What is the quickest method of doing pearson airport to CN tower - we have a 9 hr lay over - is it possible?? any idea of cost??? if not possible any other ideas of how to spend the time - is there a mall?? or anything??? if not is there a lounge?? Thanks gwen

What is the quickest method of doing pearson airport to CN tower - we have a 9 hr lay over - is it possible?? any idea of cost??? if not possible any other ideas of how to spend the time - is there a mall?? or anything??? if not is there a lounge?? Thanks gwen

Quickest? Taxi, cost in the range of $90 for the round trip.

Other option is to take the Airport Express shuttle bus
round trip is $26.30 get off at the Intercontinenal Hotel in Front Street, it's just down the block. Schedules and ticket info:
http://www.torontoairportexpress.com/

Where are you connecting to? If you are coming from LHR and connecting on to the US and have checked bags then I think you are stuck at the airport, if you leave the sterile area there's no way to get back to collect your bags to clear US formalities. If you are connecting to a domestic flight or headed to the UK or Europe then yes 9 hours is enough time to go downtown, on the airport express, have a couple hours to see some sights and get back to the airport.

If you want "cheapest" rather than "quickest", and you don't have luggage to carry, you can take the bus and subway to the CN Tower. Cost is $2.75 CDN each way (you will need exact change on the bus when leaving the airport), and the time each direction is approximately an hour.

Information on the Airport Bus is here:

http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/service_to_airport.htm

Take the 192 to Kipling Station. Then take the Bloor subway to St George, and transfer to the University subway south to Union.

From Union, take the stairs up to street level, and you can't miss the CN tower. It's about a 5 minute walk along Front Street from the subway to the tower. (There's also an indoor way of walking from Union if the weather is bad - there should be signs).

Enjoy your (brief) stay in Toronto.

OH dear - the connection is coming in from Manchester connecting to Orlando - so looks like I am stuck for 9 hrs in the airport!!! is there any lounges I can buy in to?? - I could see if I could do hand luggage only - would that be okay?? Gwen

I assume you're flying Air Canada?

At Manchester, you could request that your bags only get checked through to Toronto. Then they would come out the normal International Arrivals carousel, rather than the carousel for US connections. You could then clear Canada Customs, and head downtown for a few hours. (You would have to store your luggage at a luggage storage place at the airport, and then recheck them for the Orlando flight after you come back from downtown).

(You would have to store your luggage at a luggage storage place at the airport, and then recheck them for the Orlando flight after you come back from downtown).Can't he check-in immediately again for the flight to Orlando? Or can you only check-in your baggage a few hours before departure?

SmilingBoy.

Can't he check-in immediately again for the flight to Orlando? Or can you only check-in your baggage a few hours before departure?

SmilingBoy.

Flights from most major airports in Canada to the US clear US Immigration and Customs before departure (allowing these flights to land at domestic gates at the US airport).

While in Toronto, she needs to take her luggage with her through the US inspection, and then put them on a belt after she is though. But once she is at this point, there's no turning back (or at least not without major hassle) -- she can't leave the terminal since she's already been INS cleared.

Flights from most major airports in Canada to the US clear US Immigration and Customs before departure (allowing these flights to land at domestic gates at the US airport).

While in Toronto, she needs to take her luggage with her through the US inspection, and then put them on a belt after she is though. But once she is at this point, there's no turning back (or at least not without major hassle) -- she can't leave the terminal since she's already been INS cleared.Yes, I understand that. But can't she tag the luggage to YYZ, pick up the luggage, and then take the luggage to the standard, landside check-in to check-in and drop her bags? Then go downtown and come back to the airport for the flight. No luggage storage needed. This should work unless there is a maximum check-in time before departure. (I'm also asking because I may have a similar situation at YYZ in summer.)

SmilingBoy.

Yes, I understand that. But can't she tag the luggage to YYZ, pick up the luggage, and then take the luggage to the standard, landside check-in to check-in and drop her bags? Then go downtown and come back to the airport for the flight. No luggage storage needed. This should work unless there is a maximum check-in time before departure. (I'm also asking because I may have a similar situation at YYZ in summer.)

SmilingBoy.

If she were transfering to a domestic Canadian, or a non-US International flight, then she could do as you suggest (in fact, they could be tagged all the way through at her first departure point, and then in Toronto she would only have to pick them up to go through Canada Customs, and then put them back on the rechecked baggage belt after clearing).

But when transfering to a US flight, she needs to keep her bags with her until after she has cleared US Immigrations and Customs. Once she's done that, she can't leave.

(To make it easier to understand, even for originating YYZ passengers, the landside check-in for US bound flights will tag bags, but they do not take them, since as mentioned, one must clear US customs with them first).

If she were transfering to a domestic Canadian, or a non-US International flight, then she could do as you suggest (in fact, they could be tagged all the way through at her first departure point, and then in Toronto she would only have to pick them up to go through Canada Customs, and then put them back on the rechecked baggage belt after clearing).

But when transfering to a US flight, she needs to keep her bags with her until after she has cleared US Immigrations and Customs. Once she's done that, she can't leave.

(To make it easier to understand, even for originating YYZ passengers, the landside check-in for US bound flights will tag bags, but they do not take them, since as mentioned, one must clear US customs with them first).I see. Thanks for the clarification!

SmilingBoy.

But when transfering to a US flight, she needs to keep her bags with her until after she has cleared US Immigrations and Customs. Once she's done that, she can't leave.
Right! For transborder flights, one must accompany the luggage after passport control for it to be transported into the flight. This does not only apply to YYZ but all Canadian airports with flights through U.S. preclearance.