If you’re arriving by air, you won’t have to think too long and hard about which airport to fly into. Québec City has just one – Jean Lesage Intl. Airport (YQB).

If you plan on staying in central Québec City, it’s a good idea to organize how you’ll get into the city before you land. The downtown area is approximately 13 kilometres from Jean Lesage Intl. Airport (YQB).

Québec City Jean Lesage Intl. Airport is the only major airport in Québec City. Before you take off, it’s a good idea to find out a little about it. It is located 13 kilometres from the downtown area.

There are 10 airlines that fly into Québec City from 21 worldwide airports.

Québec City receives most of its flights from Air Canada, PAL Airlines and Pascan Aviation with Air Canada being the favorite choice of carrier. Montreal is the most popular city for travelers to jet off from.

With 209 direct flights running each week, you’ll be arriving in Québec City before you can say, “Are we there yet?”

Flights to Québec City departing from Montreal, Toronto and Chicago airports are the most popular.

Which airport you depart from determines how much of the in-flight entertainment you’ll get to enjoy. From Montreal to Québec City, the average flight time is 58 minutes. From Toronto it’s more like 1 hour and 31 minutes, and from Sept-Iles it’s 1 hour and 35 minutes.

We’ve all come across those lucky travelers who somehow manage to get impossibly cheap plane tickets wherever they go. Eager to know how to do it for your Québec City vacation? Don’t wait until the last possible moment to lock in your flight. Also, shop around and compare your options. If your destination has a few airports, you may be able to nab a great price by flying into a less busy terminal. And finally, don’t forget that it’s first in, best dressed. Familiarize yourself with airfare costs and have your credit card ready to grab your ticket as soon as you see a great bargain. The sweetest deals never last long.

Wherever you’re jetting in from, flying can be an enjoyable experience if you’re well organized. We’ve compiled a list of handy tips that will help get your Québec City vacation started on the right note.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First of all, pack your passport, important documents, wallet and vital medications. Next, you’ll want some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy book and a phone crammed with your favorite shows are good options. If you hope to catch forty winks, a quality neck pillow and some earplugs will also be useful. Finally, make room for a toothbrush and some cleansing wipes to ensure you arrive looking fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items differs between airlines, the general rule of thumb is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes tools, metal cutlery, fuel and fireworks. Sports equipment like bows and arrows, and items that could harm passengers, such as firearms and ammunition, aren’t allowed in the cabin either.

What to wear on a flight:

• The narrow aisles of your plane are no place for a fashion parade. Layer yourself up with comfortable clothes and bring a cardigan as it tends to get cool inside the cabin on long-haul flights. Slightly roomy, flat shoes are also recommended.
• The result of sustained periods of inactivity, DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a blood clot condition that can affect passengers during long flights. But the good news is there are numerous ways to lower your risk of developing it. Keep your fluids up, get up and walk around the cabin as often as you can and wear compression tights or socks.

Being prepared before you get to the airport will make your trip to Québec City easy and painless. We’ve compiled some handy tips for a swift journey through security:

• Security personnel first need to see that you have a valid passport and matching boarding pass before anything else. Have them ready to show.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your jacket, belt, keys and other contents of your pockets, like your earphones, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make your life easier by removing them before your turn arrives.
• Your electronic gadgets like laptops and phones will also have to go through the machine for inspection. No need to worry though, you’ll be back online before you know it.
• Any gels or liquids, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you valuable minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Lightweight sneakers usually aren’t.
• Sharp items like knives are not allowed in the cabin. They’ll be seized at security, so pack them safely away in your checked bags.