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Aéroport International Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau
Category: Hotels & Travel Airports Airports [Edit]
975 Boulevard Roméo-Vachon NDorval, QC H4Y 1H1
(514) 394-7377
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
48 reviews for Aéroport International Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau
46 reviews in English
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Review from Ken H.
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Solid Airport, 4 Stars property.
Compare to LAX , most of the airports can get high rating for their free WIFI, ease to transfer, and public transportation that actually take you to places that you needed to go.
I like how big and spacious their immigration area and their baggage claim area is clean too. People work hard to keep this place running in an efficient speed. Would definitely recommend people to fly into YUL. -
Review from Risa D.
3/1/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This airport is fine, a solid 3 stars, but there are some things about it that make it extra freakout inducing. I think the main thing is that it's easy to feel lost. You'll have long stretches of hallway and huge cavernous rooms where the signs indicating the next stop on your trajectory (customs, baggage, etc) are not visible, tucked around corners. Instead, everywhere you look there are red Sortie signs, except you know you can't actually Sortie by any of those directions, that would be chaos, those are for emergencies. Exits everywhere but no actual exits make my brain weep and melt, especially if I've been stuck after landing on the tarmac sucking fumes from an Air France jet that's been in my plane's parking spot for an hour.
When I arrived at Dorval airport this Monday night at about 8:30pm customs was completely full, thousands of people in line, but no info desk or official person in sight. A girl in front of me was in total panic mode because she had to wait in the line before being able to ask anyone her questions about her connecting flight. To their credit, the few people actually working the customs desks stayed friendly, professional and prompt and the line moved quickly.
In general, Dorval airport is a lot like most: over-priced food, a hodge podge of industrial design from decades past... and it's better than some in terms of it's proximity to the city, walkable size and solid wifi. Just practice your calming mantras and deep breathing and you'll be fine.
Ah and one more note - because this airport is in the middle of a highly residential area NO planes can land here after 1am. If you get delayed, you're getting rerouted. Good luck with that.Listed in: Wifi Montreal, Montreal Travel and Transit
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Review from Erik M.
2/18/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Montreal's airport as come down to many renovations, some are still going on. Monday's are really crowded, since all the business people are leaving. I can not judge the staff since each airline has their own personality.
The airport is relatively clean, can not complain much for that. The mens washroom needed to be cleaned more often was unsanitary.
When going by security to pass customs and security clearance make sure you follow the rules and that your carry-on's are free of liquids, gels, etc... to avoid delays and angry people behind you.
Have a safe trip. -
Review from Greg M.
5/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
a little confusing at times to get around but overall not too bad! Make sure to walk past the main food court to find a little more options. That being said, it is still airport prices A.K.A 9 dollar sandwhich
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2012
I've only ever flew domestic in an out of here, to Toronto. I would come in with e-ticket in hand on my phone and head straight to the Porter desks.
I could come in about an hour before the flight left, and still make it in time to grab a coffee and sit at the gates.
Let's break it down.
ARRIVAL
For the Porter flight from Toronto, they enter and exit always at the same gate. I like the consistency, and I haven't found my home airports.
You walk straight down to the luggage claim in the level below.
I think they renovated since a few years ago, and someone was smart.
Instead of circular carousels that take up tons of room, they put a double U shaped carosel that extends along the back wall.
This frees up space in the middle for carts and things (which are free).
Also, the conveyor is lower, and right at arm's height. There's no lip on the edge, so grabbing your bag is super easy.
Walking staight, you can get to your modes of transport to the city.
Taxis are $40 flat rate
Limos are $49.50 flat rate
Since there was a huge line up at the taxis (Friday night, 7pm) , we opted for a limo, which was about a 5 min wait. Well worth the extra $10.
DEPARTURE
I'm pretty sure most people check in online, and already have their boarding pass. This frees up the desks for people like me with luggage. But they also have self tagging luggage kiosks.
Two entrances to the security line up. A and B. Once the line up at A was long and I thought I would be smart and go to B on the other side of the building. Turns out that's for international flights only and goes to another section of the terminal.
E-ticket holders get a fast pass through the VIP/Nexus lane.
