Montreal chosen as host for 2020 figure skating world championships

[euterpe]

I dread the flight arrangements---I live near Charlotte, and I'm sure there will be multiple legs from there to Montreal.

 

[Lanie]

I dread the flight arrangements---I live near Charlotte, and I'm sure there will be multiple legs from there to Montreal.

Moving to the Charlotte area. I'm always so shocked at the flights. How expensive they are, and how it's almost always just American and on old planes! I bet it'd be crazy expensive to fly CTL to YUL.

 

[Lilia A]

I dread the flight arrangements---I live near Charlotte, and I'm sure there will be multiple legs from there to Montreal.

Never been to Charlotte, but flying to Montreal is pretty much the same as flying to Toronto. Most major US airports fly direct. If there's a direct flight from Charlotte to a major airport in the east coast (Atlanta, Miami, any of the NY area airports, etc), then you're looking at a one stop journey with lots of options.

 

[once_upon]

Never been to Charlotte, but flying to Montreal is pretty much the same as flying to Toronto. Most major US airports fly direct. If there's a direct flight from Charlotte to a major airport in the east coast (Atlanta, Miami, any of the NY area airports, etc), then you're looking at a one stop journey with lots of options.

Depends on how much you are willing to pay for airfare. I can usually fly to Minneapolis or Chicago, but sometimes end up going to Denver or Houston or Atlanta to fly north.

I would love to go to Montreal, but saving $$$$$ for Australia trip.

 

[skategal]

Charlotte to Montreal should only have one stop over.

Air Canada flies Toronto - Charlotte and also flies Toronto - Montreal every hour.

 

[paskatefan]

We wanted to get tickets in the center section opposite the judges, but ended up settling for the side, Row U. Oh, well, @ least we can move up closer during the practice sessions. Glad to be able to attend the event.

 

[Debbie S]

@euterpe American has nonstops between Charlotte and Montreal. When I was looking into going, I thought about using FF miles on American (which were originally USAir miles and transferred over after their merger) and some of the flights from my airport went through Charlotte. But yes, American was more expensive from my airport than Air Canada.

I didn't realize you moved to NC...will you be in Greensboro?

Charlotte was a USAir hub, so with the merger with/sale to American, it makes sense that American is the dominant airport there.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Has anyone seen the charge go through on their credit card yet?

 

[gatorinfl]

I dread the flight arrangements---I live near Charlotte, and I'm sure there will be multiple legs from there to Montreal.

Flights from Tampa are not great. There is one nonstop (at a decent price, too) but it arrives after 10 p.m. at night so probably I would not get to the hotel until after 11.

 

[Lara]

Charlotte to Montreal should only have one stop over.

Air Canada flies Toronto - Charlotte and also flies Toronto - Montreal every hour.

I’d definitely try to avoid connecting through Toronto if not already in Canada, since AFAIK you’d have to go through customs there and it’s a busier airport than Montreal. YUL has flights to many US cities so there should be a connection option in the vast majority of cases.

 

[tamms]

Section 220 seems to be the only one available for P5 this morning so that's what my friend booked for us. Only flights left to book.

 

[BittyBug]

Has anyone seen the charge go through on their credit card yet?

Yes

 

[kwanfan1818]

The charges haven't hit my card as of this morning, but Amex sent me a "Foreign Transaction Approved" email yesterday. I may have received it because I've subscribed to that alert.

 

[kiss-n-cry]

Has anyone seen the charge go through on their credit card yet?

Yes, mine showed up yesterday afternoon as a pending transaction.

 

[skategal]

I’d definitely try to avoid connecting through Toronto if not already in Canada, since AFAIK you’d have to go through customs there and it’s a busier airport than Montreal. YUL has flights to many US cities so there should be a connection option in the vast majority of cases.

As far as I know, the problem is going through US customs (returning to US) not coming into Canada through Canadian customs.

I suspect both Montreal and Toronto US customs will both be backed up as Worlds is going to be right when the Canadian March break folk will be travelling to the US Sun destinations for holiday.

Just make sure you have at least 2 hours to connect your flights and you should be fine.

 

[nguyhm]

FYI - I just clicked on the link and got a message saying that this sale link is no longer valid. Tickets are no longer available on line. I guess the pre sale ended much earlier than promised (should be until 10 pm today)

 

[euterpe]

@euterpe American has nonstops between Charlotte and Montreal. When I was looking into going, I thought about using FF miles on American (which were originally USAir miles and transferred over after their merger) and some of the flights from my airport went through Charlotte. But yes, American was more expensive from my airport than Air Canada.

I didn't realize you moved to NC...will you be in Greensboro?

Charlotte was a USAir hub, so with the merger with/sale to American, it makes sense that American is the dominant airport there.

