What to do when stuck at the Toronto Pearson International Airport
Over 200 Air Canada flights were cancelled on July 3, 2015 at the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) due to a fuel company dispute. By July 4, 2015, flights started to go back to normal, though as a precaution, it is always better to check your flight status ahead of time. Kudos to Air Canada as they allowed passengers to rebook their flights at no cost.
That being said, Toronto Pearson International Airport is probably one of the better airports to be stuck at. So it got me thinking of a list of things to do if you were stranded at the airport:
Shop and Dine
The airport is definitely head to head with the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in terms of the most variety of shops and restaurants to choose from. Some of the better stores and restaurants to choose from are:
Lounge Access
Especially if you have lounge access with your credit cards or elite statuses, you should definitely take advantage of any lounge that you can access. Lounges are becoming very popular with travellers, so it can get a little crowded, but it is still better than sitting by the gate. Some of the lounges include:
- Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges
- Air France-KLM Lounge
- American Airlines’ Admirals Club
- British Airways’ Lounge
- Plaza Premium Lounges
Free Wi-Fi
Even if you don’t have lounge access, having free Internet access can make a world of difference if we are stuck at an airport. This is especially helpful for people who need Internet access to continue their work, then it doesn’t feel like you are wasting your time. Just find a comfortable spot to set up shop and you’re good to go!
Arts, Entertainment, Exhibits
If you are a fan of art work and exhibits, you may appreciate walking around and checking out the permanent collection, which includes 3 large-scale sculptures. The changing exhibition spaces and dinosaurs skeletons are located throughout Terminal 1.
American Express Cloud 10
Depending on which American Express credit card you have, you can gain access to different types of special services with Cloud 10 including: lounge access, express access (priority check-in and security help), parking and car care (valet services), download complimentary
songs and eBooks, etc.
Buy a “Long Layover” ticket at one-way ticket price on the website of Union Pearson Express. $27.50 gets you a round-trip ticket to downtown Toronto valid for 6 hours! It only takes 25 minutes to get there by train.
That’s a great suggestion!
Hello.
What will AMEX Platinum do now that they have dropped the CX Gold membership perk? We are paying $699/year and I am not seeing the benefits. I even called AMEX Plat about the $200 credit and they said only valid when I book a hotel or flight through their concierge…
I don’t churn cards and have had the same Plat card for 20 years and I am not seeing the benefits anymore.
At least they could give AC 50k *G status or something to replace the now lost CX Gold.
Unfortunately the lack of competition in Canada does that.
Unbeliveable! How can that kind of thing happen? YYZ airport management is atrocious.