I would grab a meal out side at MB&Co (sandwiches), Casey's, Harvey's and St. Huberts among some of the offerings. Inside, you only get Starbucks, some bar and some other bar, and a Tim Hortons.
They also have a really nice gift store/magazines that sell some slick Brookstone gear.
There's also a chair massage station, with fairly reasonable prices and issues receipts for insurance. 60 mins was $88.
Staff here are friendly, helpful and efficient. Couldn't as for more.
It's also not dominated by Air Canada, maybe that's why. -
Review from Sean D.
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is my home airport so I am there often. It's small, so not a lot of walking, you can get off the plane and into a cab within 10 minutes if you were just carrying on luggage. If you need to wait for checked bags, they seem to be longer than most airports I've been in. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's because they are more careful with your suitcases than most! ;)
I agree with the comments that the food is not great, nor is there much selection. I usually go into the AC lounge before my flight and it's very nice, clean, and offers basic food and beverages.
I have a Nexus pass so I zip through security. I don't have any experience in the "normal" line but it never seems to be overly crowded.
The airport decor is a little dated and plain, but it does the trick! -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Free WiFi at the YUL and the $8 airport bus (includes a 24 hr unlimited metro pass) that takes you downtown has WiFi on it as well. From that moment on, I knew I was going to like Montreal.
On my flight out, I met far the friendliest airport security dudes ever - yes, I called them 'dudes'. They are that cool. I was going through airport security at about 6PM on weekday - there was no one in line at all.
The baggage screener dude offered to help me load my gear onto the screening tray. But a) I move with the economy of motion and inertia of Ryan Bingham through the airport and b) I'm an efficient Asian traveller. So thanks... but no thanks. Appreciate the offer though.
I pass through the metal detector and it beeps. Absolute first for me and I suppose it was a 'random' check since the line was so dead. I opt for new fang-dangled millimetre wave scanner over the physical pat down.
Hop in the booth, vogue in my sexiest pose and I'm cleared. Through security in less than 30 seconds. Once again - I was through airport security by the time you finish reading... this.
One-star off for security dude commenting on my large frame and wanting to talk football with me after I passed through the scanner. After being seen half-naked through the scanner, the last time I want to hear is another dude telling me how 'big' I am... and how most Asians are usually small. PAUSE!
But come on dude - just because I'm have an meso-endomorphic frame doesn't mean I care about the Alouettes. Because I sheepishly admit (after persistent badgering) that I played a bit of football way back in the day in Vancouver doesn't mean I care about the Lions. Do you ask all tall people about NBA scores? Do you ask all midgets about horse racing?
Oh well - solid airport named after the most badass Prime Minister of all time. When I suit up, I always want some to ask me, "How far will you go?"...
(points mic at the audience)... "JUST WATCH ME!"Listed in: Un garçon de Vancouver à…
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Review from James F.
1/22/2012
The only thing I don't like about Trudeau Airport is the long ass walk to customs in the transborder terminal.
I love the fact that after u go through US Customs and Airport Security there is a duty free store!! Y go to an over priced bar when u can make your own crown and coke!!! -
Review from Rohan S.
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I flew through here for the first time around the beginning of January with Porter and was pleasantly surprised.
There was ample staff to handle the crowds and everything was well signed. It was a breeze getting to the Porter desks. The Nexus lane made getting through security a breeze. The "Rapidair" pier is quite long and the Porter gates are a bit of a trek from security. But I had plenty of time so it was a non issues. All the concessions are at the start of the pier near security, so be sure to get your coffee and what not before you head to the gate.
There is ample seating at the gates, and the floor to ceiling glass walls give you a great view of all the airside operations.
Arrival is just a straight forward. Well signed and easy to navigate. All in all a pretty good airport for what I used it for. -
Review from Helena K.
12/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's hard to get excited about an airport, but I really have no problems with YUL. Personally, I prefer it to YYZ, which is the only other Canadian airport I've visited. Free wifi, which is more than I can say for most of the other airports I frequent.
