The day has finally arrived, the day you leave for vacation! You’ve checked and double-checked that your flights are departing on time, you’ve done your flight check-in online, you have your boarding pass (don’t worry, you can still check-in at the airport), you have your passport in hand and are heading out the door to the airport. But why do you need to arrive 3 hours before the scheduled departure time?
Arriving 3 hours prior allows passengers plenty of time to get their luggage checked-in, get through security, use the washroom, double-check what gate the flight will be leaving, arrive at the gate on time and if you’re anything like me, grab a quick snack for your flight.
Bringing me to the nitty-gritty about my post “Passing time at the Airport.”
Window Shopping
Have you ever noticed when you pass thru security, there are shops galore as you make your way to your gate? These shops are perfect for picking up last-minute items, i.e. Kleenex, aspirin, etc. and for browsing. You would be surprised at what you can find in airport stores and just how much time can quickly pass when browsing the stores.
Bring a book or magazine
What a better way to pass the time then to catch up on the latest celebrity gossip than reading the newest magazine; Okay, it doesn’t need to be the tabloids, but you get my meaning. Perhaps you prefer to get lost in a good book (but you don’t want to miss your flight).
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People watch at the airport bar, café or restaurant
This one can be expensive as food and 
beverages tend to be costly at the airport but can be fun. You might meet someone on the same flight as you and share travel stories. Just remember you don’t want to drink too much before travelling, because you never know how it will affect you while you are in flight. Plus, drinking a lot of alcohol before a flight can cause hypoxia, causing a person to become dehydrated much faster than they would on the ground, or take an overnight flight, the effects of jet lag may last longer. You can always find me at a tea shop like David’s Tea or a Booster Juice while on my way to the Plaza Premium Lounges.
Spending time in the Airport Lounge
This one is my favourite! Most major airports and some airlines have what is known as a lounge. The lounges can be a fantastic way to wait for your boarding call. Some airlines, such as British Airways, have their lounges. Toronto Pearson International Airport offers the Plaza Premium Lounges in terminal 1 and 3. I can often be found in the Premium Lounge while I wait for my boarding times. for their premium fliers. for more information about BA’s Lounge click here.
Plaza Premium Lounges are located after the security in 
Terminal 1 and are open to all passengers; These lounges offer flat-screen TVs, fresh food, and hot and cold drinks. For passengers departing flying within Canada, the Plaza Premium Lounge is located near gate D20 and is open every day from 5:00 AM – 10:30 PM. Although this lounge is available to all passengers, this is where you will most likely find fellow passengers staying within Canada. Passengers with a connecting or departing flight can find a Plaza Premium Lounge near Gate 77 and is open from 5:30 AM – 1:30 AM. Passengers flying to the United States out of terminal 1 can find a premium lounge near gate F55. The hours of operation for this lounge is 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
Terminal 3 offers different Plaza Premium Lounges are open to all passengers are located after security, and each one is just a little bit different. The first lounge, located near Gate B24, is available from 5:00 AM – 10:30 PM offers flat-screen TVs, fresh food, and hot and cold beverages.
The second Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 close to Gate C32; This lounge is open from 4:30 AM to 1:00 AM, and offers a more enhanced menu, a noodle bar, flat-screen TV’s computer stations, and hot and cold beverages.
The third Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 near Gate A10 is open from 5:00 AM to 10:30 PM. This lounge offers a cooking station (custom order your breakfast), flat-screen TV’s, rush food, and hot and cold beverages. This lounge is more popular with passengers flying to the United States out of terminal 3 due to its proximity to US-bound flights’ departure gates.
For more information regarding Plaza Premium Lounges at Toronto Pearson International Airport, please click here.
Airport Spa's
Okay, I’ve never tired a spa’s at Toronto Pearson International Airport; in the terminal 3 departure hall, but the more I read about it, the more I want to try it out!! The spa is called Be Relax, and terminal 3 offers the Be Relax locations. The first one is near Gate B5 is open between 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, the second, near Gate B27, is open noon – 9:00 PM, and the third is close to Gate C36 is available between 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM. Each Be Relax Spa location offers chair or table massage, facial, manicure, pedicure or waxing service. Professional massages offer different techniques, including Swedish, Shiatsu, Hot Stone and Acupressure. The philosophy of the Be Relax Spa is simple: to make travelling more pleasant by creating an airport lounge where you could relax and unwind before or during your journey. I don’t know about you but having a massage before my flight sounds like the perfect way to start a vacation. For more information about the Be Relax Spa, click here.
Have you tried the Be Relax Spa? Please share your experience with us in the comments.
These are just a few options at Toronto Pearson International Airport; however, there is so much more to see and do to help you pass the time while waiting for your flight.
Until next time Stay safe, Stay healthy.
Mary – Traveling Baroness
