Customs in Montreal (only 60 minutes between connecting flights)

[OrangeJuice]

Hey!
My flight to Orlando leaves from Moncton with a layover in Montreal. We where supposed to have a two hour layover which I thought would be plenty of time to get through customs. BUT! Air Canada has changed our flight so that now we only have 60 minutes in Montreal. Can anyone share how the custom's process works in MTL, how long I should expect it to take and any tips on how to get through custom's faster (Checked vs carry-on luggage)?

Thanks

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Hey!
My flight to Orlando leaves from Moncton with a layover in Montreal. We where supposed to have a two hour layover which I thought would be plenty of time to get through customs. BUT! Air Canada has changed our flight so that now we only have 60 minutes in Montreal. Can anyone share how the custom's process works in MTL, how long I should expect it to take and any tips on how to get through custom's faster (Checked vs carry-on luggage)?

Thanks

You do not have to get your checked bag, it goes right through, so that makes no difference. It takes a lot longer if you have to go through "extra" security, but usually an hour is okay. I've done it before, and the one time I did have to go through the extra security, I told someone who worked there, who sent my friend and me through the line for crew and then had the plane held for us. I told her that I was on a connecting flight that had been delayed and then had to go through extra security. It was not fun, but it was fine. I actually would rather go through Montreal because it usually is fast.

 

[dontthrowsand]

Way better in Montreal than Calgary or Toronto in my opinion!

 

[dennise]

You do have to get your luggage and go through screening again, this is your last stop before entering the US. When you get to Orlando all you do is collect your luggage and leave. An hour should still be long enough because you won't have to go through customs. On our last trip home we went through Montreal with only 45 minutes, it was quite a rush and they held the plane for us. We had spent too much and had to go through Customs. You should be fine.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

You do have to get your luggage and go through screening again, this is your last stop before entering the US. When you get to Orlando all you do is collect your luggage and leave. An hour should still be long enough because you won't have to go through customs. On our last trip home we went through Montreal with only 45 minutes, it was quite a rush and they held the plane for us. We had spent too much and had to go through Customs. You should be fine.

Unless it's changed since March, the last few times I've flown through Montreal (in 2010 and 2012) you do not pick up your bags to go through customs, which saves time. They show you a picture of your bag when you go through customs. You have to go through screening again though, which doesn't actually make sense to me. Screening and then customs, but no waiting for bags.

 

[KittyKat1978]

I have also had to pick up my luggage twice (2010 coming from Miami & 2011 coming from the Dominican). It's crazy hectic, but your bag should be one of the first off.

Just a reminder that if you bought alcohol in the US, you will have to check it in your luggage when you it Montreal.

DisneyFreak06 the picture idea sounds cool. I wish they had it when I flew through Montreal & Toronto.

Oh I flew Air Canada both times. Maybe it depends on the airline?

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I have also had to pick up my luggage twice (2010 coming from Miami & 2011 coming from the Dominican). It's crazy hectic, but your bag should be one of the first off.

Just a reminder that if you bought alcohol in the US, you will have to check it in your luggage when you it Montreal.

DisneyFreak06 the picture idea sounds cool. I wish they had it when I flew through Montreal & Toronto.

Oh I flew Air Canada both times. Maybe it depends on the airline?

I was Air Canada both times. Weird. I was going to say maybe only going TO the US. I don't know if you do coming home, as every flight I've had coming home seems to go through Toronto first. What did you do flying to the US?

 

[dennise]

The picture idea sounds good, we have never experienced it. The last time we came through Montreal was in September 2011 and we did have to pick up our bags, but we were coming home. We went throughNewark on the way there and you pre clear in Halifax and don't see your luggage until Orlando.

 

[dave 2]

If it were during winter, I wouldn't chance it. almost had 2 in our party of 6 miss connection through Mtl (Moncton departure) 2 and a half years ago because of a weather delay + customs hassle. otherwise, should be fine.

 

[ccudmore]

If the security line is long, don't be afraid to ask to move up. They have a special line usually where they put people who are late for their connections. You just need to ask to get put into it.

 

[amycakes]

We flew Halifax-Montreal-Orlando last November. You have to clear customs and security again in Montreal.

In Halifax they photographed our bag when we checked in. The bags went through to Orlando with out us having to pick them up. The Customs Officer in Montreal showed each of us the bag that was photographed in association with our passport in Halifax. We did not pick up our bags until we reached Orlando.

On several occasions when our connection time was tight we were escorted to a different line to clear customs. Similarly with security.

We were randomly pulled over by Customs for a more in depth check last time. Now this takes some time as it also depends on the people in front of you. We have traveled many times to the USA and that was the first time that happened to us.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Thanks everyone! You put my mind at ease

 

[KittyKat1978]

I was Air Canada both times. Weird. I was going to say maybe only going TO the US. I don't know if you do coming home, as every flight I've had coming home seems to go through Toronto first. What did you do flying to the US?

For the Miami flight I flew American through Houston down and Air Canada through Toronto home.

For the Dominican flight (all Air Canada) I got to Montreal at 11:30pm and flew out the next day.

For the Dominican trip, I brought only carry on because of the craziness with the Miami flight but there were other people on the flight for the wedding and they looked very frazzled by the time they got to the gate for our Vancouver flight home.

 

[MarieLightning]

What time are your flights? Because it'll depend on that a lot - if you're connecting on the flight leaving at 8:05 from Montreal, that should be a quiet time for customs, but slightly busier time for security. As other people have said before though, there's always ways of advising people of when your flight is departing, and then they'll see to help you out for sure.

With Air Canada, the legal connecting time in Montreal is 45 minutes. That means they can legally sell you anything from 45 minutes up for a connection, and give a promise that you'll be fine.

Now, I've never connected through Montreal - I live on the south shore of it, so it's generally my last destination. However, I can attest that it's a small airport. Also, I've made a connection in Toronto in less than an hour, and it's a much bigger airport.

The only thing is, when you take a flight to the US, their customs require you to go through at least half an hour before your flight departs. If your flight lands at the time it's supposed to, that won't be a problem. Also, in the eventuality that your flight is delayed for mechanical reasons or whatnot, AC is responsible for it. That means they'll either make sure to hold the flight for whatever passengers are still going through customs/came in late, or they'll re-protect you on another flight.

Also, make sure to grab one of the customs form to fill out if they don't hand them to you on the plane! I'm sure everybody would say "Pfft come on, I've done this before, I know my stuff", and I would be one of those people, but I'm so used to getting them handed to me on the plane, and last time I travelled they didn't, so I stood in line for customs, and just as I was about to go through, I realized I didn't have it! So I had to go grab one, fill it and get back in line! It wasn't long in either cases, but it's still lost time when you're in a rush