I've been to Montréal on two business trips now, so I've spent approximately six hours chillin at YUL, allowing an hour for the two times I arrived, and two hours for both departures. The four or so hours I waited for departing flights to LGA or JFK were spent in the transborder area off the main terminal, and if I'm really being honest, they were all spent watching sports and drinking beer at Le Bar Sportif.
The beer selection here is not amazing by any stretch, but generally they'll have one or two local microbrews on tap. Score! The televisions here are huge and plentiful, showing basically all the sports games in the world that you can possibly imagine. This place smells a little like sour soap. Like maybe all the rags they use to wipe the bar and tabletops had gone bad. Or maybe it's something in the drains or the sink. Eh, they've got beer, though. What's truly amazeballs is that they'll pour you a beer or mixed drink in a to-go cup for you to take on your flight. I carried on a rum and coke on my last flight.
The food at Le Bar Sportif looks absolutely disgusting. Nothing at all vegetarian. However, there's a little sandwich cart just outside that sells pretty rock 'em sock 'em sandwiches, including the veg one I had with roasted red peppers, goat cheese, spinach, and pesto.
All of my trips through YUL have been smooth and easy. The signage is all accurate and straightforward, the place is clean, the WCs are plentiful, and the staff are friendlier than in some other airports up north (I'm from the southern US where we're known for our friendliness). And there's someone watching the luggage screening area, helping you put your stuff on the belt wrong-side up (I got yelled at at YYZ for putting my luggage zipper side up on the belt, although there were no signs or anyone helping, etc.). So, yeah, as far as airports go, this one is solid. -
Review from Asheley R.
Halifax, NS
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
There really is little to say about an airport. The food is always
overpriced and they all get you to where you are going.
HOWEVER, I would like to point out how much I did not enjoy my
experience at the pub restaurant in the airport. We thought we'd take
down a plate of nachos on our way back to NS. I figured based on the
price, we were looking at quite a plate.
Oh Em Gee. If there were 22 nacho chips on the plate we were lucky. For reals.
The toppings weren't even spread out throughout the nachos. They were
just plopped on top.
To make matters worse? The water I was drinking had little black bits
floating around. I know this isn't a representation of what food is
like in Montreal, so the airport should shack up a poutine joint in
there. -
Review from Janine T.
2/13/2012
Free wi-fi is awesome, the Nexus security lane is fantastic and getting hit on by security every single time I am there is a bonus too, good for the ego. The Maple Leaf Lounge in the international terminal here is decent, clean and comfy. I only have two complaints about this airport: the death march feel of the long walk from the international gates to customs (seriously?) and god forbid if you check any luggage, it's like a 20 minute wait minimum for it to arrive on the belt even when your flight is the only one landing. On the bright side, the 747 bus into the city completely rocks and getting a taxi, even when it's -20 and snowing is a cinch.
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Review from Brittany K.
Edmonton, AB
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hadn't been to Montreal since I was a wee little one, so I really didn't remember much about the airport, although I did really enjoy the city. I landed in Montreal for a layover on my way to Spain (although not before another layover).
It did the job for a layover. It was easy to go from Gate A to Gate B, but that's because it seemed like there really wasn't much at this airport.
We were pretty hungry while we waited, so we went in search of food and found...Tim Hortons. Oh.
Still - our first flight got in on time and our second flight left on time. We didn't run into any major problems, so beyond lack of food choices, this airport was, as a Yelp 3-star review goes, A-OK.Listed in: Airports, Oh, Canada
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Review from Sarah O.
10/7/2011
It messes with me a bit to write this because I absolutely love Montreal, but their airport is bullshit. I'll start off with saying they have free wifi, so thanks for that. But that's where it ends.
On my most recent stop here, I had a connection flight with a layover time of one hour. This means I had to go through security, pick up my bag, check it in again, and then arrive at my gate. When going through customs and handing in the declaration card, my mom was interrogated. She was asked if she was bringing in any meat or fruits from outside, even though she clearly checked "no" on the declaration card and explained to the officer that we are simply here for a connection flight. The racist man decided she was lying and marked her card and sent us to the immigration office! We sat there, anxious about the time, baffled by the racism and ignorance.. 30 minutes pass, we go up to the counter, they say nothing at all. They give back our paper and tell us to go to another office!
