Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Airport (YUL) Flights & Flight Status

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), often casually shortened to Montréal-Trudeau, is one of the busiest airports in Canada, and certainly the busiest in Quebec. If you’re visiting this eastern Canadian city, spread across Montréal Island and known for its European heritage, prepare to hear plenty of French and see it on most signs too. But don’t worry, English is equally prevalent, especially at the airport. Use these expert tips for flying through YUL with ease.

Flying to the US from Montréal

Anyone flying to the US from Montréal-Trudeau should pay special attention to this important point. Montréal is one of a handful of cities that has a US Customs and Border Protection checkpoint for pre-clearance to the States. In other words, you’ll complete US customs and immigration here, in Canada. The good news is you won’t have to do this on landing, but the catch is that you’ll need to leave more time at YUL before your flight.

If you’re travelling with a US passport, this process is typically pretty quick. You can expect to wait around 20–30 minutes here on a normal day, but I recommend budgeting an extra 45 minutes, just to be safe, and more during school and public holidays. There are many places in an airport where passengers running late can usually skip the queue, but border control is rarely one of them.

UK citizens with Global Entry can use designated lanes with kiosks to automate the process. This dramatically speeds up processing time. I’m usually through US Customs and Border Protection at YUL in around three minutes with Global Entry. Membership requires a slightly cumbersome application process with the UK Home Office (well in advance of travel), but it’s worth the effort if it’s in your budget.

Returning travellers transferring via YUL on the 90-day ESTA visa waiver programme can download the free Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app to submit passport and travel information in advance, which can speed up the customs process. You can even download this as late as while waiting at immigration, then skip ahead to your expedited queue.

Security queues at YUL

Security queues tend to move quickly at Montréal-Trudeau. While it’s still recommended to arrive 90 minutes or more ahead of your scheduled departure time, you usually won’t wait more than 20–30 minutes for screening, even for general security. Note that American programmes like TSA PreCheck won’t apply here, since this is a Canadian authority.

However, one of my favourite bonuses of some Canadian airports is that you can use Global Entry for expedited security – and YUL is one of those airports. The only catch is that you need to bring your physical Global Entry card with you to show the agent. You never need your card for air border control, the primary use of Global Entry, but you do need it for this, so take note and pack it.

Getting to and from YUL by public transportation

The most affordable way to travel between Montréal city centre and YUL airport is by bus. You can find the 747 bus outside baggage claim just beyond door 28 and it conveniently runs 24/7. There are multiple stops in the city centre, including the central bus station, but the ride can take up to 70 minutes and is often packed. I’ve had to stand with my luggage the whole way, which can get tiresome.

Still, while it does cost a bit more than most airport–city centre bus transfers, it’s certainly the cheapest option at YUL, and worth considering if you have the time. If you’re concerned about how busy it will be, I recommend heading to the stop and checking it out before outright rejecting it. Depending on the time of day, you may find it less crowded and therefore worthwhile.

You can also take long-distance buses directly from YUL to other cities, including Ottawa, Québec City and Trois-Rivières. In most cities, you’d need to travel from the airport to a central bus station before heading to another destination, but here you can do so right from door 28, where the other city buses are.

You can also venture onward by train, and there’s a free shuttle from YUL to the train station in Dorval (just outside the airport grounds). Don’t make the mistake I did, looking for signs to the train station. Instead, follow signs to the shuttle pickup, which is just outside doors 7 and 8 in the baggage claim area.

Getting to and from YUL by car

Taxis are a convenient option from Montréal-Trudeau to the city centre area for a couple of reasons. First, I love that rates are fixed, so you know exactly what you’ll pay, as long as your destination is within the city centre limits. Second, airport attendants arrange taxis for you (no reservation required), so you’ll always get an official taxi and pay the official fixed rate.

To find a taxi, exit the baggage claim area between doors 23–28. I recommend checking rideshare apps before hopping in a cab though. Because cab fares are fixed, it’s easy to find out if a rideshare will be cheaper and, in my experience so far, they always are. Catch one of these cars outside door 6 or 7. Either way, the ride will take 20–30 minutes.

Airline lounges at YUL

There are several lounges throughout YUL. Air Canada hosts a lounge in all three areas: domestic, international and transborder US. This is the only lounge in the transborder area, so if you’re flying from here to the US (like I usually am), you’ll need to be a qualifying Star Alliance member to use a lounge.

If you’re flying internationally, Priority Pass membership can get you into all three of the lounges in this area of the YUL. You can access the KLM/Air France lounge (also available to qualifying SkyTeam members), the Salon VIP (also available to anyone for a fee) and the National Bank Lounge (also available to qualifying credit card holders).

Things to do during a layover at YUL

If you’re connecting domestically, you can stop at my favourite YUL restaurant, Bistrot Montréal-Trudeau, near gate 1. This little bistro is all about French and Quebecois comfort food, like poutine and croque monsieur. Heading to the US, the dining options are a bit more limited, especially for local flavours, but I like the French pastries at Brioche Dorée and you can get a nice cup of coffee here too.

Because YUL is so close to Atwater Market (about a 15–20-minute drive), this is also a great option for a fun bite if you have time to leave the airport. I love snacking on local charcuterie and Quebecoise cheeses here, but I only recommend doing this if you’re not travelling to the States, in case there are any delays with border control (unless your layover is at least four hours).

It’s also possible to visit Old Montréal with a long enough layover. It can take about half an hour each way, so budget at least an hour just for commuting. But the European charm of this neighbourhood’s historic architecture and cobblestone streets is worth the visit if you can make it. Similarly, I don’t recommend this for those travelling onward to the US, unless you have at least four hours and make a brief tour.

Lockers and storage at YUL

Unlike most airports today, I love that Montréal-Trudeau still offers a storage option. There are no lockers, but there’s a cloakroom service on the arrivals level by doors 21 and 23. You can leave anything from an envelope to a large suitcase for varying daily rates, with discounts for extended weeks. Keep in mind that you must show a departure boarding pass or departure flight confirmation in order to check any items.

Weather delays at YUL

Montréal is known for harsh winters and heavy snowfalls, so it’s wise to be mindful of scheduling connections here in winter. While they’re well-equipped to handle their local conditions, there are still a fair share of delays and cancellations related to winter weather. I try to avoid connecting through here in colder months if airports in less snow-severe cities are available.