Originally Posted by
joejones
Upcoming 3 hour layover at YYZ, arriving from the US and flying onward to Japan (both flights on AC). US citizen with ABTC but no NEXUS. Is this enough time to pop out of the sterile area to get lunch with a local friend? And what's the most convenient venue assuming said friend is not flying anywhere that day?
If you decide to pop out of the sterile area you'll need to clear Canadian customs/immigration which depending on the day could take some time (i.e. 30 minutes). If you're flying AC in J you'll have access to priority security at YYZ which if it's anything like Nexus line will take around 10 minutes to clear. Otherwise I would budget 20-30 minutes for security. So the short answer it is possible, especially if your aircraft arrives on time or even a bit early! There's some decent restaurants before the security checkpoint at the AC Terminal, namely a Swiss Chalet and Paramount. I'd recommend eating on premise you don't want traffic or other things holding you up! I'd recommend going through the security checkpoint around an hour before your scheduled departure (esp if you're like me and could care less about boarding first).
Hope that provides some insight!
Safe Travels,
James