BritCanadaNewbie

Hi Folks,
Can only see aircanada flights at the moment for travelling in March/April and quite pricey. Any other budget airlines ??

Ta
-BritNewb

withabix

You've got a choice of Air Canada and Westjet.

And that's it.

BritCanadaNewbie

ah ok.. hmm... super pricey at the moment ($709) :0/

withabix

Welcome to the heavily regulated Canadian airline market cartel.

It is a long flight (5 hours), so it's never going to be cheap.

Shirtback

Cheap + airline, for internal Canada does not compute

PMM

Hi

You can get a return from Buffalo to Vancouver (if you don't mind flying over half the US) for about $500. There are Air Canada flights on Tango for $650 return in April.

BritCanadaNewbie

hey thanks! Will have to stick to the air Canada $$$ route probably

scrubbedexpat091

Domestic flights are insanely high in Canada. I haven't actually flow on one yet and been here over 10 years.... because they cost so much. I took Via Rail from Toronto in coach when I left Toronto for BC, was around 220 ish one way on a sale day.

Other option is to cross the border and fly between 2 US points such as Buffalo to Bellingham or Seattle and timing the flights so you can take Amtrak to Vancouver.

There have been budget airlines in Canada in the past, they haven't been able to survive, just not sufficient domestic demand for more then 2 airlines really.

This was the last budget airline that I am aware of that tried to make a go in Canada, they lasted 4 years before going under.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetsgo
There was Harmony as well, they lasted 5 years, but I am not sure they did too many if any domestic flights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony_Airways

Former Lancastrian

Air Transat also fly from the UK and a few have used Iceland(ic) Air.

dbd33

I wouldn't do that. AC are expensive, hostile to passengers and unsupportive when their planes don't fly. I'd rather fly CRA than AC.

Besides, they go out of YYZ which has expensive parking. Buffalo is, in every way, a better bet.

Paul_Shepherd

Its worth it to keep checking West jet site as they do special offers from time to time.

I found one have booked a one way flight from Vancouver to Toronto in Mid May for $261 all in, only one way of course, but still thought that was a good deal!


Paul

scilly

air fares have always been expensive in Canada .......... but distances are huge, and population is relatively low.

Have you checked fares on AC and WestJet at different times of the day and different days of the week?

They can vary quite dramatically.

Also get on the email list for both .............. they often offer special deals that may fit your time table.


Port Airlines apparently has plans to expand its routes to Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, California, Florida and the Caribbean. I have no idea when, or whether, these plans will ever come to fruition!

https://www.porterplans.com/Plans



Via Rail operates the only passenger train service in Canada ......... Toronto to Vancouver takes 4 days and 3 nights.

Via is always our first choice when travelling from Vancouver to Halifax (or Toronto east) ............... that trip takes 6 days and 5 nights, including 1 night in a hotel in either Toronto or Montreal. We treat it as part of the holiday ............. travelling Sleeper class is really like taking a cruise on land


However, there is currently no service between Winnipeg and Toronto due to a CN freight train derailment in northern Ontario on March 7 that has closed the tracks.

Via is not offering any alternative service between Winnipeg and Toronto ............... there is no rail alternative for them! Much of the rail line across Canada is still single track

scilly

Paul


$261 all in, one way from Vancouver to Toronto, is a very good price!!


It's costing me over $2700 return to bring my daughter and 5 year old grandson from Halifax to Vancouver on AC


She is restricted to a certain week with little flexibility, but managed to reduce the cost by taking a 6 pm Friday evening flight from Halifax and an early Saturday morning return flight, and went AC as they offered the timing

She went for Flex as that gave her 1 free checked bag for each passenger.

That free bag allowance also needs to be taken into account!



Not sure what we face with a 5 year old arriving here at the equivalent of midnight his time, after over 7 hours of travelling

loss

Buffalo to Seattle or Bellingham and Take bus North much cheaper.

Even Flying Toronto to Seattle or Bellingham

or Buffalo to Vancouver is cheaper just because of the US destination.

I Personally took the Amtrak when I did it. Buffalo to Seattle for Experience and I did not want to be on the bus that Long,
B I did not have money to Fly. Toronto to Vancouver was my route..

scrubbedexpat091

If the flight times work, Amtrak is way nicer a ride then the bus is.