Cheap Flights From Montreal: YUL, MET and Basic Fares

How do you find cheap flights from Montreal?

Start at Montréal-Trudeau (YUL), which offered 159 direct destinations in 2025 and is Air Canada’s hub and Air Transat’s base, then check the new Montréal Metropolitan Airport (MET) for Porter’s domestic flights. Read what each basic fare includes before comparing, and give winter-sun and summer-Europe searches different lead times.

ADM Aéroports de Montréal says 159 direct destinations were offered from YUL in 2025, and its airline directory lists 35 airlines, from Air Canada, Air Transat, Porter, WestJet and Flair to transatlantic carriers such as Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines and Emirates. Air Canada describes Montréal as its hub (Air Canada, 14 October 2026), and Air Transat calls itself Montreal-based with major hubs at YUL and Toronto Pearson (Air Transat).

Since mid-June 2026 the city has had a second passenger terminal: Montréal Metropolitan Airport in Longueuil, on the South Shore about 15 km from downtown, with Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation as launch carriers, according to Tourisme Montréal’s business-events site. Air Journal reported that it sits on the former Saint-Hubert airport site, keeps the YHU code and is built for Canadian domestic flights only (Air Journal, 17 June 2026).

Prices on this page are left to the search engines; what follows is the route, bag and timing information that decides which of those prices is really cheapest. Our cheap flights tactics list covers general techniques.

Which airport should you search from Montreal: YUL, MET or Plattsburgh?

Search YUL for almost every trip, add MET when flying Porter within Canada, and treat Plattsburgh in New York as a niche option for US trips. YUL has the international network and US preclearance; MET is a new South Shore terminal for domestic flights; Plattsburgh means a border crossing by road.

YUL’s 747 bus runs around the clock: the short route from Lionel-Groulx metro takes about 30 to 35 minutes, the long route from the Gare d’autocars de Montréal at Berri-UQAM takes 45 to 70, and the $11.25 fare works across STM buses and metro for 24 hours (ADM). The seasonal 815 shuttle from the REM’s Des Sources station runs only until 19 October 2026.

Drivers should note ADM’s warning that access from the airport to westbound Highway 20 is closed from 3 August through November 2026, with a signed detour via Exit 58 (ADM). At MET, Tourisme Montréal says the METbus express shuttle links the terminal with Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke metro station (Tourisme Montréal).

Plattsburgh International Airport presents itself as serving the Plattsburgh, Montréal and Lake Placid region, with Allegiant, Contour and Breeze on its booking links. Its flights are US domestic, so it is only relevant for trips within the United States, and the drive, border queue and parking belong in the comparison.

What new routes from Montreal are worth watching?

Air Transat adds Los Cabos, Aruba and Barbados from 10, 12 and 13 December 2026. Air Canada has announced Indianapolis, Basel-Mulhouse and Dubrovnik for summer 2027 and Seville from 8 September 2027, while moving Tenerife, Lima and Guatemala City to year-round. Fresh capacity like this is worth a new search, even on trips you priced earlier.

Air Transat’s release of 27 April 2026 gives one weekly flight to Oranjestad in Aruba from 12 December, two to Bridgetown in Barbados from 13 December and one to San José del Cabo from 10 December, with frequencies quoted for the peak of the season and subject to approvals and slots (Air Transat).

Air Canada’s Seville flights run three times a week from 8 September 2027 and four from 1 October, on the A321XLR, with a schedule to 8 January 2028; the same release lists the summer 2027 additions and year-round extensions (Air Canada). Two days later Air Canada and United announced Montréal–Indianapolis for summer 2027 under their transborder joint business agreement (Air Canada, 16 October 2026).

Not every announced route survives. In April 2026 Air Canada said jet fuel prices had doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, suspended Montréal–Algiers for summer 2026 with plans to resume in 2027, paused Montréal–New York JFK from 1 June with a planned return on 25 October 2026, and dropped a planned Guadalajara–Montréal launch (Air Canada). Check that a route is actually on sale before planning around it.

What do basic fares from Montreal include?

Less than the headline suggests. Air Canada Economy Basic tickets bought since 3 January 2025 allow only a personal item on some itineraries, though connecting international passengers keep a carry-on. WestJet UltraBasic allows only a personal item except on Europe and Asia flights. Flair, Porter and Air Transat rules need checking on their own sites.

Air Canada’s carry-on page says Economy Basic fares purchased on or after 3 January 2025 include only one personal item on some itineraries and no longer include carry-on baggage for select destinations, with automated sizers at pre-security or pre-boarding (Air Canada). Its checked-bag page says final allowances depend on ticketing date and route, and points to a baggage calculator (Air Canada).

WestJet’s rule is similar in effect. UltraBasic guests may bring a personal item but cannot bring or pay for a carry-on, unless flying to or from Europe or Asia or holding Extended Comfort seats for every flight in that direction; arriving at the gate with a carry-on means a checked-bag fee plus a service fee (WestJet).

We could not read Flair Airlines’, Porter Airlines’ or Air Transat’s baggage pages from our location when checking on 17 October 2026, so we have not summarised their rules here; open each airline’s fare comparison before treating its lowest fare as like-for-like. Our Canadian carry-on rules guide gives a wider overview.

Should you position from Montreal to another airport?

Usually not for long-haul, because YUL already has Air Canada’s and Air Transat’s networks plus many foreign airlines. Positioning makes more sense for US trips, where Plattsburgh’s US airlines give a domestic alternative to a transborder fare. Québec City gains United flights to Denver in summer 2027, but it suits only travellers already heading there.

