Cheap flights from Brisbane to Toronto

Flying out of Brisbane Airport

The third largest airport in Australia, Brisbane Airport (BNE) is located about 18 km from downtown Brisbane. The airport serves over 20 million passengers per year and consists of an international terminal and a domestic terminal.

There are currently no airlines that offer direct flights from Brisbane Airport to Toronto. However, there are a few airlines that fly the route with just one layover. Passengers should arrive at the international terminal at least three hours before flight departure. The terminal has many post-security amenities to keep you entertained while you wait, like shopping, a wellness spa and free Wi-Fi.

Toronto Airport Options

Though Toronto is served by two international airports, the first, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) (or Toronto Island Airport), is not the best option when flying from Brisbane to Toronto. The two airlines that serve this airport only fly within Canada and the United States. A route starting in Brisbane would have at least three stops before landing at YTZ, usually in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

Toronto's second airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), is Canada's largest airport. The airport is located 22.5 km from downtown Toronto. Flights from Brisbane to Toronto YYZ are possible with just one stop, on airlines like Air Canada (with a stop in Vancouver), Virgin Australia (with a stop in Los Angeles) and American Airlines (with a stop in Los Angeles).

Air Canada and other Star Alliance members all use Toronto Pearson's Terminal 1. Virgin Australia and American Airlines use Terminal 3. The two terminals are connected by a free Terminal Link Train. Taxis and limousines pick up at the terminal curbs outside of arrivals at both terminals. Taxis and limos from Toronto Pearson to any destination within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are subject to flat rates. A taxi ride into downtown Toronto will cost around $60 CAD and could take up to an hour depending on traffic.

If you're looking for something quicker, the Union Pearson Express Train is a great option. The train runs every 15 minutes and makes the journey between Toronto Pearson and downtown Union Station in less than half an hour. An adult one-way ticket costs $12 CAD. There are also public transit bus stops at Terminal 1. On-site car rental customer service counters can also be found at both terminals.

What to Expect in Toronto

As Brisbane and Toronto are on different hemispheres, there are many differences between the two cities. Brisbane is 14 hours ahead of Toronto, so your days and nights will shift completely. Be prepared to battle extreme jet lag for the first few days. The seasons in the two cities are also opposite - for example, winter in Brisbane is actually summer in Toronto. Though Brisbane experiences mild to warm temperatures year-round, Toronto has very distinct seasons and temperature changes throughout the year. If you will visit between November and March, be prepared for cold, ice and snow.