Going to Orlando via Montreal - short transfer time

[tley]

Good morning Canucks!

Who's excited about hockey playoffs?!

We're planning our trip to WDW in late September and are looking at flight options. One of the flight options is to go through Montreal, but...we only have 55 minutes to get through customs and to our gate.

We'll be travelling with a 2yo and an 6 month old.

Anyone do this before or similar trip with a scheduled short transfer time (around 1hr or so)? I travel often and can probably get through customs without issue (I have a Nexus card), and I'll be getting my wife to get one too so we can zoom through

I realize this may be specific to the flights from Halifax, but just want to get some opinions from the group for anyone that may have done this before.

 

[MikeyNS]

We always go through Montreal whenever we can't go direct. I don't think you'll have a problem with your connection time.. it will be tight. What we did notice when we went through in Feb. was that even though we had two young boys (6 and 3), they didn't let us through what I call the "Family/VIP" security lines because we didn't have a stroller. We saw lots of families go past us because they were strolling their kids.

 

[bankr63]

That would be too tight depending on time of day. We have waited in line for Customs for well over an hour in the morning rush time. Later in the day it is probably okay.

Haven't gone through Trudeau for a couple of years tho, we now have better flights from Ottawa direct.

 

[bunnybee]

That will be very tight - if for whatever reason your flight is a little delayed and I think you have to pick up luggage in Montreal and then take it to be rechecked after you clear customs. You may be delayed waiting at customs and then stand in line again for security. I know in Toronto, this is the case and have done that and found that I barely made it to the gate in time (this was by myself, no kids). there is a separate line at customs for "connecting passengers", but the two lines end up at the same place at security.

In addition, with the kids, I'd assume you may want to stop in a washroom to change diapers, feed, etc.. and there would be no time for this.

 

[gilsan]

We did that flight in February, our flight was late leaving Halifax. We were told they were holding the plane for us, (40 people on the plane were going to Orlando), but that we needed to hurry.

It is a bit of a trek to the US flights, and luckily for us not many people that morning. We made it through security and customs very quickly following the connection lines, and arrived at our gate just in time. The plane however was delayed and we ended up not taking off for a couple hours

As other said it is tight and strollers are a good idea, but if you get in the connecting lines you should be able to make it. Odds are you will not be the only ones on the plane connecting. It is a stressful way to start your vacation.

 

[abirdd]

Granted Montreal is better than Toronto for connections - but never will I do either airport without at least 1.5 hours or more when kids are in tow. First, the family/vip/connecting planes line ups are a distaster. Compounding matters are the stresses of hoping your plane lands on time in Montreal, how quickly you can pick up your luggage (to recheck for clearance into the US), and getting through security and customs.

If you are going to pick the 55 minute connection flight, I *strongly* recommending ensuring your airline has other flights to Orlando said day. This way, if you do end up missing your connection, you'll at least know how long of a wait until the next flight out.

 

[dave 2]

i wouldn't consider it in the winter but september SHOULD be fine. we did it 2 christmases ago and flight was half hour late and inlaws had problems through security at trudeau. they wanted to see their luggage so either they stayed with luggage or left without(being Christmas, all other flights were full). they left without and barely made the flight. luggage arrived 2 days later in Fl. i don't like less than 1.5 hours connection time personally.

 

[Celidh]

We did a similar thing to that last September. Our flight was 25 minutes late leaving HFX, we had almost an hour and a half layover and still just made it with a few minutes to spare. I agree with a pp, I wouldn't want to do it with less time than that. I saw the flight times you are speaking of and we decided we would wait and see if there is a good price on a different flight. We are going on September 29th this year. If it was me, with kids the ages yours are, I wouldn't book with such a small amount of time.

The only saving grace would be, as someone else said, you most likely won't be the only people on your flight connecting to Orlando so if the flight from HFX is delayed, there is a better chance the next flight will be held if there are a bunch of people going on it.