Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport

The Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport is located just 16 miles outside of the center of Ottawa, Ontario. The trip from the city center takes around 19 minutes, depending on the level of traffic. To reach the airport from the center of town, take Highway 417 to Bronson Avenue South to access the Airport Parkway.

If you are coming from the eastern end of Ottawa, you will want to take Highway 417 to the Walkley Road exit. Walkley Road will take you to the Airport Parkway, which will be on your left after the OC Transpo bus station. From the western portion of the city, you will exit Highway 417 at Highway 416 South. On 416, you will take the Hunt Club Road East exit. Take a right on Uplands. Uplands will take you to Airport Parkway, which will be on your right.

All of the routes to the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport are clearly marked with road signs. Even though the route is not difficult, if you drive yourself to the airport, you will still have to worry about where you are going to park. You will also have to pay for parking. Many travelers find that public transportation is more convenient. OC Transpo has a direct service to the airport. You will want to take Route 97 to get to the airport.

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If you choose to drive, rather than use public transportation, you will need to find a place to park when you arrive at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport. If you are picking up or dropping off passengers, you can either drop them and go at the front of the terminal, or you can park in the Parkade. If you leave before 15 minutes have expired, you will not be charged a fee for parking. If, however, you leave your car unattended at the curb of the terminal, you will receive a ticket and your car could be towed.

The Parkade is the short-term parking lot at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport. Here you can park for a few hours or an entire day. The cost is $2.00 per 15 minutes with a maximum of $16.50 per day. However, if you need to leave your vehicle for more than an hour or two, you will find it more affordable to stay in the P4 - Long Term and Overheight parking lot. This lot also charges $2.00 per 15 minutes, but the maximum for a day is $12.00. If you stay for more than one day, you will not be charged more than $60.00 per week. This parking lot is within walking distance of the newest passenger terminal at Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport. You can also use Park `n Fly, an independently owned parking lot that is not controlled by the airport.

Business travelers can apply for a special transponder that allows them to park without taking the time to pay for the parking. The transponder is registered with a credit card that is charged for parking. This service is called BizPark, and allows business travelers to jump in their cars and leave after a business trip.

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Once you arrive at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport, you will need to check in for your flight. The airport recommends that you arrive at least two hours before any domestic or trans-border flight, and three hours before you are going to leave on an international flight. This will give you enough time to check in, go through security, and find your gate before your flight leaves.

You can check in through the self-service kiosks, provided your airline has them. Otherwise, you will need to check in with the personnel at the counter. Have your ID ready to show at this time. You will also want to mark all of the luggage that you are planning to check with your name and address. This way you can be contacted if the luggage is misdirected. Some airlines also allow you to check in ahead of time by logging on to their websites. Once you have checked in for your flight, you will head for security before heading to your terminal and gate.

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The security screening at Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport is handled by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). When you go through security, two things will happen. First, your carry on luggage will go through an x-ray machine. Second, you will need to pass through a metal detector. If there is anything in the process that alerts the security personnel to a potential problem, you will be pulled out of line and questioned.

In light of recent world events, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority has heightened regulations as to the items that passengers can carry on board. You cannot carry anything sharp on board an airplane, including large scissors. Also, you cannot carry most liquids in your carry on. If you need a liquid on board the airplane, you will need to pack it in a 100 ml bottle. All of your 100 ml bottles must fit into a one-quart zip-top bag, and this bag will be screened separately from the rest of your luggage. If you are traveling with a baby, you will be allowed to bring milk or formula for that child. You will also be allowed to bring food for babies, prescription medications, and some non-prescription medications. All other gels or liquids must be placed into the 100 ml containers and the zip-top bag. If there is a liquid or other item that you need on board the plane, but cannot fit it in a 100 ml bottle, you can buy it at one of the retailers in the airport that are found after the security checkpoint.

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If you are traveling for business, you may want to consider taking advantage of some of the business passenger services offered by the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport to make your trip and meeting go as smoothly as possible. If you have associates who have limited time for your meeting, consider having your meeting right at the airport. This will allow everyone to fly in, meet, and then fly home. The airport has several meeting facilities you can reserve for this purpose.

