Canadian airlines are offering excellent deals for travel within Canada this fall. Flights to Europe are priced reasonably, but Caribbean flights appear to be expensive.
A look today at aircanada.com reveals one way tickets from Toronto to Vancouver in mid-November (hardly the peak of travel season in Canada) for just $143 one-way. WestJet’s website shows flights from Calgary to Toronto in mid-November from $118.
The deals aren’t quite as good for Europe, but they’re not bad. Air Canada shows flights from Toronto to London from Nov. 18-21 for $769 round-trip (about $385 one-way), and return flights between Montreal and Paris from $644. WestJet is showing flights between Toronto and London Gatwick from around $800 for mid-October.
But flights right now are expensive for folks heading to southern destinations. Air Canada shows one-way flights from Toronto to Montego Bay in November from $374 (about the same as a Toronto-London flight), while WestJet’s site shows one-way flights from Calgary to Cancun in mid-November from around $400.
In a recent story in the Globe and Mail, Montreal-based aviation expert John Gradek said prices should be good within Canada this fall, partly due to presence of new routes from carriers such as CanadaJetlines, Lynx Air and Flair Airlines.
“There’s a lot more seats available in the Canadian market this fall than there has been for the last few years,” he said.
Using data obtained by booking app Hopper, the Globe and Mail said U.S. airlines also are slashing fall prices, with the average domestic U.S. fight set to be $142 USD less than in summer.
TOMORROW IS NATIONAL CHEAP FLIGHT DAY
CheapOair.ca invites all Canadians to celebrate National Cheap Flight Day on August 23.
Did you know that August 23rd is officially known as Cheap Flight Day? Leading online travel agency CheapOair.ca is counting down until this special holiday by educating travellers on how they can save more on future flights.
National Cheap Flight Day originated from the consumer trend in which airfares drop in price following the higher-priced summer travel season. Historically, this is the time of year when the summer travel rush is over and airlines are looking to reel in travellers with great Fall and holiday deals.
Want to save more? Here are some insider tips for Canadians to take advantage of:
Layovers = Savings: Connecting flights and longer layovers are often more affordable than flying direct. A change in your route could add another city (and some extra sightseeing) to your itinerary.
Pick Your Airport: Many destinations have multiple airports and search engines often miss these smaller ones. CheapoAir.ca offers a Nearby Airports feature which saves you time and money by finding cheaper flights that are available from different airports.
Save With Loyalty Programs: Travellers can often save on flights and fees by using loyalty programs. Of note, CheapOair has a ClubMiles loyalty program that allows you to earn and redeem points for rewards.
Pick Flexible Dates: Airline ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week or time of the year. Christmas and summer long weekends are popular travel times and ticket prices may rise. If you can be flexible, flying off-season can save you hundreds of dollars.
Try Unexpected Destinations: Research alternate flights for the region you want to explore. You can fly into a nearby city with a cheaper flight from your departure point and connect to your desired destination through local transportation. Sometimes the road less travelled can be exciting!
Search with the Pros: Not all travel sites are equal and using one that offers bonus discounts could increase how much you’re saving. CheapOair offers incredible deals and savings on flights, working with hundreds of airlines to deliver the best flight options.
