Québec City Airport (YQB) Flights & Flight Status

Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport calls itself an international airport because it has connections to a handful of American, European and sun destinations, but it’s mostly a regional airport serving far-flung spots in the province of Quebec and a few cities in Canada.

Because it doesn’t have many flights each day, the airport has fewer amenities than larger international airports, but despite these limitations, it is a beautiful airport that has been completely renovated and modernized with great attention to the passenger experience. The well-laid-out terminal is bright and comfortable and its excellent signage makes it a breeze to navigate.

The best (and only) lounge at YQB

Because Jean Lesage is not so busy, I usually find it easy enough to find a quiet corner at a closed gate if I need to destress with a bit of free Wi-Fi before my flight, but some people don’t like mixing with the hoi polloi and need to be pampered in a lounge. If that’s you, then Quebec City’s airport offers you only one option, the V.I.P. Lounge by Club Med. The legendary vacation company lent its name to the lounge shortly before opening its first-ever North American all-inclusive mountain resort in neighboring Charlevoix a few years back.

The lounge offers all the usual amenities you’d expect like free drink and food, comfy seats, fast and free wifi and lovely views of the airport and mountains beyond, but the airport is so quiet that I don’t find much value in purchasing a lounge pass, something which can be done directly on the airport’s website.

However, if you’re a member of Club Med’s loyalty program, have elite status with Air Canada or Air Transat or are subscribed to the Priority Pass program which is also a perk for certain American Express cardholders then access to the V.I.P Lounge is free so you might as well take advantage of it. Who doesn’t like free wine at 5 am?

Just be aware that the lounge’s opening hours vary depending on that day’s flight schedule.

The best ways to get to and from Quebec City

Most visitors to Quebec City end up staying near the Old Town which is less than half an hour away by car. Taxis are my preferred option to get there, but many travelers like to use the Uber ride-sharing app. You can grab a taxi at the end of the terminal building near the international arrivals, but for Uber drivers, look for your ride near domestic flight arrivals, under the footbridge, by columns 13-14.

A small number of local hotels also offer shuttle buses to and from the airport, so check with your accommodation provider to see if they provide this service.

If you’re looking to save a few dollars and aren’t pressed for time, then a cheaper way to get to town is by public transit. The 76 and 80 buses both serve the airport with the latter heading downtown and the former going to the suburb of Ste. Foy. Both routes run daily with service every half hour during peak hours and every hour during off-peak times. You can find an automated ticket machine for the bus near the airport’s information counter.

If you prefer to drive yourself or your visit takes you further afield than just Quebec City, there are several familiar car rental brands with counters at the airport like Avis, Budget, Hertz and others. You’ll find them on the ground level of the administrative building. As is the case with any car rental, it’s always best to reserve your vehicle before you arrive.

Check-in considerations

I like to check in to my flights online and use my airline’s dedicated mobile app, mostly because I want to make my seat selection as early as possible and not wait until I get to the airport to do it. However, I am also paranoid about my phone battery dying on me making it impossible to present my electronic ticket.

For that reason, I check in a second time using the self-serve electronic kiosks in Jean Lesage’s main terminal so that I can get a paper copy of my boarding pass. If you fly frequently, these kiosks should be familiar to you as they are found in most airports these days and the ones in Jean Lesage let you check in with most of the airlines flying out of Quebec City. Some regional airlines may require you to go to their counter to get checked in.

Just make sure you don’t get to the airport too early, because some of the check-in counters might be closed.

Security at Quebec City’s airport

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority operates the airport’s only security checkpoint which is located on level 2 of the terminal building. I’ve never had any problems passing through and find the lines move quickly, but I’ve heard others complain that it takes them an unusually long amount of time to get screened.

Like any airport, I would say your experience depends on how many flights there are at a given time and what the volume of passengers is when you go through. If you are worried about it, you can check the estimated waiting time for security on the home page of the airport’s website.

Customs and Immigration at YQB

If you are arriving at YQB from outside of Canada, you will leave your plane and have to complete border formalities before you pick up your luggage and leave the airport.

You will fill out an electronic customs form at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) primary inspection kiosk which will spit out a paper receipt that you have to show to a customs inspector who will ask you some questions before allowing you into the country. Keep that paper because you will have to hand it to a second officer after you collect your luggage at the carousel or even if you only have a carry-on bag.

If you want to save a few minutes at the electronic kiosk, you can use the CBSA’s ArriveCAN app to fill out your customs declaration form in advance. You then scan your phone at the kiosk instead of answering the questions on the screen.

For passengers flying out of Quebec City to the United States, Jean Lesage does not have a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance station on site like other larger airports in Canada. That means you will have to undergo American border inspection at your destination.

The best food and drink options at Quebec’s airport

It’s hard to single out what are the best places for food and drink in Quebec City’s airport because there are so few of them. My favourite choice is Blaxton Bar & Grill, an outpost of a popular local chain of eateries that serves a wide selection of pub grub and local beers and spirits. It generally stays open until the last flight of the day.

Sometimes I want something lighter or am in more of a hurry, so I’ll grab fast food from the counter of the A&W burger chain. There are also two Brûlerie Rousseau par Nourcy’s counters, one located before security and one past security. Since Nourcy also caters the V.I.P. Lounge by Club Med, you might see some of the same menu items at both places.

Quebec City layover ideas if you’ve got time to kill

Since most people fly through YQB to visit Quebec City, it’s rare to have a layover there, but you might be connecting to somewhere exotic like Kuujjuaq in the Arctic or the wind-swept Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. If that’s the case and you have some time to kill, there isn’t much to do at the airport so you should head into town.

If you’re worried that you have too many bags to carry, there are self-serve lockers located on the first level of the building between the Proxi parking lot and the walkway leading to the terminal building where you can stash your things before you grab a taxi or Uber into town.

Since the Old Town is Quebec City’s biggest tourist draw, it’s the best place to spend a few hours. Start with a stroll along Dufferin Terrace where you’ll walk by the castle-like Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, which is said to be the world’s most photographed hotel. From there you can take in the sweeping sight of the old town below and the mighty St. Lawrence River beyond.

Grab the funicular into the old town below and walk the historic cobblestoned streets and sample the shops and bistros housed in beautiful buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries that will make you feel that you’ve been transported to a city in Europe

History buffs can tour the fortifications of the old town that are part of a national historic site and learn about the conflict that once pitted England against France for control of the city.