Experts are warning Canadians that travel is about to get very busy again. And they say we need to be prepared. “Yes, I am getting many requests for bookings,” Toronto-based travel advisor Amy Urquhart of Pure Magic Vacations told me. “People are still looking to book getaways for March Break and into later spring and summer. The demand is overwhelming at times.” “As far as bookings go, I am well above where I was in the same time period of 2019 pre-pandemic,” said Canadian travel agent Brenda Slater, an Ontario agent and Travel Concierge with Beyond The Beach. “The Read more
airline prices
Inflation is running rampant these days, and airlines aren’t immune. A top expert from Hopper says the news could get worse soon for Canadian consumers. “Canadian domestic airfare in February is averaging $285 per ticket, in line with 2022 prices,” Hopper Economist Hayley Berg told the website MTL Blog. But she says international flight prices from Canada are up 24% compared to 2022, currently averaging $873 per ticket. WESTJET PILOTS STRIKE POSSIBILITY The union representing pilots at WestJet is asking for federal conciliation after both sides have come to an impasse during contract talks. Canadian Press reports that the WestJet Read more
Your travel dollars likely won’t go as far next year. Air Monitor 2023, published today by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), forecasts widespread air fare price rises in North America and around the world, due to a range of factors including inflation, rising fuel costs, and capacity issues. The report is an annual forecast of air fare movements on key business travel routes. North American domestic fares are expected to see moderate rises (3.4% business, 2.9% economy) as more capacity comes online in 2023. Europe-North America routes are expected to see modest rises of 3.7%, while intra-European flights Read more
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 Read more
Prices at the gas pump haven’t been so low in a long, long time. You can buy gasoline in Toronto these days for a buck a litre, which is a huge drop from a while back. Not surprising, with oil selling for about $65 a barrel. Yes, it’s a great time to buy gas. That goes for the airlines, too. But while your local Shell or Esso station has lowered prices, that’s not the case for the major airlines. Nope, they’re soaking up the sudden windfall and lining their pockets with unexpected cash. And we’re not saving anything on our Read more