The premier meeting facility at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport is the Hunt Club Executive Boardroom. Here you can sit with your associates around a boardroom table that seats up to 20, enjoy the convenience of a built-in projector, and connect to the Internet when needed. The room is also equipped with an LCD screen and the ability to play both DVD and VHS media. Besides this luxurious room, the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport has five other rooms where you can meet, including large and small rooms. All rooms are wired for the Internet and have enough space for you to present your presentations. The staff at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport will also cater your meeting with excellent food and beverages.

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If you are traveling through the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport for business, you may not need the help of the boardrooms, but you may need a quiet, comfortable place to catch up on some work or pressing email before your flight leaves. The Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport offers the Capital Lounge for this reason. The Capital Lounge is an executive lounge provided by Servisair and is located on the second level of the airport before the security screening station.

The Capital Lounge is a quiet place where you can either work or relax with excellent services that you will not find elsewhere in the airport. Comfortable, padded seating, LCD screens with flight information, complimentary beverages and snacks, and current newspapers and magazines to read are all available for you to enjoy inside the lounge. Also, if you need to do some work, there are writing desks with internet access, as well as Wi-Fi, phones, and fax machines. There are even restrooms inside the lounge that you can use. However, you will have to book access to the lounge ahead of time, so if you need this service, make sure you call ahead. Any departing passenger can use this fully staffed lounge. No matter what airline or class you are flying, you can use this lounge if you make a reservation before heading to the airport.

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Whether you need to purchase some liquids that you could not get past security or a last minute souvenir of your trip to Canada, the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport has many shops to meet your needs. If you are traveling internationally, you will probably want to visit the AerRianta International Duty Free store. Here you can purchase gift items and not pay any duties on them when you get to your destination. If you are looking for an Ottawa souvenir, consider shopping at the Discover Ottawa or Savour Ottawa stores.

Of course, stores at airports are well known for their high prices. If you are traveling on a budget, consider visiting the $15 Boutique, where everything is $15. If you have children with you, be sure to stop by the Fuzzy Wuzzy toy store to pick up something to keep them entertained at the airport. If you need something to entertain yourself while ion your flight, consider shopping at the Great Canadian Book Store, where you can buy books, magazines, and newspapers for your flight. Relay is a newsstand where you can also pick up reading material. If you would rather purchase music or electronics, consider shopping at Virgin Records. You can even get a manicure or massage while waiting for your flight. The 10 Minute Manicure and 10 Minute Massage stores will get you relaxed and ready for your flight in plenty of time.

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The Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport has many places where you can get a snack or a meal before your flight. From bars to cafes to fast food to fine dining, you can find a restaurant to meet your needs at this airport. If you would like a quick drink before heading to your flight, consider Byward Taps or the Senate Chamber Bar. If you need a quick cup of coffee to get you started for a morning flight, Second Cup is where you want to go. If you are in a hurry, you can get a healthy snack and drink at Booster Juice, or you can grab a fast meal at Grab and Go. For a more traditional dining experience, consider the Rideau Bar and Grill, Sbarros, or Harvey's Swiss Chalet. Also, every floor of the airport has a Tim Horton's for your dining pleasure.

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The goal of the staff at the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport is to make your flight as comfortable and convenient as possible. For this reason, there are a few other services that the airport offers its passengers. Passengers who are flying from Ottawa in the winter to a sunnier destination can store some extra winter luggage at the Baggage Storage Service, which is on level one. These items can be stored until you return, or they can be mailed to you for a fee.

The Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport also has a loast and found service. If you leave something at the airport, you can find the lost and found office at level 1 of the terminal building. Of course, if you leave an item on the airplane, you will need to contact the airline, not the airport.

Finally, the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport has several services for handicapped passengers. Each parking lot has specially marked parking spaces for those with handicapped licenses. There are elevators throughout the airport to help those in wheelchairs get around the airport. If you need to use an airport wheelchair, be sure to contact your airline before you get to the airport so that they can have the wheelchair ready for you when you arrive.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303