About Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Vancouver International Airport, situated on Sea Island, is the primary gateway for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia. The airport encompasses three distinct terminals: International, Domestic, and South. This Vancouver International Airport guide provides essential details on terminal amenities, transport connectivity options, and accommodations near the airport.

Information:

Information counters are located in Departures and Arrivals of each terminal. For additional assistance, Green Coat Volunteers are on hand to respond to inquiries. Should passengers require further help, they can contact Customer Service at +1 604 207 7077.

Website:

Driving directions:

Vancouver International Airport is located on Grant McConachie Way, accessible via British Columbia Highway 99, which extends from the US border to its terminus at the junction with Highway 97 near Cache Creek. Travellers coming from Surrey and Coquitlam can take Highway 91 West towards Richmond, then join Highway 99, which leads directly to the airport. For additional details, refer to this page.

Transfer between terminals:

Walkways and travelators provide a seamless connection between the Domestic and International terminals at Vancouver International Airport (there is no shuttle service required for this transit). For those needing to reach the South Terminal, a complimentary shuttle service operates from the Domestic and International terminals, with pick-up and drop-off points conveniently situated outside Departures Level 3 of both terminals.

Passengers from the US catching connecting international flights from Vancouver are required to pass through Canadian Customs. Conversely, international passengers with connecting flights to the US are exempt from Canadian Customs clearance but must proceed through Pre-Board Screening and the US Immigration Primary Inspection Line.

Public Transport

Public transport road:

Long Distance Buses: YVR Skylynx operates two long-distance routes from Vancouver International Airport:
• Whistler express shuttle via Squamish and Creekside Village
• Victoria service via Tsawwassen Bay and Swartz Bay
Passengers can buy tickets online or at the Skylynx kiosk located in Domestic Arrivals.

Taxi: Licensed taxis are available at International Arrivals, Domestic Arrivals, and outside the South Terminal of Vancouver International Airport. All trips originating from Vancouver International Airport operate on a fixed zone fare system. For instance, destinations such as Canada Place and downtown Vancouver fall within Zone 9, which entails a set rate of CAD$41 as of December 2023. Additional information is available on this page.

Ride-hailing: Kabu, Lyft, and Uber operate in Vancouver and are allowed to pick up passengers from Vancouver International Airport. The pick-up areas are at International Arrivals, Domestic Arrivals, and outside the South Terminal.

Public transport rail:

Rail: The Canada Line is a rapid transit rail service that operates between Vancouver and Richmond, with a connection to Vancouver International Airport. The line's YVR Airport station is conveniently situated in the central foyer, between the Domestic and International terminals. Travellers boarding at the airport are required to pay an additional CAD$5 YVR AddFare on top of the standard zone fare, which is automatically included in the ticket price. Tickets can be purchased from machines or by using a contactless credit card, though it's important to note that cards issued by banks outside of Canada may be subject to extra charges. For more details, refer to this page.

The Canada Line does not offer services to the South Terminal.

Terminal facilities

Money:

ATMs are available.

ICE Currency Exchange has ten counters located before and after security, in both Domestic and International terminals.

Food:

A plethora of dining choices are available throughout Vancouver International Airport, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

Shopping:

Vancouver International Airport offers a diverse array of shopping options, including duty-free outlets. Travellers also have the convenience of reserving duty-free products online to pick up before their flight. Passengers heading to Australia and the USA should verify with the duty-free stores to ensure their purchases comply with the entry regulations of these countries.

Luggage:

Luggage storage is available at both Domestic and International Terminals.

Porters are also available to help with luggage. For rates, call +1 604 303 3787.

For items lost within Vancouver International Airport, proceed to Level 3, and look for the desk across from check-in counter 280. Operation hours are from 0900 to 1700 daily.

For lost baggage or items left on a plane, contact the airline directly.

Other:

There is a pharmacy, a medical centre, and a dental centre, all of which are located on Level 1 in Domestic Terminal.

Spa is located near Gate C47 (Domestic Terminal) and Gate E85 (International Terminal), respectively.

Airport facilities

Conference and business:

Lounges, located in each terminal, offer basic business services.

In addition, the on-site Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, located on Level 3 in International Terminal, has over 8,000 sq ft of meeting spaces. Visit Fairmont for more information.

Communication Facilities:

Free Wi-Fi is available.

In addition, a full-service Canada Post is available before security on Level 1, Domestic Terminal.

Disabled facilities:

Vancouver International Airport is equipped with comprehensive facilities to accommodate travellers of all abilities. Amenities include level curbs, dedicated check-in and border agency kiosks with tactile keys and audio jacks, audio-visual paging services, as well as the AIRA app and smart glasses designed to assist blind or partially sighted passengers in navigating the airport. Additional facilities include an animal relief area, accessible washrooms, and assisted changing rooms.

Travelers needing special arrangements should notify their airline at least 48 hours before their journey.

Car parking:

The multilevel Parkade located directly in front of the Domestic Terminal at Vancouver International Airport provides both short-term and long-term parking options.

Jetset Parking, situated approximately 1.5km away on N Service Road, offers long-term parking to those who have pre-booked online. A complimentary shuttle service runs from this car park to the terminal every 20 minutes, with the trip taking roughly 5 to 7 minutes.

Value Long Term Parking, found about 2.2km away on Templeton Station Road, caters to travellers comfortable with a brief, complimentary train ride to the terminal. For times outside of train operations, a free shuttle service is available.

Car rental:

Car hire companies, including Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty, are available on the ground floor of the Parkade, opposite the Domestic Terminal.

There are also car rental companies operating outside the airport, but offering free shuttle service from the curbside courtesy shuttle zones. These companies include Routes, Evo, Aligo, and Sixt.