Connecting at Toronto Pearson: terminals, Canadian customs and US preclearance

Toronto Pearson has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and they're not connected inside security. If your flights use different terminals, you ride the free terminal train and go through security again. What else you do depends on where you're coming from and going: Canadian customs if you arrive from abroad and fly on within Canada, US preclearance if your next flight goes to the US, and sometimes nothing at all for international-to-international connections in Terminal 1.

How much time does the airport say you need?

Pearson doesn't publish a minimum connection time. It tells connecting travellers to contact their airline about timing and bags, and it offers an online connection guide: enter your arriving and departing flights and it lists your steps, including whether you change terminals, clear customs or go through security.

Two hard limits to know:

• US preclearance hours: US processing runs from 3:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in both terminals.
• Terminal train: 2 to 8 minutes between stations, with a wait of up to 4 or 8 minutes depending on the time of day.

On one ticket, the airline sold you a connection that meets its minimum and must rebook you if you miss it. Read is a 1-hour layover enough?

Changing terminals

1. Collect or drop your bags if needed (see below).
2. Take the free terminal train between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. It runs 24 hours a day.
3. Go through security in your departure terminal.
4. Clear US customs if your next flight goes to the US.

Your bags

• Tagged to your final destination: you may still need to pick them up and put them on the connection drop-off belt. When you arrive in Terminal 3 from abroad and connect onward, turn left right after the baggage hall to find it.
• Not tagged beyond Pearson (for example on separate tickets): collect them and check in again for your next flight.

Arriving from abroad and flying on

Flying to the US from Pearson

With US Customs and Border Protection at Pearson, you clear US customs and immigration before you board. The order is security screening first, then the US customs hall. When you land in the US, you walk off like a domestic passenger. Trusted traveller members have kiosks and a dedicated line. Read connecting in Canada to the US.

Follow the first flight

Add both flights to FlyingOver before you travel. You'll follow the first flight offline and see its estimated arrival, and with Premium, connection guidance shows whether your layover looks comfortable, whether you need to keep moving or whether you should go directly to the gate.