Taxes and fees on flights out of Canada are ridiculous!

[averysmom]

OMGosh:scared1::mad:
Westjet has a seat sale now for flights for within Canada. Dh and I have been talking about taking the kids to Toronto for a long weekend around spring break.
From Winnipeg 49.00 going down, 69.00 going back. Just the flights = $472.00 After taxes and fees = $875.00. Yep - $402.00 in taxes and fees - almost half the cost. Isn't that totally absurd!

This is why it's worth my while to drive down to Fargo to fly!
Vent over!

[minnie56]

They are indeed...But I got some pretty sweet flights to Florida this past weekend w/Air Canada!! Three seperate round trip flights for 2 people..under $1,500!!!

One of the dates I checked SW and JB from Buffalo and they were as much in USD!:thumbsup2

[AndyMcV]

I'll check Air Canada or West Jet but really they cannot comare to Southwest out of Buffalo for us.

I think it is reduclous that I can get a flight out of Buffalo for my family of 4 for under $800 - round trip, no stops to MCO (and that is what is on my CC statement) whereas if I fly out of my own country out of Toronto which is approximately 2 hours away from Buffalo, the cost is upwards or past $2000-2500 because of the taxes. :mad:

So OP, I fully agree.

[minnie56]

I agree too...but you have to keep your eyes open for deals on AC and WJ too! I got a tip here on the Dis on Sat nite I think it was that there were some awesome prices to Florida with AC right now.

For ex: One flight is Aug 2-9/10
Southwest - cheapest was - $498 USD
Jetblue - cheapest was - $458.80 USD

I paid $452.10 CAD for two people!!!! Non-stop and I get Aeroplan.

Also booked November 4-13 into FLL for $541 and January 28--Feb 2/11 into MCO for $477!!! All roundtrip, CAD, 2 people. Total all 3 flights $1470.48!!

Cannot say what JB and SW will be for the Nov and Jan dates are they aren't released yet but then I don't fly from Buffalo in the winter either so it works ideally for us!!!!:confused3

[tgropp]

I agree but there are deals that may want you to for go flying out of the states. I am taking my children and their spouses for Christmas/New Years and right now I am trying to figure out whether to use airmiles and pay the taxes or fly out of Detroit. I have to wait for their schedules to included Christmas, but I do not want to miss on the airmile flights before they fill up. It takes so much planning to travel at Christmas to try and keep the costs down. At least you can book your rooms at DVC 11 months out and I have got some great rates on car rentals.

[tone.def]

Are you close to Thunder Bay? Fly to Toronto on Porter to the Island Airport. You go right to downtown and the taxes are not nearly as high.


OMGosh:scared1::mad:
Westjet has a seat sale now for flights for within Canada. Dh and I have been talking about taking the kids to Toronto for a long weekend around spring break.
From Winnipeg 49.00 going down, 69.00 going back. Just the flights = $472.00 After taxes and fees = $875.00. Yep - $402.00 in taxes and fees - almost half the cost. Isn't that totally absurd!

This is why it's worth my while to drive down to Fargo to fly!
Vent over!

[minnie56]

I fly Buffalo all the time too...am flying SW March 3 actually and use JB all the time to visit my DD in NYC but these deals were great and they included Christmas and New Years as well!! When they come along..they are hard to beat!!!

[bababear_50]

I fly Buffalo all the time too...am flying SW March 3 actually and use JB all the time to visit my DD in NYC but these deals were great and they included Christmas and New Years as well!! When they come along..they are hard to beat!!!

Thanks for the heads up Minnie,,I'm looking for next Christmas and the prices with AC look good to me. NOW if that brother of mine would just return my call.
I promised I wouldn't book anything until I checked with him ,,,,,,:rolleyes1:rolleyes1:rolleyes1,,,,,one more call and then I'll just tell him I HAD to book.:banana:

Hugs Mel

[minnie56]

Are they still good? They were $79 and $89 one way before taxes on Saturday? I was going to book another trip with a friend and she procrastinated and the dates we wanted went UP! I was not happy:rolleyes1

So now we have to wait till we see something good again!

[bababear_50]

I'm seeing for our dates Dec 18th -Dec 24th 2010
527.00 with taxes,,,I usually pay out 700-1000.00 at this time of year.
Yes I know alot but school employee and have to travel certain dates.


Hugs Mel

[minnie56]

Great!!! Glad you found something! Is that per person or for 2?