Onto the next adventure, we wait again. A lady officer puts on her latex gloves and searches our bag. Obviously she doesn't find an array of fruit trees, a whole fucken butchered cow, a singing humpback whale, a river-dancing leprechaun or your MOTHER in our ONE small bag! In fact, not a single souvenir was "infiltrated" into Canadian borders, not so much as a small keychain.
We were dead exhausted, arriving from Rome, well-dressed, well-spoken, was cooperative and had non-threatening demeanor, etc, etc, etc. If you think we are the target suspect for terroism, you really need to retrain your whole department immediately, for the safety of all Montrealites.
FAIL.Listed in: Airports!
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Review from Seb A.
1/25/2012
Ah, the airport named after (arguably) the most controversial Prime Minister of all time.
The pros: free wi-fi (yes!), coffee can be found anywhere, and security is usually a breeeze. Although I'm well aware of the socio-cultural repercussions/impacts of hosting US customs - or Homeland Security, if you must - agencies in Canadian airports, I am a big fan of going through US customs before my arrival to the US. However, I must admit that I am a bit concerned at times that should they decide to question me further, that I might miss my flight. Experience has proved otherwise, though, as I always make it through without an extra peep of flatulence on the part of the customs agent. So arrive early, get through US customs, and relax. The security screening part is easy and almost - dare I say - friendly. I've borrowed pens from security agents without them blowing a fuse. It was almost (gasp!) like we were two human beings aware that we were two human beings. The same cannot be said at every airport.
I would say that this is one of the faster airports to transfer through, in any capacity.
The cons: Canadian customs. Ah, these guys. Could you give me a little break, please? I once declared that I had brought nothing back from America, which I hadn't. Seems suspicious, they thought. Why would someone travel to America and do something insane like BRING NOTHING BACK? They decided it would be prudent not to let this law-abiding Quebecois back into his homeland so quickly without grilling him on why he would not buy a bunch of stuff in Texas and haul it back home. It was a lame, lame ride, my fellow Yelpers. It is a sad day when my fellow Canadians accuse me of harbouring illegal drugs and of other wrong-doings when there is no evidence to suggest so. I'm sure Trudeau would have said a lot more than "fuddle duddle" (or something like that) if he had been subjected to the same treatment.
If you're vegan, do not expect to get a great meal out of YUL. Vegan options are practically non-existent unless you count a shitty $8 bag of Lay's potato chips as a vegan option. Some airlines provide vegan meals, but don't count on them being very good. My humble advice for vegans is to binge-eat before getting to YUL, if possible. Or you might see that as extremely unhealthy. Your call!
So to recap: food sucks, security rules, customs depends on which country you're going to or coming back to, wi-fi is awesome, and it's incredibly ironic that 50% of Canadians (including Quebecois) loathe Trudeau yet the airport was named after him. Bon voyage les amis! -
Review from Ben B.
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yeeaaah. If the Trudeau Airport were a Facebook post, I would not click 'Like.' Actually, I'd probably start a string of snarky comments meant to both make me feel really funny while also letting me dish out some hate for how silly this airport can be.
For example...I've flown through here at least three or four times and have been exiled to the sad, old section/terminal that's far away from the comfy leather (well, pleather...let's be real) chairs and couches over by gates in the eighties. You know...the terminal that looks uh...passable with Moe's lounge and the Starbucks but quickly becomes the Trudeau dump once you make the four-day trek through unmarked hallways over to the newer area?
Which at least means when you mourn the loss of your travelmates (fallen to causes like cholera or whooping cough, Oregon Trail style) you can nom on some plastic-wrapped sushi or reheated burgers.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of walking the connecting-to-the-US flight path which can hereby be renamed Strip Search Alley as it takes you down a hallway separating you by frosted glass from the rest of humanity with no one else in sight for at least ten minutes. At that point you start to see guards, checkpoints, more frosted glass and all you can do is hope that your friends didn't get you on the No Fly list as a prank.
Seriously. I figured I could expect either the rubber glove treatment or Ashton Kutcher in a trucker hat...
