Changing planes/airlines in Montreal

Question

Please forgive this rather elementary question - I don't think I have ever had to change planes/airlines flying internationally (always flown non-stop) and am worried about having enough time in Montreal to change planes.

I'm planning on booking a flight from Calgary to Munich on a Thursday in Sept.  This involves departing Calgary on Air Canada at 12:30 pm, arriving in Montreal at 18:25, then changing to a Lufthansa flight departing at 20:40, arriving at Munich at 10:00 am the following day.

This flight is booked on Air Canada and all on 1 ticket.

So what happens, exactly, when we check in in Calgary?  Can I assume that our luggage will be checked straight through to Munich?  Will we have to go through some kind of passport control in Montreal?  If not, do we just go to the next gate and hang out there until it's time to board?  Is there anything else involved, given that the next flight is not Air Can but Lufthansa?  I have taken a quick look at the Montreal airport map and it looks like it's pretty much a straight line from the end of the terminal where domestic flights arrive, to the other end where international flights depart, so I'm wondering, flight delays aside, if the 2 hours between landing and departing in Montreal will be sufficient time?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!  TIA!!

TravellerPlus · Accepted Answer

'Can I assume that our luggage will be checked straight through to Munich?' With a through ticket, yes.

'Will we have to go through some kind of passport control in Montreal?' No; there are no formal border controls on leaving Canada, although you will be asked for your passport along with your boarding pass at the gate for the flight to MUC.

'If not, do we just go to the next gate and hang out there until it's time to board?' Unless you have Maple Leaf Lounge access, yes.

'Is there anything else involved, given that the next flight is not Air Can but Lufthansa?' Both AC and LH are StarAlliance carriers; have a look here: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/at-the-airport/airport-information/montreal-airport/ca-int.html#/ and here: https://www.admtl.com/en/guide/connecting-flights

Just over two hours should be sufficient for the connection.

bogwoppit · Answer

https://www.admtl.com/en/guide/connecting-flights The airports helpful guide. It is a very easy connection, and the airport is actually quite nice.

laviniam · Answer

Make sure you have your boarding passes for the 2nd flight when you leave Calgary. Then deplane in Montreal, find out which gate you leave from, just go there. If you have time, you can get a coffee or food at a restaurant. Very simple.

EastBC · Answer

Merci beaucoup aux trois repondeurs! These replies were so very helpful. I particularly found the airport's own info, as directed to by reply #2, to be of interest - I don't think I've seen that for other airports? but i probably haven't really looked! Thanks again, booking the flights with the 2 + hr layover looks the nicest - I'd be worried with only a 1 hr layover and a 4 or more hour layover looks ghastly. I'm still pining for the days if Wardair when air travel was quick and passengers were treated so well, and none of this changing-planes stuff, but to be fair flying into Munich is not the same as flying into Frankfurt.

ViajeroPerdido · Answer

On the way home, assuming you're going through Montreal again (or other Canadian city), you'll need a bit of time for customs and immigration, which will happen at the first Canadian airport. After that, it's a simple domestic flight.

Customs & immigration are usually pretty quick, but you'd want a time buffer, just in case.

EastBC · Answer

Thank you, for the return trip we are flying Frankfurt - Calgary and I think it's non-stop. We actually overnight in Calgary both ways as we live a 4-hr drive from Calgary and flying from our little airport to calgary and then on to Europe is a real pain!!

Changing planes/airlines in Montreal - Air Travel Forum

Changing planes/airlines in Montreal

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