--- iata: YVR name: Vancouver International Airport city: Vancouver country: Canada lastUpdated: '2026-09-06' officialWebsite: 'https://www.yvr.ca/' sources: - 'https://www.yvr.ca/' - 'https://news.yvr.ca/yvr-marks-record-breaking-year/' - 'https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/pricing-and-fare-zones' - 'https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/transferring-and-addfare' - 'https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/airport/vancouver-international-airport' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/lounges/canada/vancouver-international/yvr7-plaza-premium-lounge-international-departures - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/lounges/canada/vancouver-international/yvr9-plaza-premium-lounge-domestic-departures - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/lounges/canada/vancouver-international/yvr10-plaza-premium-lounge-usa-departures - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/lounges/canada/vancouver-international/yvr12-skyteam-lounge-international-departures - 'https://www.airportlounges.ca/airports/YVR' - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport' quickFacts: - >- Main Terminal on Sea Island (Richmond) with Domestic Piers A–C, International Pier D, and U.S. Pier E after CBP preclearance; South Terminal handles some regional turboprops/floatplanes - >- 26,913,561 passengers in 2025 (+2.7% vs 2024) and 297,350 movements — Canada’s #2 airport and YVR’s all-time passenger record (Airport Authority) - >- Major carriers: Air Canada (Star hub), WestJet, plus dense Asia–Pacific long-haul and U.S. transborder banks - >- Three CATSA streams — A/B/C Canada, D International, E United States — choose from your boarding pass before queuing - >- U.S.-bound passengers clear CBP preclearance at YVR, then often arrive as domestic in the United States - >- Canada Line (YVR–Airport, Level 4) reaches Waterfront in ~25–26 minutes; outbound trips add TransLink’s $6.50 YVR Airport AddFare bentoTips: - label: Timing title: Budget CBP for U.S. flights detail: >- CATSA can look short while Pier E CBP is the real bottleneck. YVR reported 97% of passengers waited ≤15 minutes at security in 2025—that average hides preclearance peaks. summary: >- Domestic often needs 90–120 minutes; international and U.S. preclearance need more on Asia morning and U.S. afternoon banks. category: timing - label: Terminal title: Domestic ≠ International ≠ U.S. detail: >- Wrong stream means exiting and re-clearing. Pier D is non-U.S. international; Pier E is only after U.S. preclearance. South Terminal is a separate building. summary: >- After check-in, follow Domestic, International, or United States signs—those airside zones do not freely interconnect. category: terminal - label: Food title: Eat after the correct security detail: >- Domestic has the densest casual cluster; Pier D clusters around the international food court near D67–D68; Pier E is thinner after CBP, so eat before preclearance if needed. summary: >- The best Pacific Northwest options sit airside in your departure pier—don’t linger landside hoping to cross over. category: food - label: Status title: Match lounge to pier detail: >- Maple Leaf Lounges (C29–C30, D52, E85–E86) are Air Canada/Star pathways only. Cathay’s Pier D lounge is oneworld/CX premium traffic, not PP. summary: >- Priority Pass covers Plaza Premium (B15 / D67–D68 / E88) and SkyTeam near D53—not Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges. category: status lounges: - name: Plaza Premium Lounge (International) zone: Airside international hours: 'Mon–Fri & Sun 07:00–00:00; Sat 06:30–00:00 (Priority Pass; confirm day-of)' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass - Plaza Premium membership / prepaid - Paid day pass when sold bestFor: - Priority Pass on Pier D - Long Asia/Europe waits summary: >- Main PP workhorse after International security—Level 4 Pier D opposite the food court between Gates D67 and D68; typically 2-hour max stay. verdict: worth-it terminal: International / Pier D amenities: - Hot and cold buffet - Bar - Wi-Fi - Showers - Flight screens - name: Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic) zone: Airside domestic hours: '05:00–22:00 daily (Priority Pass listing)' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass - Plaza Premium membership / prepaid - Paid day pass when sold bestFor: - Domestic PP holders - Early domestic banks summary: >- Level 3 near Gate B15. A second domestic Plaza Premium near C29 also appears in directories—follow pier wayfinding. verdict: worth-it terminal: Domestic amenities: - Light food - Soft drinks and alcohol - Wi-Fi - Work seating - name: Plaza Premium Lounge (USA Departures) zone: After U.S. CBP preclearance hours: '04:45–21:00 or 22:00 by weekday (Priority Pass; evening end varies)' access: - Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass - Plaza Premium membership / prepaid - Paid day pass when sold bestFor: - PP after U.S. preclearance - SEA/SFO/LAX morning banks summary: >- Level 3 near Gate E88—only after