I promise not to fight you on which Trudeau kid is your favourite so long as you agree that THIS Trudeau is hands down the dark horse in that race. -
Review from Jason R.
9/17/2011
As a native said when I mentioned being at YUL: "I'm sorry. Enjoy the... nothing."
Pretty much. Unfortunately, my main experiences with YUL are for transfers. There's not much here between cheap and ultra-pricey. Except there *is* network access, hence the A-OK rating. And I can still pretend I'm in Montreal. Kinda.
I stupidly ate at the quicky joint in the international wing. blah. Forgot I was flying Air France, where they give you better food than that place. And wine. And chocolate. And port. Oh, Air France, why must you remind me how badly US airlines suck?
YUL's an ok airport for transfers. My memories of arriving and departing are growing ever more distant, alas. I need to fix that, but then I'll be spending the absolute minimum time in the airport possible. -
Review from Trudi C.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were stopping here briefly for a connecting flight to Vancouver after flying 7 hours from London. Unlike other airports, they make you collect your luggage, and boot you out the exit so you have to rejoin the departure queues and go through security again! Totally inefficient, and who knows what would have happened if our first flight had been delayed.
Also they don't take pounds here but accept euros. Pah! ;) I hope to never have to connect here again (at least with luggage!). -
Review from Curt L.
8/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I do not get to this airport often.
I guess I just have not seen alot of it.....but overall it seems a bit boring.
Did enjoy a nice Rickard's Red at Houston's.
The waitress there looked exactly like Sandra Bullock! -
Review from Steve U.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Walk 0.8 miles to customs.... really???
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Review from Chris S.
5/12/2011 2 photos
Definitely rates as one of the better airports I have been to.
The hallways are a bit long, and become burdensome to travel down, but that really is one of my only complaints.
It really is one of the cleanest airports I have been to in a while, which is always nice while traveling.
When I was crossing back to the USA, I was surprised that I went through US customs before even boarding the plane. It was actually fairly nice so that I didn't have to worry about going through when I landed in Detroit.
The US terminal has quite a bit in it, too. Once you go through security, you walk through the duty free shop and then into the corridor where the gates and many restaurants are.
The food options are quite nice throughout the terminal, having a lot of local Quebecois cuisine, as well as international foods such as sushi. Not too many bars though, but hey, all you need is one right?
Service everywhere I went was very kind and helpful. Definitely a good experience.
Plus FREE WIFI, and not the garbage free slow stuff that a lot of airports offer, this was actually good quality.
Warning, though, watch out for mandatory cab fairs. I went from the airport to an airport hotel that was literally just up the street about .5 miles (it was 3 am I was out of options) and it cost me $20 due to set fees. -
Review from Wally W.
5/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The lines at this airport are horrendous. Get there early (3h ahead) if you want to even make your flights. You can even flag down a security guard if your flight will leave to get to the front of the customs line.
Apparently if you use a mobile boarding pass (on a phone, etc.), you get to go to the Special Services customs line that always has practically nobody.
Free Wi-Fi! -
Review from Ken L.
I barely made the connecting flight by the skin of my teeth!! My flight from Seattle to Montreal required a stop in Toronto so with 1 hour and 45 minutes between flights I thought "no sweat". Little did I know that as soon as stepped off the plane, I would not have time to get a bite to eat or go to the restroom.
If you ever have to fly to a Canadian city and have a connecting flight in Canada, be sure to book a flight that has close to a 2 hour layover period as you will need all the time you can get. Here is what you will expect:
1) deplane first leg and head to baggage claim, line #1
2) pick up your bag(s) then go through a thick mob and turn in your customs form, line #2
3) get back in another security line to have them check your boarding pass and carry-ons, line #3
4) line up to board your plane assuming you made it on time through steps 1 through 3, line #4.
This assumes that you do not have any delays in picking up your luggage. Also, there are no real directions on what to do or where to go so if you assume that your baggage is on its way to your destination then you will be sorry. If I ever have a chance to do this over, I would choose to fly within the US and connect from a US city to avoid the stupidity and frustration of the above. However, I am wiser now that I have gone through this torture. -
Review from Rho L.
