Montreal-Trudeau International Airport: Flights From Montreal to the World

Montreal-Trudeau International Airport: Flights From Montreal to the World

Montreal airport choices usually center on the third-busiest Airport in Canada: Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. Its name is something of a misnomer, since the airport is located, not actually in the city of Montreal, but 20 kilometers away in the town of Dorval, Quebec. That’s a short, 20-minute drive, easily made by car or public transportation. (More about those options in a minute.)

What Montreal Airport Offers

First, let’s look at the advantages of booking a flight from Montreal’s airport.

· Choice of Destination: Montreal-Trudeau Airport is truly an international airport, with approximately 130 destinations served and a long line of airlines. These include such giants as Delta, Air France, British Airways, United, and Continental, as well as highly-regarded regional carriers like Porter. It’s also a major hub for Air Canada flights. Each of the airport’s three terminals handles a different group of passengers: domestic, US-bound, and all other international destinations.

· Amenities: Over 90 restaurants, shops, and boutiques are onsite.

· Public Ground Transportation: Montreal Airport is served by city buses, taxis, trains, and limos. It also offers shuttles to nearby commercial and tourist centers, including Mont-Tremblant, Trois-Rivieres, Ste-Foy, Quebec City, and Ottawa-Gatineau.

· Car Rental: Many well-known car rental companies are available to Montreal-bound travellers, including Avis, Alamo, Budget, Hertz, and Enterprise.

· Hotels: With the city only a 20-minute drive away, hotel choices are practically limitless. Nearby lodging choices include Novotel, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, Marriott, Best Western, and Wyndham.

Before Booking Your Flight From Aeroports de Montreal, You Should Know…

· Montreal-Trudeau may be the biggest airport in the region, but it’s not the only choice for outgoing flights. Many Canadians choose to use one of the smaller, US-based airports to the south; popular choices include New York State’s Plattsburgh International Airport (code: PBG) and Vermont’s Burlington International Airport (code: BTV). These offer shorter lines, cheap parking rates, and even deals to destinations within the US. A more compact layout and a lower volume of customers means less time spent waiting and walking from terminal to terminal.

· Montreal-Trudeau International Airport code is YUL; its name in French is Aeroports de Montreal.

· As one of Canada’s busiest airports, expect to have long lines to wait in, whether it’s for check-in, security, or customs. Like many airports its size, Montreal-Trudeau has its downsides, from a busy baggage claim area to apparently understaffed services. Be patient, plan ahead, and give yourself plenty of time to get to your gate. And realize that you may be walking a long ways, either for a connecting flight or for your original flight. Experienced travellers know that this inconvenience comes with the territory for larger airports.

· On the plus side, many upgrades have either been completed or are in the planning and building stage. These include extensive updates to the facility as well as an efficient Montreal city-center-bound shuttle service. Also, Montreal Airport was repeatedly praised for its cleanliness.

So in summary, your next flight from Montreal could take you almost anywhere. And a flight to Montreal can be the gateway for a great vacation, no matter whether you plan on skiing the slopes, hitting the shopping district, or taking in some great food and music. Before you go, double check smaller regional airports; you may find a great deal if you don’t mind a connecting flight along the way in most cases. And finally, when using a large facility like Montreal’s airport, plan for extra wait time and long walks.