Finding your way through YVR

Passengers at YVR wondering how to get to their gate, where to find a bite to eat, or when the next shuttle will depart just got a helping hand.

Two recent additions to YVR’s wayfinding tools are making it easier for passengers to find what they’re looking for: an interactive map, and live shuttle wait times.

How can passengers at YVR find their way around the terminal?

Launched in the spring of 2026, YVR’s interactive digital map provides turn-by-turn directions to nearly 1,500 points of interest around the terminal, including everything from gates and check-in counters to shops, restaurants, lounges, and even water bottle fill stations.

Passengers who are looking for an item or dish rather than a specific location can search for general terms like “coffee,” “burger,” “vegetarian,” or “headphones.” The map will display suggested locations where these can be found, including open hours and contact information. Some restaurants also provide a link to place an order in advance.

The map also provides an option to select a wheelchair accessible route.

Passengers can access the map on their personal devices by visiting map.yvr.ca, or find it integrated into participating airline apps, including Air Canada, WestJet, and United Airlines.

How do passengers find out when the next shuttle bus will arrive?

The answer isn’t always straightforward. While the South Terminal shuttle operates on a fixed schedule that changes seasonally, the jetSet shuttle runs continuously without a set schedule. Traffic congestion and other operational factors can also affect travel times, making it difficult to know exactly when the next bus will arrive.

YVR’s innovation team found a way to use bus GPS locations, speed, and past travel patterns to estimate shuttle arrival times, then integrated this information into displays at shuttle departure points, providing real-time updates for travellers waiting to depart. Outside Canada Line operating hours, shuttle wait times are also displayed for Value Long Term Parking and Templeton Station.

This provides peace of mind for travellers waiting for a shuttle, enabling them to know whether they have time to grab a coffee or run to the washroom before their ride arrives.

Terminal wayfinding is essential to operations at YVR, helping us deliver a seamless passenger experience from curb to cloud. As always, static in-terminal signage and in-person guest experience staff and volunteers will be available to assist and direct passengers. These new digital alternatives are supplementing the existing methods and meeting passenger demand and preferences, finding ways to reach more passengers on the platforms that they prefer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.