Thanks for the info, Debbie. I'm sure it's going to be expensive. My seat and the hotel so far will cost about $3700 US, so the airfare will just add a little more. I doubt I'll ever go to Worlds again, unless it's in the US, so cost be darned.

And yes, I'm going to Greensboro---at least I can drive there, and it's only about a 2-hour trip, closer than Lake Placid was from NJ (3.5 hours). I've already paid for the ticket, so there's only the hotel bill. Looking forward to seeing you there.

 

[muffinplus]

Thanks for the info, Debbie. I'm sure it's going to be expensive. My seat and the hotel so far will cost about $3700 US, so the airfare will just add a little more. I doubt I'll ever go to Worlds again, unless it's in the US, so cost be darned.

And yes, I'm going to Greensboro---at least I can drive there, and it's only about a 2-hour trip, closer than Lake Placid was from NJ (3.5 hours). I've already paid for the ticket, so there's only the hotel bill. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Just start collecting credit card points/miles Makes travel so much easier

 

[MR-FAN]

FYI - I just clicked on the link and got a message saying that this sale link is no longer valid. Tickets are no longer available on line. I guess the pre sale ended much earlier than promised (should be until 10 pm today)

I still have access to the presale

 

[victorskid]

FYI - I just clicked on the link and got a message saying that this sale link is no longer valid. Tickets are no longer available on line. I guess the pre sale ended much earlier than promised (should be until 10 pm today)

The link for all-event tickets still works for me.

 

[muffinplus]

The pre sale link didn't work earlier even though it does work now

 

[vesperholly]

I’d definitely try to avoid connecting through Toronto if not already in Canada, since AFAIK you’d have to go through customs there and it’s a busier airport than Montreal. YUL has flights to many US cities so there should be a connection option in the vast majority of cases.

I've actually been through customs in the Toronto airport and it's massive and very well organized. Their terminals/gates are divided up so that there's not 80,000 people funneling through one customs section to get to their 95 different gates.

 

[skipaway]

I’m so disappointed. Found out today that my seat is not on the aisle in row U. I assumed seat 1 was an aisle seat but in that row #3 is the aisle.

 

[jaro]

I’m so disappointed. Found out today that my seat is not on the aisle in row U. I assumed seat 1 was an aisle seat but in that row #3 is the aisle.

How did you find that out? We have seat 1 and assumed it was an aisle.

 

[skipaway]

How did you find that out? We have seat 1 and assumed it was an aisle.

I looked at this seat map that JTPC posted.
Seat Map

Enlarged my section and it showed the seat rows and numbers. If you see the rows u,v and possibly w, on the map, they are above the entrances into the arena and have a different seat configuration. The aisle seat is #3. That’s when I saw the issue. I emailed the Bell Centre and they confirmed what I was seeing. I believe it’s only those rows around the 100s sections. I hope this does not affect you.

 

[jaro]

I looked at this seat map that JTPC posted.
Seat Map

Enlarged my section and it showed the seat rows and numbers. If you see the rows u,v and possibly w, on the map, they are above the entrances into the arena and have a different seat configuration. The aisle seat is #3. That’s when I saw the issue. I emailed the Bell Centre and they confirmed what I was seeing. I believe it’s only those rows around the 100s sections. I hope this does not affect you.

Thank you so much. It looks like we're fine. I appreciate it.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Moving to the Charlotte area. I'm always so shocked at the flights. How expensive they are, and how it's almost always just American and on old planes! I bet it'd be crazy expensive to fly CTL to YUL.

Off topic... but is Charlotte a new American hub? Im booking Spain on AA and everything puts me through O'Hare or Charlotte (from LA).

In all the years I never saw a Charlotte layover.

 

[Lanie]

@AngieNikodinovLove, Charlotte was the old US Air hub and American bought 'em out awhile ago. So now everything is through Charlotte. They also fly really old A321s. It stinks! (I've been going back and forth a lot in the last year.)

 

[HeatherC]

Well, mom and I were originally planning to go to Montreal but after looking at all the prices, travel costs, hotel costs, and thinking more about what we really want to do, we decided that we would rather spend that type of money on a land and sea cruise to Alaska next summer so we will not be attending Worlds next year. I hope everyone has a great time though!

On the other hand, now we're thinking about going to Greensboro just for the championship weekend of US Nats if we can find some good deals. I don't want to not see any skating next year!

 

[cygnus]

As far as I know, the problem is going through US customs (returning to US) not coming into Canada through Canadian customs.

I suspect both Montreal and Toronto US customs will both be backed up as Worlds is going to be right when the Canadian March break folk will be travelling to the US Sun destinations for holiday.

Just make sure you have at least 2 hours to connect your flights and you should be fine.

Actually if you are connecting through Toronto you will be fine- just follow the signs to "connections", which take you to a different line than the general customs one. They have really streamlined the process in the last year or so- it's much faster and you no longer have to go through security again if you are staying in Canada.