U.S. CBP. Do not walk to International Plaza Premium hoping to transfer. verdict: worth-it terminal: U.S. Transborder / Pier E amenities: - Buffet snacks - Drinks - Wi-Fi - Quieter seating than Pier E holdrooms - name: SkyTeam Lounge zone: Airside international hours: 'Listed 00:00–23:59 on Priority Pass; treat as flight-bank dependent' access: - SkyTeam eligible premium cabin / elite - Priority Pass (contract lounge) - Day access per operator rules bestFor: - SkyTeam long-haul - PP travelers wanting a quieter Pier D room summary: >- Near Gate D53 after International passport control. Not valid for Canadian domestic or U.S. transborder departures. verdict: worth-it terminal: International / Pier D amenities: - Noodle bar - Buffet - Alcoholic drinks - Wi-Fi - Airfield views - name: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (International) zone: Airside international hours: >- Typically tracks AC international banks (~05:30–late evening); confirm in AC app access: - Air Canada Business on same-day international - Aeroplan 50K / 75K / Super Elite - Star Alliance Gold on Star long-haul - Qualifying Aeroplan co-brand cards on eligible AC international flights bestFor: - AC/Star international elite - Asia/Europe connections summary: >- Flagship West Coast MLL near Gate D52. Priority Pass not accepted. Signature Suite above is invitation-only for eligible paid international Business. verdict: worth-it terminal: International / Pier D amenities: - Buffet - Bar - Wi-Fi - Showers - Work zones - name: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (Domestic) zone: Airside domestic hours: 'Roughly 05:00–22:30 aligned to AC domestic schedule; confirm in AC app' access: - Air Canada Business / eligible premium on domestic - Aeroplan 50K+ / Maple Leaf Club - Star Alliance Gold on AC domestic - Qualifying Aeroplan premium cards on eligible AC flights bestFor: - AC domestic elites - Maple Leaf Club members summary: >- Between Gates C29–C30. Solid if you already qualify; PP holders should use Plaza Premium Domestic instead. verdict: depends terminal: Domestic amenities: - Hot/cold food - Self-serve bar - Wi-Fi - Workstations waterOptions: - kind: refill name: Bottle-fill stations (Domestic) zone: airside summary: >- Mapped bottle fillers on Domestic Level 3—empty at CATSA, then refill before boarding. location: 'Airside near Gates C23, C30–C31, C38 and C45–C48 clusters' terminal: Domestic isBestValue: true isBestQuality: true - kind: refill name: Bottle-fill stations (International Pier D) zone: airside summary: >- Fill after International screening on the way to remote D gates instead of buying duty-free water. location: 'Airside near Gates D51, D54, D64, D66, D71 and D73' terminal: International / Pier D - kind: refill name: Bottle-fill stations (U.S. Pier E) zone: airside summary: >- Refill after CBP on Pier E—useful because post-preclearance retail is thinner. location: Airside near E73 and Gates E82–E86 / E90 terminal: U.S. Transborder / Pier E - kind: purchase name: Newsstands / cafés bottled water zone: airside price: CAD $3–5 typical summary: >- Easy if you skipped a filler, but worse value than the free stations on every pier. location: Domestic and International retail corridors after security terminal: Main Terminal airportistScore: 8 slug: yvr region: North America --- > Markdown for [/airports/yvr](/airports/yvr). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/yvr) - [Lounge directory](/airports/yvr/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Vancouver, Canada · North America A pleasant Pacific hub with standout Canada Line access, strong Priority Pass coverage, and a beautiful main terminal—offset by three security streams and U.S. preclearance queues that punish anyone treating YVR like simple domestic flying. ## Airportist Score **8.0 / 10** - Comfort: 8.4 - Navigation: 7.6 - Food: 7.8 - Transport: 9.2 - Disruption resilience: 7.0 ## At a glance - Passengers: 26.9M - Terminals: 1 main terminal (Domestic + Int'l Pier D + U.S. Pier E) + South Terminal - Typical security: 12 min - On-time: 72% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Canada Line riders heading downtown without a car - Asia–Pacific long-haul connections on Pier D - U.S. preclearance departures when you budget CBP time - Priority Pass travelers who can hit Plaza Premium or SkyTeam ## Watch out for - Entering the wrong CATSA stream (Domestic vs International vs U.S.) - U.S. Pier E lounge/food scarcity before you clear CBP - Outbound Canada Line AddFare stacking on top of zone fares - Pacific weather and winter on-time dips on evening banks ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/yvr/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/yvr/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/yvr/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/yvr/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/yvr/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/yvr/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/yvr/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/yvr/reviews.md)