8/26/2010
I arrived at around 10am, and the airport was empty. No crowds, no long bullshit at customs, and everything was fairly easy to find.
One thing I will comment, back in Detroit, I had to leave my carry on bag for planeside pickup (I never check anything in, I pack lightly), because the plane from Detroit to Montreal was super teeny so they store larger carry ons for planeside pickup or baggage valet is what they call it. Upon arrival, they bring your bag to you. No biggie, right..... lol anyway so as I was exiting the plane, had no idea where this planeside pick up was cause I so no bags being handed out so I kept walking with the crowd. A gazillion escalators later, a fellow passenger says they saw my purple carry on at bag valet unclaimed.
Soooo...I walked practically all the way back and ran into one of the employees, who actually put my bag onto the baggage carousel for me. He was nice enough to direct me through customs, walked me through all the way, and even got us a lift on on airport buggy and finally reunited me with my purple carry on. All the while telling me about his children, and what to do while in Montreal.
I really appreciate that he took the time to escort me through what could have been a very frustratingly ridiculous process...
So for now, definitely a fan of YUL. -
Review from Devin L.
3/24/2011
Very clean, easy to get to airport.
Going back to NY from Montreal was a complete breeze. I literally walked right up to a customs officer, done in minutes. Security was also very quick and they didn't make you feel invaded.
My flight was at 1:30 and I was waiting by 12:00 at the gate. Usually I'm early, but I expected more of a wait. There was a nice little bar by the gate, where I had a drink and sandwich waiting for my plane.
Very nice experience.
A taxi ride from the airport to Montreal is $38. Much like in NYC it is a fixed rate. -
Review from Stéphane S.
Montréal, QC
Updated - 9/13/2010
I hate this airport! It is inefficient, badly organize and the transport links makes Montreal looks worst that developing countries.
It seems that the security and Canadian customs are managed to optimize their own resource without the slightest care about the passengers.
Seriously, they made a big investment on the building in the last few years and expanded Canadian custom hall quite a bit... BUT they don't staff it. Schedule plane service landed every day about the same time, can't you staff the place so people don't have to wait an hour or more for immigration? Apparently not. Canada is also the only place I know where citizen and permanent residents don't have a priority line (you know because citizen can be cleared faster and you can clear the place?).
The train line that go to downtown is less than a mile away, but there is no convenient train services to downtown and they have been talking about a rail link to the terminal for over 40 years... nothing
Can this place be made efficient and serve it's function well? Yes. Does it do so now? No, absolutely not.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/10/2010
I was reading the review for this airport and had the feeling that some were written by PR firms!
I… Read more »
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Review from Ajay R.
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe I'm being overzealous because I had such a great trip there, but I live in NYC where there are THREE whole airports and you can't get to ANY of them without spending $30-$50, or 1.5 to 2 hrs commuting. It's a pain. Now when an $8 bus swings by a block from my hotel every 15 minutes and takes me straight to the airport in abt 45 min... I'm impressed. It's a good system. Flew through security, had a pretty decent lunch there... lots of free wifi and ample electrical outlets. What more can one want from an airport.
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Review from Éric T.
8/6/2008
One of the cool things about living in LA is that everyone speaks Spanish and has at least two reliable sources for guns, drugs or directors that owe favors. I kid, I kid. Everyone in LA speaks Spanglish and owns a tanning bed or an H2.
Imagine my surprise when arriving at Montréal-Trudeau. Me, in my perfectly sun-kissed, dulce de leche skin, arriving in what appeared to be Winter Wonderland. Instead of hearing "Favor de no fumar en vias publicas", I was hearing "Il est interdit de fumer dans les lieux collectifs". Instead of Starbucks and bacon-wrapped hot dogs, I saw Tim Hortons and something called poutine. Instead of tons of other people sharing my same features and native tongue, I heard murmurs of French and saw locks of blonde hair.
