Pearson Airport soon? The next time you fly from the Toronto airport, take advantage of one of these airport services that can level up your trip.
From the ability to freshen up before your flight to a handy way to deal with excess baggage, these Toronto Pearson Airport services can make your trip a much smoother process, and are great to keep in mind whether you're travelling to the U.S., within Canada, or internationally.
Ready to jet off? Here are eight services at Toronto Pearson Airport you'll definitely want to take advantage of.
Showers
A person at the Plaza Premium lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Details: Want to freshen up before your flight? Departing or connecting passengers can take a shower or just relax before their flight by checking into a Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Plaza Premium lounges are available to all passengers, regardless of airline or ticket class, and can be booked for a fee.
The lounges offer comfortable seating, fresh food and a selection of hot and cold drinks, and some even offer cooking stations and other amenities.
Details: If you'd rather not sit around while you wait, you can hit the gym at the airport and get your body moving.
Toronto Pearson has its very own GoodLife gym onsite where you can work out. The gym is open to members and non-members, the latter of which can purchase a day pass to the gym for $25.
Here, you can rent workout clothes, take advantage of free weights and strength training equipment, cardiovascular equipment and a fit fix circuit training area and stretching area.
The gym also has change rooms with showers and hair dryers, a towel service, and can store your luggage for you while you work up a sweat.
Details: Have you ever found yourself at the airport with an overweight bag, or just too much stuff? If you want to leave something behind, you can store your stuff at the Excess Baggage Company.
You can safely store your bags or coat, whether it's for a few hours or a few weeks. If, on the other hand, you want to purchase an extra bag, you can also do that here too.
Excess Baggage also offers parcel delivery, luggage accessories, and baggage transfers to and from your hotel.
No pre-booking is required, and there's no bag size limit. All you have to do is drop off your stuff in-store and pay when you collect it.
Details: If you're planning on doing some duty-free shopping at the airport, you can save yourself some time and money by taking advantage of Toronto Pearson's Reserve & Collect program.
You can reserve your goods in advance and simply collect them when you travel.
All you have to do is choose the airport and terminal you're flying from to see the product selection available. You can then shop and reserve items online 3 hours to 29 days before your flight's boarding time.
At the airport, you can head to the designated in-store collection point where your order will be waiting for you. Easy peasy!
Details: Did you know there's a way you can get through security at Toronto Pearson Airport faster?
YYZ Express is an online reservation system for security screening that allows you to bypass long security lines.
The free service is offered at the security checkpoint at Gate D of Terminal 1, and at the security checkpoint at Gates B and C of Terminal 3 at the airport.
The service is available to all passengers on domestic, international and U.S.-bound flights at certain times of day (indicated on the airport's website).
All you need to do is book your spot for security screening in advance and show up at your assigned checkpoint at the time of your reservation.
You can make your reservation up to 72 hours in advance. All you have to do is go to the YYZ Express website and enter the date of your trip, your destination, airline and flight number.
From there, you can select your party size, add your passenger information, and select a time slot.
You can also register after arriving at the airport. Once done, you'll receive a QR code for your booking. At the time of your reservation, go to your assigned checkpoint and look for the "YYZ Express" check-in at security.
Details: No one likes driving around looking for a parking spot. If you'll be parking at Pearson Airport, you don't have to.
You can book your parking spot online to save yourself time (and the hassle of looking for a spot) at the airport. The service is available whether you just need to park your car for a little while, or you need to leave your car at the airport for. a longer duration.
All you have to do is fill out the date and time of when you want to park your car at the airport, and the date and time of when you want to pick it up, as well as what Terminal you want to park at.
Once you have your pre-paid reservation, you can scan your printed or mobile bar code at the parking lot entry gate.
Details: If you're travelling to the U.S., you don't have to spend time waiting in customs lines while you're at the airport.
Mobile Passport Control is an app that allows you to digitally submit your information for a faster departures experience from Pearson if you're travelling to the U.S.
The CBP MPC app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. After downloading the app, you will be prompted to create a profile with your passport information, name, gender, date of birth and country of citizenship.
Once you're at the airport, use the app to select Toronto Pearson and the terminal you're flying out of from the list. You'll then need to take a photo of yourself and answer a series of Customs and Border Patrol inspection-related questions. You'll also be required to indicate if you're travelling for business or tourism.
Once you've filled out the form, you can submit it through the app. You'll then receive an electronic receipt with an encrypted QR code.
