Airport information
Where you can drop someone off, pick someone up, wait or meet at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, according to the official sources. Each spot lists only the verified actions; anything missing is unknown.
Picking someone up
Where someone can get in, where you can wait or meet inside, and when short-stay parking is needed.
WaitingNot permittedVehicles may not park or wait along either curb; drivers should wait in the Cell Phone Lot. Vehicles may not be left unattended under any circumstances; unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
Picking upPermittedArriving passengers can be picked up along the arrivals curb (lower roadway). There are numbered pillars along the curb; pillars 1 to 3 are the best pick-up points.
WaitingNot permittedVehicles may not park or wait along either curb; security will direct drivers to the Cell Phone Lot to wait for their passengers. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
WaitingPermittedFree short-term waiting area: drivers can wait in their vehicle and head to the terminal once they receive a message on their phone that the passenger is ready; it takes 30 to 45 seconds to drive from the lot to the arrivals curb. The driver must stay in or beside the vehicle at all times. Commercial and rideshare vehicles are not permitted to use this lot.
Dropping someone off
Where someone can get out quickly, and where you park if you want to come inside.
Dropping offPermittedDeparting passengers should be dropped off along the curb of the elevated roadway, on Level 3 of the terminal where the check-in counters are. The curbs are for active loading and unloading only, meaning people and their belongings are loaded or unloaded immediately on arrival at the curb.
WaitingNot permittedVehicles may not park or wait along either curb; drivers should wait in the Cell Phone Lot. Vehicles may not be left unattended under any circumstances; unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
WaitingNot permittedVehicles may not park or wait along either curb; security will direct drivers to the Cell Phone Lot to wait for their passengers. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
WaitingPermittedFree short-term waiting area: drivers can wait in their vehicle and head to the terminal once they receive a message on their phone that the passenger is ready; it takes 30 to 45 seconds to drive from the lot to the arrivals curb. The driver must stay in or beside the vehicle at all times. Commercial and rideshare vehicles are not permitted to use this lot.
This is a selection of verified information. Check the official sources for additional and current conditions.
More at this airport
Current conditions
Rates and temporary rules change; the airport publishes them itself. We deliberately do not copy them.