[bababear_50]

Great!!! Glad you found something! Is that per person or for 2?

it's per person
Is there better deals out of YYZ to be had --should I wait?
Hugs Mel

[minnie56]

On Saturday that was 50%-55% less...what a shame...but you know, as you said..it's still s lot less than usual!!! It's all relative..:confused3

[bababear_50]

On Saturday that was 50%-55% less...what a shame...but you know, as you said..it's still s lot less than usual!!! It's all relative..:confused3

Oh man --definately a shame,,oh well

[bababear_50]

Well I'm Happy--atleast I have it all paid for and now can plan all the Christmas details.:santa::santa::santa:
ever the planner here,,;)
now back to planning March break 2010 and July 2010 holiday.

Hugs Mel

[minnie56]

Good for you!! Step one out of the way and a good deal too!:thumbsup2
Happy planning!

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

The high fees are why we've chosen to fly out of Buffalo instead. It's really only an extra hour to Buffalo when you factor in the traffic to get to Pearson.

[minnie56]

I fly from Buffalo all the time...just saying doesn't hurt to take a peek at the TO prices once in awhile too!!!:thumbsup2

[mollyseven]

I agree sometimes you can get a deal from toronto, a friend got a super deal on sunwing to orlando.
For me, It has to be cheaper out of toronto than buffalo before I will fly from Toronto again, I hate the toronto airport. I find the security to be long, rude and ridiculous whereas buffalo is easy, friendly and fast....the border is also super easy. We have never been at the border more than a couple minutes.
Once in toronto as I was walking almost out the door after seeing customs and security ....just about out...the final security check I had my hands full and needed to put my passport and wallet in my teeth to grab something that was falling, the security person with full blue gloves pulls me aside and holds me very mad that I had my passport in my teeth, as they don't want to handle it then and blah blah blah...... I mean seriously!! It was me that should've been mad at myself for an unhygenic thing ....it was quite a scene.
Alot of small irritating experiences ..... now I don't mind the trip to buffalo.

[hockey mom]

I also would sooner make the drive to Buffalo then spend my time in all the lines at Pearson.

The Buffalo airport is a breeze to get in and out of and I find Canadian airport employees rude.

[damo]

We've gotten some great deals. We just came back from a trip where we paid under $900 for three people return to Orlando from Toronto including all fees. I don't mind the Toronto airport at all. I've never had a problem with it.

The thing that bugs me about the fees for flights to the US from Canada is that many of the fees are USA imposed. These USA imposed fees are causing many, many people to avoid flying with our Canadian airlines, which is a real shame.

[minnie56]

We've gotten some great deals. We just came back from a trip where we paid under $900 for three people return to Orlando from Toronto including all fees. I don't mind the Toronto airport at all. I've never had a problem with it.

The thing that bugs me about the fees for flights to the US from Canada is that many of the fees are USA imposed. These USA imposed fees are causing many, many people to avoid flying with our Canadian airlines, which is a real shame.

Absolutely true! I think many folks don't realize they are US imposed. For example..someone is paying for U.S Immigration and Customs to pre clear you at Toronto. It's really a shame. I will always go where the deal is but I would prefer to fly with a Canadian Airline where possible.:confused3

[Joann]

I just booked 2 days ago for our trip April 26th till May 6th with SW out of Buffalo and total for 4 adults return with taxes........597.60! A few years ago I got all 4 of there for just under 400$ with the exchange rate right now its awsome!!!! :banana: PLUS Yes Buffalo is so much nicer to fly out of and soooo easy!

[tgropp]

As was posted on here somewhere, it still does not hurt to look at prices leaving Toronto. I am shopping around for airfare for Dec 19'th through Jan 2'nd and Delta (from Detroit) has my flight coming in at $454.00 US Funds, which is good compared to Westjet at $1,100.00.......but I checked Air Canada and they have the flight for $611.00. So for the extra $100.00, I will probally fly out of Toronto, just cant decide on whether to pay cash or use airmiles.

[AndyMcV]

I just checked WJ for a possible trip for us in March; $2800 CDN for the 4 of us out of Toronto. Southwest out of Buffalo; $997 USD. :confused3 Come on....

[minnie56]

If you read back..there was an AC sale last weekend. I paid under $1500 for 3round trip flights for 2 people! 2 to Orlando, 1 to Fort Lauderdale.

Now I don't love Air Transat..but I also found some flights there this past Saturday for $288 rtn pp YYZ-MCO. They can be hit and miss but sometimes, the buys are there!!

[minnie56]

By the way, I paid under $1,000 in CAD with WJ for my flights for 4 of us this past Jan 7-19/10. I booked in June 09 and that was the fare.

Just FYI..don't always write off the Canadian carriers.

I just checked WJ for a possible trip for us in March; $2800 CDN for the 4 of us out of Toronto. Southwest out of Buffalo; $997 USD. :confused3 Come on....