Finally, you'll bring your physical passport and mobile device with your QR-coded receipt to a CBP officer at the airport. A separate queue is available for those using Mobile Passport Control, allowing you to bypass the entire normal customs line.
Details: If you're travelling abroad, it's a good idea to have some of the local currency on hand.
Luckily, Toronto Pearson offers a convenient way to exchange your money. You can secure the right cash you need for your trip with International Currency Exchange.
The ICE offers a "Click and collect" option that allows travellers to reserve their cash online and simply pick it up at the airport.
According to ICE, ordering online allows you to benefit from their best exchange rates.
All you have to do is go to their website and input what currency you want to change your Canadian dollars to, how much you want to change, and when you want to pick it up.
Planning to travel soon? As Canada's largest and busiest airport, Toronto Pearson has tons of places to eat, grab a drink, and kill time while you wait for your flight.
Whether you want to relax or pamper yourself, enjoy cuisines from around the world or sip on local wine, you can do it all the airport.
Whether you've just got a couple hours to kill before your flight or you've got a long layover at the airport, there's tons of things to do (and eat) to keep you occupied.
Details: Didn't have time to get your nails done before your trip? Got a crick in your neck after a long flight? You can pamper yourself with some spa services while you wait at the Be Relax Spa at Toronto Pearson Airport.
The spa, which can be found in two locations in Terminal 1 and one location in Terminal 3, offers 15-60 minute treatments, with no appointments needed.
You can get things like a back, foot or head massage, a manicure or pedicure, a facial or waxing service, or pamper yourself from head to toe.
In addition to the Be Relax Spas, the airport also has the Wellbeing Spa (located in Terminal 3) where you can freshen up before your flight with a shower, or relax with a massage, manicure, pedicure or other spa service.
Details: YYZ is home to several lounges where you can relax and refresh before your flight.
Certain airlines like Air Canada, American Airlines and more have lounges at the airport that you can use if you're travelling with the airline.
For instance, Air Canada customers travelling on a premium economy, latitude, comfort, or flex fare can purchase access to their Maple Leaf Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Similarly, travellers flying with American Airlines can purchase a one-day pass to their Admirals Club lounge at the airport.
Besides airline-specific lounges, Toronto Pearson also has Plaza Premium lounges. Several are available at the airport, for travellers flying within Canada, to the U.S. and internationally.
At the Terminal 1 International departures lounge, guests can enjoy international and local cuisines, soups, gourmet salads and desserts at a buffet bar, specialty coffees and teas, juices, beer, wine and other drinks, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and even shower facilities to freshen up.
Details: Toronto Pearson has tons of restaurants and bars where you can enjoy snacks, light bites, drinks or full-out meals while you wait.
There are tons of options to choose from, whether you want Mexican food (head to El Catrin Tacqueria) or a juicy burger (check out Wahlburgers in Terminal 1).
If you're travelling to the U.S., in Terminal 3, Archeo Pizzeria offers Mediterranean favourites inspired by the menu at Archeo restaurant in Toronto's Distillery District, including caprese focaccia, and breakfast options.
If sushi is your thing, Acer in Terminal 3 is a great spot to grab a bite, serving up a modern Japanese menu of fresh, healthy dishes like sushi, dumplings, noodles and curry. Open from 5 a.m. until the last flight of the day, they also have breakfast options for early birds.
Details: If you'd rather not sit around while you wait, you can hit the gym at the airport and get your body moving.
Toronto Pearson has its very own Goodlife gym onsite where you can work out. The gym is open to members and non-members, the latter of which can purchase a day pass to the gym for $25.
Here, you can rent workout clothes, take advantage of free weights and strength training equipment, cardiovascular equipment and a fit fix circuit training area and stretching area.
The gym also has change rooms with showers and hair dryers, a towel service, and can store your luggage for you while you work up a sweat.
Details: Forget something? While you're waiting for your flight, you can peruse the shops at the airport offering sundries and travel essentials to make sure you aren't missing anything.
Pearson Airport has several shops like this where you can get snacks, medicine and in-flight essentials that you may have forgotten, like Relay (several locations in Terminals 1 and 3) 6 & Sundry (Terminal 3) and the TripAdvisor store.
You can pick up things like magazines to read during the flight, a charger or power converter, headphones, snacks, pain medicine or anti-nausea medicine, beauty essentials and more.
Details: While you're here, why not take advantage of the duty-free shopping at the airport?
Pearson offers duty-free stores like Duty Free by Dufry (on Terminal 1 and 3) and Toronto Duty Free (Terminal 1) where you can get liquor, tobacco, cosmetics, perfume and brands like Coach, Burberry and Victoria’s Secret all at tax and duty-free prices.
