Best air prices out of Halifax?

[rbalcom]

Haven't posted since I got such great advice for our last trip March 2004. We are planning another trip for Marchbreak 2006. Looking for ideas on how to get the best airline rate. I read somewhere once that someone was able to get a price around $500 cdn taxes included. Everytime we go it's always around $800 cdn. I've always thought because it's March break week, that's the best we can get. Are there tricks I'm missing?

 

[Bea]

We booked in May (2004) for this March break. I was hesitant to book that early but am glad I did because I haven't found airfare that cheap (for March) since. We are flying Continental out of HFX and got our seats for $395.00 canadian, taxes in. If you know you are going, and you know your dates, I would start looking as soon as you can. Good luck.

 

[mariethecat]

Have you checked the prices with Canjet? We booked our flights in July 2004 for Dec 26/04-Jan 02/05 and got a price of $525 taxes in. The price was lower for other times in the fall but we could only go at that time. It was great to have a direct flight out of Halifax as it saves so much time.

 

[SplashMom]

We also booked for our March 2005 trip last spring (April I think!) We are flying Continental out of Halifax for $430/Cdn taxes in. I had seen the cheaper flights but I wasn't sure if we were going at that time. March break is a more expensive time usually but I would book as early as possible if I could get a good price. There doesn't seem to be any "last minute" deals. Good luck!

 

[rbalcom]

These are great rates! Did you use any of the on-line travel sites, like expedia,etc? Does anyone know how early I can book? It sounds like booking in April or May for next March is the way to go. I'll definitely try that. Also, how do you know the exact dates of the next year's March break?

 

[SplashMom]

I just checked the various airlines daily--sometimes the prices changed during the day! The best thing is to check regularly. Usually your school board office can give you the dates for March break--I'm sure they have the dates for 2006 now. I don't know the specific dates but you should be able to find out with a quick phone call.

 

[mbb]

tix for Jan23 back in June...base fare for YHZ-YYZ was $222 return on AC....of course, with taxes, it jumped upto just under $400pp

AC releases their rates around the 350-355 day mark. Pricing is available now for next December.

We registered with www.sidestep.com It's free, and is pretty good. Another site(maybe already mentioned) www.selloffairfares.com or www.destina.ca

Have fun...and let us know what you find!!

 

[Bea]

Don't quote me on this, but my friend who has to pick her vacation time a year in advance, told me that March Break is always the 3rd week in March. By the time I booked in May last year, March break for next year was already listed on the HRSB website.

I used sidestep to search for airfares every day for a few weeks. It is a good search engine because it searches westjet and canjet where expedia doesn't. When I found the airfares on Continental, I wrote the flights down and called Continental directly and booked over the phone. They then emailed me our e-tickets and confirmations.

Changes are after we return from this March break I will be looking to book again for next March break (not planning on it, but I just have this little feeling I will have an overwealming desire to go again), and if so, I will start posting my flights and prices, and that way we can compare and help eachother!

 

[rbalcom]

Thanks to all for the great information. I envy all those of you heading down this winter. I'm really missing all the fun I had planning our trip last year using these boards, so I'm starting early for our next trip.