Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

YVR is organized around a Main Terminal with Domestic (B/C) and International (D/E) concourses under one roof, plus a separate South Terminal for regional flights. Canada Line trains stop directly between the parkade and the Main Terminal check-in level, and a dedicated shuttle links the South Terminal to the Main Terminal curb in under 10 minutes. Wayfinding is strong with bilingual signage and large color-coded zone markers, and most gates sit on a single concourse level with clear airside connections between the domestic, international, and US pre-clearance areas. Walking between domestic gates and the international pier typically takes 5–10 minutes; the longest airside walk (C to E gates) is about 12–15 minutes at a normal pace with moving walkways in the central spine. The South Terminal shuttle runs every 20 minutes and drops passengers at the Main Terminal arrivals level, adding roughly 15–20 minutes total to any connection. Security screening is handled by multiple CATSA checkpoints: domestic B/C checkpoint near the central departures hall, international D checkpoint beside the international departures lobby, and US pre-clearance screening on the E concourse. Waits are generally shortest midday (10–14 minutes) and longest during early morning North America bank and late-evening Asia departures (25–40 minutes); NEXUS, Premium, and Trusted Traveller lanes are available where signed. International arrivals clear CBSA in a spacious primary inspection hall with automated kiosks; international-to-international passengers follow a marked corridor for connections and usually re-clear security. US-bound passengers complete CBP pre-clearance after security in E, so they arrive stateside as domestic arrivals. Amenities are dense throughout the Main Terminal: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in domestic C and international D, Plaza Premium lounges in international D and domestic B, plus a SkyTeam lounge near gate D53. Dining ranges from local favorites like Salmon n' Bannock on the Fly and Japadog to Cactus Club Café, Tim Hortons, and multiple sushi counters, while duty-free anchors the D/E concourses with art-forward Indigenous galleries and luxury boutiques. Free Wi‑Fi, abundant charging, hydration stations, and quiet seating pockets are easy to find along the central spine. Accessibility is strong with level transitions via elevators and ramps, accessible washrooms near every gate cluster, tactile floor strips, and visual paging screens. Family travelers can use nursing rooms near gates C45 and D67, stroller-friendly wide corridors, kids' play areas by B15 and C29, and priority lanes at select checkpoints. The South Terminal keeps similar amenities scaled for regional operations, with short curb-to-gate distances and curbside assistance on request.