The airport also offers duty-free shopping at stores like luggage retailer Tumi, Tom Ford, Tissot, Swarovski, Salvatore Ferragamo, Montblanc, Michael Kors, Le Labo, Gucci and more.
Details: If you've got a long layover at the airport, you could even consider leaving the airport for a while to check out some sights in the area.
Toronto Pearson Airport is located just 15 minutes away from Mississauga's Square One shopping mall, where you can find a number of retailers, restaurants and things to do.
You can also take the UP train from Pearson Airport directly to Toronto's Union Station, around which you can see several classic Toronto sights and find cafes, restaurants and more.
The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Too many travellers assume that you need to fly first or business class to access an airport lounge when most airports actually have at least one you can pay your way into.
I'd used Plaza Premium lounges before — they're all over the world — but hadn't made use of the one at Pearson, so I planned to spend a few hours there and give the experience a score out of five in four categories: service, food and drink, facilities, and value.
Here's how it measured up.
How to get to the Plaza Premium Lounge
The bag drop wasn't working and it took over an hour to get through check-in, so once I finally got through security, I followed signs to the right for the Plaza Premium Lounge, hoping it would still be worth it.
The entrance to the Plaza Premium Domestic Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
After arriving at what I thought was the lounge and attempting to check in at the desk, I discovered there were actually two Plaza Premium Lounges in Terminal 3 — one for domestic travellers, which was the one I had attempted to enter, and another for international travellers, which is at the opposite end of the terminal.
Losing precious time, I made my way towards C gates, following the signs once again and then taking an elevator up one floor.
At the entrance to the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
There was a short line-up when I arrived, but I was able to pay $33.90 for one hour of access since I was tight on time, and it didn't take too long to get checked in.
The entrance to the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
You can reserve a spot online in advance or pay at the door, and you pay more depending on how long you want to spend in the lounge. Two hours of access costs $55.80 online, and you can also buy a multi-visit pass that works in other airports.
Facilities: 3/5
A seating area inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
I first took a look around the lounge, and found lots of seating options, though the area with a sunset view of the runway was easily my favourite. It was a little quieter and more relaxed than the rest of the lounge and had more luxurious armchairs with armrests, built-in plugs and USB ports.
There's Wi-Fi throughout the lounge (though I didn't get a chance to use it), which is useful if you have some work to do and don't want to rely on the usually unreliable regular Pearson Wi-Fi.
The lounge was pretty loud and busy when I visited on a Tuesday around 8 p.m., and the high-top and regular tables in the area between the bar and buffet were mostly full of groups of friends and families, though there were still plenty of seats available.
The buffet and seating area inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
The bathrooms were much nicer and cleaner than the ones you find in the rest of the terminal, which was a bonus.
A bathroom inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
There's also a shower room, but it was occupied when I went to check it out, so I didn't get to take a peek inside. The massage and wellbeing areas were also out of service.
The occupied shower room inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
Despite the fact not all facilities seemed to be open or were in use when I tried to access them, overall I found the lounge to be a good spot to recharge and prepare for my flight.
Food & Drink: 4/5
A bar sits in the middle of the lounge and house wine, beer and spirits are included in the price. This was the only line-up I noticed inside the lounge, though it didn't take too long to get a drink.
The bar inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
When I visited, the house wine was Jackson Triggs, and the house beer was Molson Canadian.
The house alcohol options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
You can also order and pay for more premium drinks if you're looking for something special.
A drink menu inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
A buffet sits on the other side of the room and includes soft drinks, teas and coffees, baked goods, fruit, and hot and cold dishes.
Buffet options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
When I visited, some of the hot options included spring rolls, coconut lentil curry, pasta, mushroom chicken, rice, and pierogis, with salads to have on the side and a few little desserts to finish it off.
Buffet options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
I wasn't too hungry and also knew I'd be eating a meal on board my flight, so I just tried some of the salads and a cookie along with a glass of white wine.
Buffet options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
The quality was basic, but I liked that there were lots of options, and it felt like everyone could find something — plus those that were really hungry could go back for more.
Overall, I was impressed with the food and drink offering given the lack of options — and extortionate prices — you find elsewhere in Terminal 3.
A cookie inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
Service: 5/5
Despite it being busy in the lounge, all of the staff I encountered and observed — from those checking guests in to those serving or clearing food — were friendly and helpful, and everyone seemed to be looked after well.
