|
Overnight in YYZ - options airside?
Hi all,
I'm on an itinerary in June that involves getting into YYZ at 1am, with a 6:30am onward departure - long enough to need a place to settle for an extended period of time, too short to make leaving the airport worth it. Ugh. Anyone have any recommendations as to places to settle in for the layover? I see references to Rest Zones when googling, but those sound like they are all landside, which doesn't seem desirable to me - needing to get up and get back in through security would cut into resting time. |
Originally Posted by szehui
(Post 30923432)
Hi all,
I'm on an itinerary in June that involves getting into YYZ at 1am, with a 6:30am onward departure - long enough to need a place to settle for an extended period of time, too short to make leaving the airport worth it. Ugh. Anyone have any recommendations as to places to settle in for the layover? I see references to Rest Zones when googling, but those sound like they are all landside, which doesn't seem desirable to me - needing to get up and get back in through security would cut into resting time. So the 5.5h layover may be much less. There isn’t much airside aside from lounges most if not all are closed for a large chunk of that time as YYZ has limited scheduled flights between 1 and 5 - which lounge depends on which area you clear into (domestic/transborder or international). |
Originally Posted by jc94
(Post 30923488)
What route are you taking with which carriers? In many cases you will have to collect and drop your bag again and clear immigration into Canada if not into the US as well if that’s your final stop. You may even need to change terminal which means you are definitely heading landside. So the 5.5h layover may be much less. There isn’t much airside aside from lounges most if not all are closed for a large chunk of that time as YYZ has limited scheduled flights between 1 and 5 - which lounge depends on which area you clear into (domestic/transborder or international). |
You can try staying airside (domestic) for a few hours after you arrive. US Preclearance Immigration/Security will not open until 5am IIRC.
-- 13F |
Originally Posted by Seat13F_AC_CRJ
(Post 30926797)
You can try staying airside (domestic) for a few hours after you arrive. US Preclearance Immigration/Security will not open until 5am IIRC.
-- 13F If the OP heads landside there are more options, and either way you have to clear US immigration. Doing it from a domestic flight might reduce security (never done Dom to TB at YYZ) but it’s unlikely OP is going to be short of time. It’s definitely not open 24/7. But given the daily 6am YYZ ORD flight I gotta hope it opens before 5am, especially when YYZ says to get there 3h before 10am flights. Earliest I’ve done it was around 6 (for an 8am). |
I believe it is supposed to open at 4:30am, coming from the check in desk area. No idea about domestic to US airside at that time of the day. OP, I would find an empty gate and sleep as you get off the plane (assuming you do not have bags to collect) then go through US pre clearance once it opens. It's a while since I was in T1 domestic, but I see people camped out in T3 when I arrive for early morning flights down to Mexico. A lightweight air mattress may make the proposition a little more comfortable.
|
OP here, thanks for all of your insights! I had not previously thought about not being able to get into the TB area until 4:30, so thanks very much for pointing that out. I'll shop for some lightweight air mattresses for the family, and in the meantime hope that our schedule gets changed thanks to the 7M8 debacle.
|
After spending a "night" at Luton airport ages ago I swore to myself never again. Its airport hotel even if just 4hrs.
|
Originally Posted by Maestro Ramen
(Post 30929360)
After spending a "night" at Luton airport ages ago I swore to myself never again. Its airport hotel even if just 4hrs.
Obviously you could cut it tighter especially depending upon passport and say Nexus and priority security etc... But I think you’d be cutting it fine. And if there’s a whole family? I‘m assuming that means kids and thats likely going to be a nightmare. |
Originally Posted by jc94
(Post 30930018)
Arrival at 1am however means you probably won’t make it into either of the two closest hotels until 1:30am even if on time after you clear immigration and customs. And that’s being optimistic. Then you’d probably want to check out at 4am. So I’m reality it’s more like 2 hours. Obviously you could cut it tighter especially depending upon passport and say Nexus and priority security etc... But I think you’d be cutting it fine. And if there’s a whole family? I‘m assuming that means kids and thats likely going to be a nightmare. |
Originally Posted by Maestro Ramen
(Post 30929360)
After spending a "night" at Luton airport ages ago I swore to myself never again. Its airport hotel even if just 4hrs.
There are plenty of airports where spending the "night" (depending on your body clock time) ranges from reasonably pleasant to bearable, though I don't know about YYZ. |
Originally Posted by :D!
(Post 30932701)
That's because it's Luton. One of the moderators here on FT is called LTN Phobia for a reason.
There are plenty of airports where spending the "night" (depending on your body clock time) ranges from reasonably pleasant to bearable, though I don't know about YYZ. To be honest I rarely sit around YYZ outside the lounges, which aren’t great but beat the gates. When they’re open. It should be reasonably quiet at these hours though, and I believe some of the food places are 24/7. And there should be tons of spare seating as well. Find a deserted gate but to be honest if you take it easy getting through immigration you’ll only have about 2h in my opinion before you can head to US pre clearance. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 1:03 pm. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.