Uber · Confirm the app — official About leftover is about 25 kilometres north of Victoria through Sidney
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
YVR7.6
YYJ8.5+0.9
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
YVR8.4+0.8
YYJ7.6
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
YVR7.8+0.2
YYJ7.6
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
YVR9.2+2.0
YYJ7.2
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
YVR7.0
YYJ7.6+0.6
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
YVR8.1+6.1
YYJ2.0
Best for
YVR
Canada Line riders heading downtown without a carAsia–Pacific long-haul connections on Pier DU.S. preclearance departures when you budget CBP timePriority Pass travelers who can hit Plaza Premium or SkyTeam
YYJ
Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVRAir Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one buildingDrivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lotNEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list
Watch out for
YVR
Entering the wrong CATSA stream (Domestic vs International vs U.S.)U.S. Pier E lounge/food scarcity before you clear CBPOutbound Canada Line AddFare stacking on top of zone faresPacific weather and winter on-time dips on evening banks
YYJ
No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass / Escape YYJ is fictionNo U.S. preclearance and no CATSA CT lane — laptops and LAGs still come outLive destinations table does not print Ottawa, Montréal, Winnipeg, or Friday Harbor — confirm FIDSFAQ leftover still says doors 04:00; the live At-YYJ hours card is 03:00–01:00 and overnight stays are not permitted
Amenities and tips
YVR
Canada Line in-terminalPlaza Premium + SkyTeam PP stackPacific Northwest diningU.S. CBP preclearanceFree Wi-Fi + refill stationsConnected Fairmont hotel
Budget CBP for U.S. flights
Domestic often needs 90–120 minutes; international and U.S. preclearance need more on Asia morning and U.S. afternoon banks.
Domestic ≠ International ≠ U.S.
After check-in, follow Domestic, International, or United States signs—those airside zones do not freely interconnect.
Eat after the correct security
The best Pacific Northwest options sit airside in your departure pier—don’t linger landside hoping to cross over.
Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.
One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR
One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.
Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig
Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.
YVR · 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.
YYJ · Canada’s eleventh-busiest airport in one civil hall — NEXUS front-of-the-line, Spinnakers after CATSA, and $18 Long Term 2 parking, traded against no lounge, no rail, and a 25 km drive from downtown Victoria.