For transborder trips the alternative to positioning is a through ticket. Air Canada says its joint business with United offers more than 1,200 connecting Canada–US itineraries with integrated through-fares, and that the partnership supports direct transborder routes from Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Québec City and other cities beyond the main hubs (Air Canada). A through fare keeps your bags and rebooking on one ticket, which a self-made connection does not.

The same release has United adding Denver–Québec City and more Washington Dulles–Québec City flights for summer 2027 (Air Canada). For most Montrealers, YUL’s own schedule will be simpler than a drive or train to Québec City for one flight.

If you do book separate tickets, budget for missed-connection risk and for the cost of getting between airports; our positioning flights guide and guide to separate-ticket risk explain the trade-off.

How early should you book flights out of Montreal?

Google’s September 2024 Canadian holiday-travel post found 115 days ahead was the cheapest average time to book for most dates and destinations, and about 100 days for Christmas. Its October 2026 analysis of US departures put international lows near 89 days. For Montreal trips, start searching three to four months out.

The Canadian figures come from Google’s 2024 post, which also found Tuesday the cheapest day to book but only 1.4% below Saturday, the dearest. Because that post is two years old, we pair it with Google’s October 2026 US analysis, which found little price movement across a wide window for international trips and recommended booking as soon as possible, while Mexico and Caribbean fares bottomed out closer in, around 43 days ahead.

For winter sun, remember that Air Transat quotes its new Caribbean and Mexican frequencies for the peak of the season (Air Transat): with one or two flights a week on a route, a particular Saturday may simply fill up, so flexible dates matter more than the day you book.

For the full method, including when to set alerts, see our best time to book flights guide.

Which seasons matter for flights from Montreal?

Schedules from YUL swing between two seasons. Winter brings sun routes, such as Air Transat’s new Aruba, Barbados and Los Cabos flights from December. Summer and autumn bring seasonal transatlantic flying, such as Air Canada’s Seville service from September to January. Search each season on its own calendar, because route lists change between them.

The clearest official seasonal markers are the airlines’ own schedules. Air Transat’s December start dates and peak-season frequencies (Air Transat) and Air Canada’s September-to-January Seville timetable (Air Canada) show that the YUL route map in January is not the one in July. Air Canada also says Tenerife, Lima and Guatemala City move to year-round service, so those three no longer vanish out of season.

Tourisme Montréal’s chief executive, quoted in Air Canada’s Seville release, said the route improves Montréal’s accessibility particularly in winter (Air Canada), a reminder that inbound tourism shapes some schedules as much as local demand. ADM’s 815 shuttle to the REM, a summer service ending on 19 October, is another sign of how the airport plans around peaks (ADM).

We found no official month-by-month fare calendar for Montreal departures, so we do not name a cheapest month; use a month view on your route to see the pattern for your dates.

How should you use Aeroplan points from Montreal?

Aeroplan is the natural fit at Air Canada’s home hub. Air Canada says members can redeem on every seat of every Air Canada flight without restrictions, with no cash surcharges on those rewards, and Aeroplan books partner airlines too. Compare the points price with the cash fare, especially on routes where WestJet or Porter compete.

Air Canada’s Aeroplan redemption page promises “every seat, every Air Canada flight, no restrictions” and no cash surcharges on Air Canada flight rewards, and says points can also book partner flights, hotels, car rentals and Air Canada Vacations packages (Air Canada). Air Canada describes Aeroplan as having more than 10 million members and a partner network of more than 50 airlines (Air Canada).

Partner awards widen the choice beyond Air Canada’s own flights, but availability and taxes vary by airline, so price more than one routing. Our Aeroplan guide explains the reward chart and fees, and the Toronto–Montreal Aeroplan guide prices a short domestic hop.

WestJet’s redemption page quotes $25 off a booking for as few as 2,500 points (WestJet), so a WestJet redemption from YUL is easy to value against cash; our WestJet Rewards guide has the detail.

How do you use flight search tools for Montreal departures?

Run one search for YUL and, for domestic trips, a second including MET, then switch to a month view to find the cheapest dates. Open the fare details to confirm the brand and bags, set an alert on Canadian-dollar totals, and compare the same itinerary on another engine before paying.

Some engines may list MET under its YHU code or the old Saint-Hubert name rather than its new one, so if a Porter flight seems missing, search by code. Our Google Flights guide covers multi-airport and calendar searches.

Fare brands decide the comparison: an Air Canada Economy Basic or WestJet UltraBasic fare without a carry-on is not the same product as a standard economy fare, even when the flight is identical. Note which brand each result shows before you add it to a shortlist.

For international trips, Aviasales and Trip.com can show sellers and combinations worth comparing with the main engines; see Aviasales vs Google Flights vs Skyscanner. If a fare looks like an error, our mistake fare explainer covers what usually happens next.

What should you check before booking a cheap flight from Montreal?

Check five things: whether the route is actually on sale after Air Canada’s 2026 suspensions, whether the fare includes a carry-on, which airport the flight uses, whether a US trip would be cheaper as a through fare, and whether the points price beats the cash fare. Each takes a minute.

These checks draw on the sources above: ADM for airports and buses, Air Canada and Air Transat for routes, and the airlines’ baggage pages for what each fare contains. None of them requires a booking to verify.

If a fare passes all five, you are comparing like with like rather than a stripped-down ticket that only looks cheap, and the airport should hold fewer surprises.

• Confirm the route is on sale for your dates, not only announced.
• Read the fare brand: Economy Basic and UltraBasic may exclude a carry-on.
• Check whether a domestic flight leaves from YUL or MET.
• Price US trips as one ticket before trying Plattsburgh.
• Compare Aeroplan points with the cash fare.