What are open-jaw flights and how do they save money?

An open-jaw flight means flying into one city and out of another — for example, NYC to Lisbon, then Budapest to NYC. This saved over $200 compared to round-tripping to the same airport on a real 30-day Europe trip that cost $412 total for transatlantic flights. It also eliminates wasted travel time backtracking to your arrival city.

A ferris wheel is visible next to a city and water.

Filipe Freitas

Discovery

Cheap Flights from Montreal in 2026: A Backpacker's Playbook

Bryan MendezJan 20267 min read

I was sitting at a terrasse on Saint-Laurent drinking a 6-dollar pint when I realized something. Montreal is quietly one of the best cities in North America to fly out of if you speak a little French and know where to look. The France connection isn't just cultural -- it shows up on the departure board. Air Transat, Air France, Corsair, PLAY -- they're all competing for your money on transatlantic routes, and that competition is your best friend.

Here's how to squeeze every dollar out of YUL.

Montreal Airports: Where Your Budget Trip Begins

YUL (Montreal-Trudeau International)

The main event -- all international, Air Canada and Air Transat hub
Airlines you care about: Air France, Air Transat, Icelandair, PLAY, TAP Portugal, Corsair, WestJet
Getting there: 747 Express Bus to downtown ($11.25 CAD, 45-60 min)

YHZ (Halifax) -- The Dark Horse

Distance: ~850 km east (or a quick positioning flight)
Why bother: Sometimes cheaper for transatlantic because it's physically closer to Europe

My take: Montreal's francophone DNA means Air France keeps a heavy presence here, and that keeps Paris pricing honest. You won't find that advantage in Toronto.

Cheap Flights from Montreal to Europe

This is Montreal's sweet spot. The France connection runs deep and the savings are real.

What You'll Actually Pay (CAD, Round-Trip)

Jan-Mar: $450-700 — $500-600
Apr-Jun: $600-900 — $650-800
Jul-Aug: $750-1100 — $850-1000
Sep-Nov: $480-750 — $520-650

The Airlines That Matter

Air Transat -- Your first search, every time. Canadian leisure carrier with direct routes to Paris, London, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Brussels. Consistently $200+ cheaper than Air France on the same routes. This is the airline that makes Montreal special for budget flying.

Air France -- YUL to Paris CDG direct, multiple daily. Premium service, and when they run sales they're genuinely competitive. Paris as a hub connects you to basically anywhere in Europe.

Icelandair -- YUL to Reykjavik with a free Iceland stopover. If you've ever wanted to stand on a glacier between leaving Montreal and arriving in Copenhagen, this is how.

PLAY -- The ultra-low-cost Icelandic carrier. Bare-bones -- you're paying for bags, food, everything extra. But the base fare to Reykjavik can be absurdly cheap.

TAP Portugal -- Via Lisbon, often the cheapest route to Southern Europe. Their Portugal stopover program is legit -- a few free nights in Lisbon on your way to wherever.

Corsair -- French leisure carrier, YUL to Paris Orly. A budget alternative to Air France that most people don't know about.

Gateway Cities for Budget Flights from Montreal

Paris: $500-800 — France, literally all of Europe
Lisbon: $480-750 — Portugal, Spain, Morocco
Reykjavik: $400-600 — Iceland, Scandinavia
London: $550-850 — UK, Ireland
Brussels: $550-800 — Belgium, Netherlands, Germany

Sample Budget Routes from Montreal

The France Focus (2 weeks) YUL to Paris ($550 Air Transat) -- train to Lyon -- Nice -- Barcelona -- back to Paris -- YUL Total flights: ~$650 CAD

Paris as Your Europe Gateway (3 weeks) YUL to Paris ($520) -- train to Amsterdam -- Berlin -- Prague -- Paris -- YUL Total flights: ~$620 CAD

Iberian Peninsula + Morocco (3 weeks) YUL to Lisbon ($500 TAP) -- Porto -- Madrid -- Morocco -- Lisbon -- YUL Total flights: ~$700 CAD

Nordic Discovery (2 weeks) YUL to Reykjavik ($430 PLAY) -- Iceland ring road -- Copenhagen -- Stockholm -- Reykjavik -- YUL Total flights: ~$600 CAD

Cheap Flights from Montreal to Southeast Asia

Longer journey, but Montreal has workable angles.

What You'll Actually Pay (CAD, Round-Trip)

All Year: $950-1400 — $1050-1250

How to Route It

Via Europe -- Fly Air Transat or Air France to Paris, then grab a separate ticket to Asia on Scoot or China Airlines. Sometimes this two-ticket approach is actually the cheapest path from Montreal to Bangkok.

Via Middle East -- Emirates or Qatar, usually positioning through Toronto or NYC first. Add a domestic flight to access better international pricing.

Via China -- Air China, China Southern. Cheapest on paper, but factor in Chinese transit visa hassles.

Sample Route

Southeast Asia via Paris (5 weeks) YUL to Paris ($550) -- Bangkok ($450 Scoot) -- Cambodia -- Vietnam -- Paris -- YUL Total flights: ~$1100 CAD

Cheap Flights from Montreal to Latin America

Decent Caribbean connections -- especially the French Caribbean, where Montreal has a unique edge.

What You'll Actually Pay (CAD, Round-Trip)

Caribbean: $450-800 — Nov-Apr
Mexico: $500-800 — Nov-Apr
Central America: $600-900 — Jan-Apr, Sep-Nov
South America: $800-1200 — Mar-Nov

The Airlines That Matter

Air Transat / Sunwing -- Sun destinations like Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico. Package deals often deliver incredible per-day value.

Air France -- Direct flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe. This is Montreal's secret weapon -- most US cities can't touch the French Caribbean directly.

Air Canada -- Scheduled service to Mexico, Caribbean, and some South America connections.

Avianca / Copa -- Via US hubs heading south into South America.

Gateway Strategy

Cancun: $450-700 — Mexico, Yucatan
Havana: $500-750 — Cuba
Martinique: $600-900 — French Caribbean
Panama City: $700-1000 — Central and South America

Sample Budget Routes

French Caribbean (2 weeks) YUL to Martinique ($650 Air France) -- Guadeloupe -- Martinique -- YUL Total flights: ~$750 CAD

Mexico Classic (3 weeks) YUL to Cancun ($500) -- Yucatan -- Oaxaca -- Mexico City -- Cancun -- YUL Total flights: ~$650 CAD

5 Things I Learned Flying Out of Montreal

1. The Air France partnership is real money. Montreal's francophone connection means Paris pricing stays competitive year-round. Use Paris as your Europe gateway and you're already ahead.

2. Air Transat before Air Canada, always. Transat consistently undercuts Air Canada on transatlantic routes. Check them first for any route crossing the Atlantic.

3. Quebec winters create charter deals. Long, cold winters mean desperate demand for sun destinations. Last-minute winter charter packages can be incredible value -- I'm talking all-inclusive Cuba for less than your monthly rent.

4. French Caribbean direct flights are a cheat code. Montreal to Martinique or Guadeloupe, direct, no connection. Most American cities can't do that. If the French islands are your thing, you're already in the right city.

5. Speaking French is a travel asset. Beyond the practical advantage across Europe and West Africa, it opens up conversations and experiences that English-only travelers miss. Montreal gives you that.