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Canadian question - Montreal lay-over?


Darklady

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We're flying next month for a cruise out of Port Everglades. Just looking at our flight plans and we're flying from Toronto to Montreal (P.E.T. International... used to be Dorval, I think?) and then from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Anyway... here's the question... on the way down, assuming the flights are all on time, we've got 1 hour between our Toronto - Montreal domestic flight and our Montreal-Ft.Lauderdale trans-border flight. Is that enough time? Both flights are AirCanada if that makes any difference.

 

Neither of us has flown into/out of Montreal (well, not since I was 2... and I don't quite remember that ;) ), and I'm a little prone to stressing about connecting flights.

 

Can anyone give some insight?

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You should be fine, unless your flight is late. I do Moncton - Montreal then Montreal - Miami. Never had a problem yet. You will need to pick up your luggages, since you will be clearing customs in Montreal.

 

You will probably have a little walk to do (maybe 10 min or so), since you need to head to the Int'l area.

 

Good Luck.

 

Joanne

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An hour between flights is really pushing it even with the same airline. We recently flew to FLL via Toronto to Montreal and I changed my flight to allow 90 minutes connection and I was glad I did as I would have missed my flight. You have to get your luggage then walk to the other side of the terminal and clear US customs. I was picked at random to be searched which required extra time so you never know what you'll be dealing with. I'd try and get a later flight out in the am if possible.

We're flying next month for a cruise out of Port Everglades. Just looking at our flight plans and we're flying from Toronto to Montreal (P.E.T. International... used to be Dorval, I think?) and then from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Anyway... here's the question... on the way down, assuming the flights are all on time, we've got 1 hour between our Toronto - Montreal domestic flight and our Montreal-Ft.Lauderdale trans-border flight. Is that enough time? Both flights are AirCanada if that makes any difference.

 

Neither of us has flown into/out of Montreal (well, not since I was 2... and I don't quite remember that ;) ), and I'm a little prone to stressing about connecting flights.

 

Can anyone give some insight?

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We're flying next month for a cruise out of Port Everglades. Just looking at our flight plans and we're flying from Toronto to Montreal (P.E.T. International... used to be Dorval, I think?) and then from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Anyway... here's the question... on the way down, assuming the flights are all on time, we've got 1 hour between our Toronto - Montreal domestic flight and our Montreal-Ft.Lauderdale trans-border flight. Is that enough time? Both flights are AirCanada if that makes any difference.

 

Neither of us has flown into/out of Montreal (well, not since I was 2... and I don't quite remember that ;) ), and I'm a little prone to stressing about connecting flights.

 

Can anyone give some insight?

Hi there,

I don't want to sound rude, I'm just curious. Why are you going thru Montreal? Last year we flew direct from Toronto to Ft. Lauderdale.

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Not rude at all... and it's certainly not MY first choice.

 

We booked our air travel through the cruise line (I don't think I'll be doing that again... it was supposed to SAVE us stress) and they seem to like Air Canada. Air Canada have 3 options for getting from Toronto to FLL on the day of the cruise.... a 6:30 to Montreal or a 7:00 to Montreal, both connecting with the same flight to FLL (why they couldn't put us on the 6:30, I don't know)... or a direct flight that doesn't get to Fort Lauderdale until 6:35. For obvious reasons, that's not a viable option.

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At least you get to fly on a new plane YUL-FLL. The Embraer 190's have been getting great reviews from AC flyers. And you have 2x2 seating. As for your flight to Montreal from Toronto, are you on flight 400? It appears to be a 767, so it's a little more comfortable than the A320 the earlier flight uses. It has 2x3x2 seating, although it's only an hour if you get stuck with the middle 3 seats.

 

As for your connection, Air Canada suggests 55 minutes in Montreal for Canada to US connections. If you are nervous about this, you can give them a call and see if they can move you to the 630 flight or let you standby for it anyway. They probably won't, since it is a "legal" booking, likely booked on a Tango fare with doesn't allow free changes or standby, but it can't hurt to ask.

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Do you already have your tickets?

Maybe fly in the day before there is a non-stop from YYZ-FLL but not until the afternoon...You could always call AC and see how much to change to the day before it may be worth it not to be stressed out. ;)

 

Pay the deviation fee to get the flights YOU want next trip or see what you can get on your own.

Sometimes booking your own flights are cheaper...plus I like to choose my own times and routing.

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We have always used our own air arrangments to Florida because there are so many options. Last year we flew Westjet and went in the day before. We had to stay an extra day due to the scheduling and even with the hotel added in, it was still cheaper than using Air Canada:eek: .

 

Our next cruise will be out of Rome and we are a bit more cautious on this one. However, as always, we are exploring all options. I've posted on the Cruise Air board to see if anyone can help.

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Thanks for the plane tips, Dan! Glad to hear the plane we're on for the long leg is getting good reviews at least.

 

As you suggested, we can't change the flight without penalty (pretty steep penalty, too)... so we're basically stuck with it and have to trust AC's assurances that the connection will work. So keep your fingers crossed for me that there's no delays in T.O.!

 

This was complicated a bit by restrictions on available vacation days (darn work getting in the way of our fun! ;) )... but I definitely think next time we'll be making our own flight arrangements for sanity's sake.

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We too have just learned a lesson about booking our airfare with the cruise line... never again!!!

You might just want to bite the bullet, so to speak, and drive across to Detroit & take a flight from there to FL. Expedia.com is a good source for inexpensive flights. If it is like Buffalo, the parking is reasonable, the shuttle service takes you from the lot to the airport & back to your car on return and you can clear customs and immigration without the long line ups at TO airport. What ever you do have a great holiday.

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