Montréal-Trudeau was fucking gorgeous in a concrete, linoleum and glass kind of way. I have to admit that I may be a bit biased, though. This was my first international flight. I was tired of sitting next to, quite possibly, the smelliest Canadian in history. I was buzzed offa smuggled miniature bottles of Malibu Rum (Give me a break. I was 20 back then). But when I landed, cleared all my shit through customs and had my first legal drink outside of the US, I felt a sudden rush of relief and juvenile excitement.
I felt at home. -
Review from Wanugee N.
11/10/2008
The correct names for this airport:
En Anglais: Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
En Francais: Aéroport international Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau de Montréal
But for short, it is Montreal-Trudeau.
The airport code is YUL.
(All Canadian airports have a IATA code that starts with Y, and don't ask me, I don't know Y)
The airport is named after the popular and charismatic former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, a dashing, movie star-like leader who captivated Canada with his style, panache and gallavanting.
The airport itself is well organized, spacious, and has a good representation of side distractions for food and shopping. Esthetically, it is pleasing as well. Getting in and out, is another story. For a major metropolis airport, it is lacking in easy motor access; it has small highways and roads that lead in and out of it.
Be prepared as a foreign (yes, US is foreign) visitor to get questioned in immigration about why you are there, how long you are staying, where are you staying, and what is your purpose of your visit. If it is for business, did you declare everything, are you bringing in samples or merchandise, actually, the usual customs questions you will get at most international airports. Nothing more than a foreigner would get coming to the US. (well, depending on how you look and act, maybe less!)
The rental cars are across from the terminal in the parking garage, so no shuttle to negotiate. All the signs are bi-lingual, French and English, so even though you are in proud and often separatist Quebec, you are accomodated fairly. (The farther northeast you go in Quebec, the less English is spoken or tolerated!)
Customs are spacious and well organized, incoming or out-going. As always, reserve a little extra time for this processing, however.
There are public transporation options, with bus services and shuttles and regional shutles, and if you take a mini-bus 2 KM, you can access VIA Rail Canada, the main train service that services the main cities in Canada.
A few years ago, there was a big push to replace Trudeau with Dorval, an airport to the North of Montreal. They starting moving flights there, but once again, without a new highway to easily access Dorval, the airport eventually lost all business and shut down. C'est la Vie, pour les Quebecois!
Do you know why Canadians say "Eh?" all the time?
Answer: C-A-N-A-D-A!Listed in: Wanugee! Quebec
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Review from Cheryl B.
2/23/2009
If you read my early morning review of my security experience at Dulles today, well the fun didn't stop when we went wheels up on my AC Jazz flight direct to Pierre Trudeau-Montreal. Uneventful flight, really, hardly a bump felt even though we knew we were going to be landing in snow and wind. that's where the fun ends....
1 hour 15 min airport to airport...not too shabby and because I'm so schedule driven I had already mapped out what I would have done by lunchtime. Uh, insert screeching tire sounds here....evidently the airport recently let 40 grounds crew go (economy issues) which meant there wasn't anyone to offload our flight. When that occurs the humans aren't let off the plane if the luggage can't get out of the belly of the jet! Yeah, 2 hours later someone rounded up a couple of guys to take the luggage out and let us out of our giant sardine can with jet engines too. So much for my productive day, eh??
Getting inside the airport and experiencing the efficiency of customs, the arrival of your luggage when YOU arrive at baggage claim AND the ever ready line of cabs melted the entire crappy morning away...there are miracles left in this world :) -
Review from Elana V.
9/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
As a visitor to this airport from the U.S. I must say the customs line \ on arrival was the longest I've ever seen! They really need to figure out how to avoid hour long wait times after a 5+ hour flight. Not really thrilled about that. And the wait in the customs line coming back was also about 30 minutes. Plus the metal detector was faulty so I had quite the pat down. Get it together, Canada! Only the free wifi gives it the two stars. Oh and Starbucks.
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Review from Michael E.
9/18/2011
Pretty good review, cept long line at customs.
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Review from Robert H.
Toronto, ON
10/30/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Plan extra time, the security lineups can take forever. I don't find the airport particularly frustrating, but I've used it for years and flying Porter just seems to make the experience better.
Eat before you go through security if you are hungry, the options are much more limited past security.
