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| - The pleasantness that is holiday traveling left me in limbo at the Toronto airport for a few hours this season. Stranded travelers were everywhere and I though I'd take the opportunity to cruise the terminals and kill some time. There are actually a number of fun things to do to occupy your time if you ever are stuck in my position (flight delayed, waiting, waiting and more waiting, that is).
First of all, let's get acquainted with the airport. There are now only two terminals; one and three. Confusing? Slightly, but terminal two is no more. The terminals can be accessed via the 401 signage; although the parking will set you back some; or via the TTC (an express bus will take you to each one from Kipling subway station; or a bus from Yorkdale which will cost you an extra $5.00).
A good way to get between terminals is via the sky train that seemingly floats above the airport and zips through the different areas. This is a free mode of transportation that you can take if you're bored and want to visit a different terminal. Terminal 3 is a little more low-key than 1. Terminal 1 is HUGE. Newly renovated and shiny, it has all the good restaurants!
I perused Terminal 3 this year and found a few bars, souvenir and duty free shops to bide some time. I was hungry and went up to a little coffee/sandwich stand that served $9 egg salad, which I uneasily purchased only to find bits of eggshell in it. (Bummer). What really got me was when I asked the counter person where the other shops/eateries were and she told me they were 'very far on the other side of the terminal'. Well, word to the wise, if you happen to hear this, smile politely and walk away.
The restaurants that were very far away happened to be a mere corner turn from my gate (strike two for the egg salad lady)! The higher in number the gate, the more options you'll find for food, reading, etc. Sure, the prices aren't exactly a steal, but once you've been waiting for a few hours, you tend to get hungry to the point when a crappy egg salad sandwich that burned a hole in your pocket and has shells in it tastes pretty good!
All in all, I found Pearson very clean and well organized. The airport staff were generally pleasant, despite the hordes of weary travelers sleep-walking around the terminal. Customs were thorough, but generally not as uneasy as I've noticed in the past.
Lastly, I must comment on the awesomeness that is terminal 3 domestic traveling. I've flown Air Canada and West Jet both, enough times to gage a reasonably well-thought-out comparison, and I will make this very simple. Air Canada; NO. West Jet: a big fat YES!
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