Living in the quiet forests of Quebec, our annual trip back to the UK is always something we look forward to. This time, we are heading from Montreal (YUL) to London on an Air Canada international flight.
As locals, we know all too well that the never-ending roadworks and construction around Montreal Trudeau Airport can be a nightmare. Traffic access is always a bit of a gamble, and with recent reports of heavy airport congestion, we were naturally a bit anxious about reaching our gate on time.
Here is our up-to-date, first-hand review of what it is really like to depart from YUL right now—from check-in and security queues to the international terminal comfort.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む: 【2026年最新】モントリオール空港から国際線に乗る！エアカナダのチェックインから保安検査までの所要時間は？
- 1. Getting to YUL Airport & Traffic Access
- 2. Air Canada Check-in & Baggage Drop
- 3. Security Check (International Departures)
- 4. Departure Lounge: Wi-Fi, Power Outlets & Amenities
- 5. Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is Always Busy
- 6. Air Canada Boarding & Gate Experience
- Summary & Key Takeaways for Travellers
1. Getting to YUL Airport & Traffic Access
Major construction work is currently underway in the vicinity of Montreal International Airport. Due to the resulting traffic congestion, journey times to the airport are longer than usual. The Air Canada app has also issued a reminder to allow extra time when travelling to the airport.
We always use Montreal International Airport, and traffic jams on the surrounding roads are a regular occurrence. That’s why we’d recommend setting off early, regardless of whether there are roadworks or not.
That’s why we set off early this time too, allowing plenty of time to spare, but it wasn’t as busy as we’d expected, so we arrived at the airport well ahead of schedule.
According to a friend who lives near the airport, the traffic situation has improved considerably compared to last year. We arrived at the airport at 7.11 pm.
2. Air Canada Check-in & Baggage Drop
Perhaps because we arrived a bit too early, neither the self-service check-in machines nor the check-in counters were particularly busy. As we had already checked in online and had no hold luggage, we headed straight through to security.
3. Security Check (International Departures)
We joined the queue at the security checkpoint at 7.19 pm and passed through at 7.24 pm. It wasn’t busy here either, so it went smoothly. It was a Thursday, but it seems weekdays are relatively quiet. Actually, shortly afterwards, the Air Canada flight we were due to take was overbooked, so we had to reschedule our flight for the following day. The next day—Friday—the airport was a bit busier.
4. Departure Lounge: Wi-Fi, Power Outlets & Amenities
There is no staffed passport control area for departures at Montreal International Airport. If you are boarding an international flight (other than to the US), you simply scan your boarding pass at the machine and proceed through the gate.
The gates leading into this international departure area can sometimes get busy, but this time it was a smooth process.
Charging areas at Montreal International Airport
Although Montreal International Airport does not have a particularly extensive network of charging points, some of the chairs in the gate waiting areas are fitted with charging sockets. However, even if the indicator light appears to be on, the socket may be faulty, so it is advisable to check carefully to ensure that your device is actually charging.
Wi-Fi at Montreal International Airport
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. The connection speed is generally fast and reliable, though it can occasionally be slow.
Food and Drink at Montreal International Airport
There are plenty of restaurants and bars inside the airport, but the prices are what you might call ‘airport prices’. As we’re budget travellers, we don’t eat at the airport; we always bring our own food.
There are several free drinking water dispensers, located near the toilets.
5. Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is Always Busy
As usual, there was a long queue outside the Air Canada lounge. We weren’t planning to use the lounge this time, so we just walked straight past.
6. Air Canada Boarding & Gate Experience
The waiting area in front of the gate at Montreal International Airport is spacious enough, with plenty of chairs provided.
We arrived at the gate a little before the scheduled boarding time. All that we needed to do was to wait to board… or so we thought, until we realised our flight had been overbooked. As a result, we volunteered to be rebooked onto the next day’s flight and received a CAD 2,000 Air Canada voucher (per person) as compensation, but I’ve written about that in detail in a separate article.
Summary & Key Takeaways for Travellers
Our advice for those using Montreal International Airport for the first time is :
- As traffic can get congested even whilst construction work is underway, do head to the airport well in advance.
- The restaurants and bars inside the airport are pricey, so if you’re on a budget, I recommend bringing your own food.
- There are several lounges at the airport, but they’re almost always packed.
That’s about it. Well then, have a pleasant flight!
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