There is a shuttle service which isn't very expensive or the taxi's are tariffed at $38. -
Review from Dave H.
8/17/2008 7 photos
Montreal-Trudeau International airport is one of the most efficient, well-designed airports that I've been to in recent memory. The architecture is beautiful (for an airport) in the terminals I've been to. Signs abound in English and French.
Friendly staff are there for you every step of the way, and I never have had any problems with them. The officer at customs even joked with us when there was a minor issue with our IDs. Never had to spend unnecessary time here - not that that would be a big deal, as there's your typical shopping and dining options, including a Starbucks, if you're into that. If you need to exchange currency, go to Chinatown and do it there, the rates are better.
Find Montreal-Trudeau less than a half-hour from downtown Quebec, conveniently accessible via shuttle bus, taxi, car, or teleportation. -
Review from Chris P.
10/30/2009 5 Check-ins Here
Its just like any other airport hence the 3 star rating. I'm really just writing this to warn others that if you are hungry when you get to the airport you should eat before going through security (at least for domestic flights). There is only one restaurant on the other side of security other than Timmy's and Second Cup.
You have been warned!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Joshua N.
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Quick and clean. It seems weird, but it's likeable enough.
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Review from Neline S.
1/3/2009
I've been through A LOT of airports and they're either:
A) dirty
B) confusing
C) rude customer service
D) all of the above
What surprised me about YUL were:
A) how empty it was
B) clean
C) polite the customs crew were
Granted, it doesn't get as much traffic as JFK, LAX, or ORD so I can't be fair to compare it that way.
I arrived at the suggested time of 2 hours for the international flight but I was through customs and check in half an hour.
I was also hungover, holding a 1L size bottle of water and forgot to complete my declaration card. The canadien customs guy was polite and jokingly said he needed a bottle of water as well to recover from his New Year's night. As he handed back my blank declaration card, he also handed me a pen to fill it out. Man, that was sweet.
After checking in all the required boxes and ditched my 1L bottle of water, I passed through and passed out on the leather lounge chairs till my flight boarded -
Review from Gaurav P.
6/30/2010
I don't typically write reviews on airports, but I have to write a few lines on YUL. This airport is so un-necessarily large, confusing, broken and un-functional that it makes JFK look organized.
The walkways are broken and when your plane arrives at gate 88 like mine did, and you have to walk to gate 1 after traveling all day...what do you want to do? Strangle someone...ugh.
The escalators don't work - now...most fat Americans SHOULD take the stairs but carrying luggage up a flight of stairs, 4 of them, isn't ideal. The construction outside of the airport is WORSE than JFK...you have no f'ing clue where you're going...
the signs aren't up and entrance ramps/off-ramps just seem to end and take you back on the road you were just on. Fun if you were a 4 year old kid...for me? not quite.
AND to top it all off? When the jetway can't reach your standard Canadair Regional Jet POS Jet Plane because the operator doesn't know how to operate it requiring you to take a RAMP to get off the plane and on to the jetway..........I can't even finish the sentence. -
Review from Jenni B.
5/14/2009
I've seen more airports than I can likely count, so I am picky and am quickly aggitated by airports which don't make sense.
YUL never made me angry. From the easy transition to ground transport upon arrival, clear signage, and availability of staff in case you have questions, this is an easy airport - I think a novice could easily navigate with ease. Plus one point as well for the proximity of Tim Hortons to the baggage reclaim after my red eye flight.
Even easier is departing - departures terminal again, just makes sense, it's easy to check it with your bags. Even with a large security queue I was through and clear in about 15 minutes when I thought it would be at least 45 minutes.
The airport itself is nice, not as nice as some others, but impeccibly clean and an altogether for being an airport I have no real complaints.Listed in: My Guide to Montreal
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Review from Kelly A.
Toronto, ON
3/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
Truly the worst airport in Canada. Thankfully Porter flies here. The security here is the slimiest, surliest anywhere outside of third world dictatorships. No facilities to speak of past security, and a dodgy taxi mafia to shuttle you back and forth.
One highlight: at the bar near gate 7, go to listen to the most atrocious french accent you've ever heard. Truly worth a stop.
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