Cheap flights to
Montréal (YUL)

If you want to find the cheapest flights, you have to know when to look. Unfortunately, there’s no exact science on the best day to book for the cheapest fares, but there is a time period when you’re likely to find the best deals. We call it the Goldilocks Window because it’s not too far ahead of your trip, but it’s not too late at the same time. It’s about 1–3 months before a domestic trip and 2–8 months before an international trip.

For anyone booking a flight during a peak travel season, or for a trip that requires specific dates and no flexibility, we recommend planning even earlier. If, for example, you’re looking to vacation in Montreal in July, you’d be smart to start looking at fares around January.

Last-minute deals are practically nonexistent at all times of the year but especially during busy travel seasons. In fact, we see airlines raise prices consistently at the 21-, 14-, and 7-day points before departure dates, so book before those times if at all possible.

Sometimes, no matter how diligently you check fares, they never seem to get any cheaper. Before you pick a new destination, try our Greek Islands Trick. While Montreal is far from the Greek islands, the trick can work in both places. The goal is to get as close to your final destination as you can for the cheapest price, then look for a budget airline, train, bus, or other mode of transportation for your final leg.

If you really want to fly from New Orleans to Montreal for a summer getaway, you could be looking at a price tag of more than $650. Instead, look for flights to Toronto or New York, often found for closer to $200. From there, you could find another cheap flight for around $200 (or even drive across the border if necessary). Yes, this takes more effort, but it could save you money that you could put toward another night or two at a hotel.

Similarly, searching for different departure airports can sometimes save money. We see incredible deals from airports big and small every day, and if you’re only searching from your home airport you could miss out. Let’s use New Orleans as an example again. If flights from New Orleans to Montreal are out of your price range, search for flights out of Houston instead. If you have time for the drive, you could end up saving a boatload of money.

Sometimes, we see deals so good they’re even worth adding an extra flight. If you see a deal from Atlanta to Montreal for under $200, for example, you might consider adding an extra flight from New Orleans to Atlanta. It can pay to play around with airports and prices to see if you can find a better deal, even if it’s not as convenient.

Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons in many parts of the world, and Montreal is no exception. Warm, sunny weather and outdoor festivals draw crowds; plus, kids are out of school, and families can travel. However, an abundance of people wanting to visit a place in a limited time frame means airlines can charge more for tickets.

The more flexible your dates are, the better chance you have to save money on airfare. We love traveling during the shoulder seasons, just before and after a destination’s peak season. Late September–October is a great time to visit Montreal, for example. The weather is mild, with gorgeous fall leaves, and you’ll see the sights with fewer tourists and lower prices. Spring is also a nice time to visit. For the cheapest prices, and if you don’t mind the cold, visit from December–February.

Even if you do plan to travel during the summer, you can still try to save money by flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, which are generally cheaper days to fly than Fridays and Sundays.

Keeping track of airfare can be frustrating. It’s constantly changing, and you never know if you missed a good deal. Luckily, fare alerts can ease your mind. Set up alerts for your travel dates and airports, and you’ll get an email when prices drop into your range or by a significant amount. It’s best to do this a few months before, so you can see the deals in the Goldilocks Window we talked about above.

Montreal is well-connected to the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. With nonstop flights from more than 150 airports in more than 45 countries, your travel options are plentiful.