Nobody seemed to wait too long for anything, the lounge was kept tidy, and the food seemed to be topped up regularly.
Value: 5/5
If you're planning to eat and have a few drinks before your flight, the lounge is great value compared to what you'll spend in the rest of the terminal, where a glass of wine alone can set you back around $15 and you'll struggle to find anything truly tasty to eat.
It's especially worthwhile if you have at least an hour or two to kill and are looking for a more comfortable place to sit and relax, or to freshen up and prepare for your journey.
Overall: 4/5
Enjoying a glass of wine inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.Ali Millington | Narcity
I found the lounge to be comfortable with a decent food and drink offering, and I left feeling it was well worth the price, even though I'd only had a short amount of time to spend there.
I'd happily go back if I had at least one, ideally two hours to kill before a flight — especially if I could enjoy it with a companion, or if I needed to get some work done.
This article has been updated since it was originally published in September 2022.
There are a total of five different Pearson Airport lounges, from the well-known Plaza Premium Lounge to some lesser-known options catering to customers of specific airlines.
Each lounge has its own set of perks which mostly boil down to the opporunity to enjoy of unlimited food and drinks, a comfortable place to sit down and kill time, and even a shower.
Here is your guide to the five different Pearson Airport lounges and how to get into each of them.
Details: The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge has five different locations scattered across Pearson Airport's Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 for passengers headed on either domestic or international flights. These lounges offer a wide variety of services including cell-free quiet zones, complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, business centres, and showers.
How to get in: Currently, the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is only accessible for business class travellers, passengers travelling on Premium Rouge, Aeroplan 35k members, and Maple Leaf Club members. However, there is an option to add lounge access to the cost of your flight ticket.
Cost: The fare you book with Air Canada determines the extra fee you'll have to pay for Maple Leaf Lounge access. You can access the lounge for $25 on a 'Latitude' fare, $40 on a 'Comfort' fare, and $50 on a 'Flex' fare.
Details: The American Airlines Admirals Club has one location in Terminal 3 at the Transfer Level near the duty-free stores. This lounge has a full-service bar, complimentary food and drinks, and Wi-Fi.
How to get in: Similar to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, this lounge is also only available for passengers travelling with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or any other oneworld® airline.
Details: The KLM Crown Lounge, formerly known as the Air France KLM Lounge, is located in Terminal 3 International departures. This lounge offers a "stylish, serene environment with lots of privacy and space," with food, drinks, and TVs.
How To Get In: This lounge is accessible to all passengers with an international flight departing from Pearson Airport's Terminal 3.
Details: Perhaps the most well-known variety of airport lounges available in Toronto, Plaza Premium Lounges has 7 different locations around Pearson Airport, offering food, drinks, Wi-Fi and access to showers.
How To Get In: These lounges are available to all passengers. Just make sure you find the right location according to which terminal you're departing from, and whether it's a domestic or international flight.
Cost: Varies depending on time spent and services used:
Shower - $24.68 Lounge (2 hours) - $66.68 Lounge (2 hours + shower) - $80.24 Lounge (3 hours) - $81.36 Lounge (6 hours) - $108.48 Children - $46.68 2hrs, $56.94 3hrs, $75.96 6hrs Children under the age of two are free.
Details: The most elite-level lounge at Pearson Airport, is the Air Canada Signature Suite located at Terminal 1 international departures. The "elevated airport experience" offers guests the choice of a bar menu, an all-day buffet, or a sit-down meal created by chef David Hawksworth. Premium drinks are also available alongside a personalized concierge service and priority flight boarding.
How to get in: The Air Canada Signature Suite is only available to Air Canada Signature Class customers, in other words, business-class travellers on international flights to and from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America.
Cost: The is no extra cost for this lounge service, but it will certainly be paid for with the price of your ticket. These flights with Air Canada typically cost several thousand dollars per person.
Plaza Premium Lounge in Vancouver Airport. Plaza Premium Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounge in Vancouver Airport. Plaza Premium Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounge in Vancouver Airport. Plaza Premium Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounge in Vancouver Airport food. Plaza Premium Lounge
The entrance to the Plaza Premium Domestic Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
At the entrance to the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
The entrance to the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
A seating area inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
The buffet and seating area inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
A bathroom inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
The occupied shower room inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
The bar inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
The house alcohol options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
A drink menu inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
Buffet options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
Buffet options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
Buffet options inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
A cookie inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
Enjoying a glass of wine inside the Plaza Premium International Lounge at Terminal 3 of Pearson Airport.
