Wekiva

We will be flying through Montreal next May and have a 4 hour layover (3:56pm - 7:50pm). I'm the planner/worrier in the group and tend to say let's sit in the airport in case anything happens. There are several in the group (the free spirited types) that want to get out of the airport and at least eat dinner. I have noticed that there seem to be several picturesque areas just south of the airport on the water that seem like an ideal place to take a taxi and eat lunch. I'll ask more about this in the CANADA forum (considering Point-Claire as an option...5 miles away).

My question for you all is would you leave Montreal's airport if you had a 4 hour layover assuming you were going to take a taxi (vs trying to find bus/train) and were going to stay rather close? We are 2 families with 4 kids ranging in age from 8 to 15.

We will be checking in at Orlando with Air Canada and flying to London on Air Canada so we won't be changing airlines in Montreal. I'm assuming we'll have boarding passes for both legs printed in Orlando. How far ahead of our 7:50pm flight should we be back in the airport. It's been a while since I had a layover like this and don't recall if this 2nd flight would also require us to be there several hours ahead of time...seems like they wouldn't.

Thanks for any advice.

suze

Nope, I wouldn't leave any airport with only 4 hours and an overseas flight ahead (I personally don't know a thing about Montreal). Just that too much could go wrong.

You need to ask your airline how far ahead they want you back. Leaving the airport requires leaving security and coming back thru it again. Most airlines for an international flight want you there a couple hours in advance. Doesn't matter if you're coming off a connecting flight, or beginning your trip from that airport.

janisj

No way - no how!

Suze is right - if you leave the airport it is just like you originated there (except for the checking luggage bit since you will likely check bags through to London). You have to go through security and passport control. W/ just 4 hours, stay airside and have a nice meal in the airport. You will have a long flight ahead of you, and you don't want to start out w/the stress of rushing back to the airport to catch your flight.

Gavin

As long as your incoming flight is close to on time you should be OK to get out of the airport for a bit of time. All that Air Canada will care about is that you are at the gate by the boarding time printed on your boarding pass. That will be about a half hour before the flight time. You will have to claim your bags, walk them though Canadian customs and put them on a belt to recheck them on to LHR. After that you will know how much time you have to play with. Have a plan to go somewhere close to the airport, not downtown...you don't have that much time and traffic is bad at rush hour. I would aim to certain of being back to the door of the airport with no less than 45 minutes before the boarding time. All you need to do is get through security and find the gate. The Montreal airport is not huge. This only leaves you with say 90 minutes free time on the outside but it will be an nice break in the trip. Rethink this if your flight from Orlando is late or it takes a long time to clear Canadian Immigration claim your baggage.

By the way Air Canada will feed you on the overseas flight.

janisj

Yes - AC will feed you on the flight -- that is WHY I suggested getting a nice meal at the airport . . .

boom_boom

In good traffic conditions it was about a 20-30 minute drive from the heart of Montreal to the airport. In mid June, mid afternoon it was 35 minutes. While there isn't anything special about the Montreal Airport to keep you there, just 4 hours isn't a lot of time. If you must, get a taxi, do a windshield tour of Mont Royal or quick visit to Nortre Dame and head back to the airport.