Canadians Flocking to US Airports for Cheap Fares

[webworm]

No suprise to a lot of us looking to save money as Canadians flock to US airports.
http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article2375888.html

 

[dancin Disney style]

There was also an article in the Toronto Star last week about Canadians that fly from BUF. It also said something about the government looking into making changes that will keep Canadians flying from home rather than crossing the border.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

I hope the government does do something about this because I would love to support the Canadian economy but I recently priced out flights for the fall and the fees and taxes for a flight out of Toronto were more than the entire fare out of the US! Even with a hotel room, meals and a week of parking fees its still way more affordable especially for larger families like mine.

 

[RCMommy]

Whoops must have hit submit twice

 

[RCMommy]

For my family of four to fly from Toronto to Orlando the cost of just flights with all the taxes and such is nearly the price of our entire trip flying out of Detroit.

If they want Canadians to start flying from their homeland they need to think about making it more affordable, let's be reasonable !

It is not only flights to the US either. We want to travel to England to visit family. An average ticket???

Flight 759.00
Taxes, fees, charges and surcharges 625.73
Grand Total - Canadian dollars $1384.73

For one person

 

[Disneyof3]

I hope they do nothing. The government has screwed around with our tax money for years, spending lavish holdiays abroad and taking everyone with them, using our money for personal stuff like crazy. They all are crooks and if I can save my money and go on a holiday with my family of 5 for cheaper in the US, then all to it for the US to get my money. If the Canadian government wants us to spend our money here, then they should of thought of this years ago before they started raising our gas prices, flights etc. Sure we have the health system but our prices here in Canada are outrages. My DH can buy a case of 24 here for around 48.00, we import it to US and we pay 20.00 for it. That is double in Canada. Ridiculious.

 

[Sue M]

There was also an article in the Toronto Star last week about Canadians that fly from BUF. It also said something about the government looking into making changes that will keep Canadians flying from home rather than crossing the border.

How can they force Canadians to fly out of Canada?

My flights out of Seattle for our Jan trip Sea - MCO $279 RT incl taxes. I am not spending over $600 to fly out of YVR, as much as I want to support Canadian air lines, it's a matter of economics, it's more then double to fly out of Canada. As others mentioned, even factoring in Hotels, it's still way cheaper flying out of the US.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

My flights out of Seattle for our Jan trip Sea - MCO $279 RT incl taxes. I am not spending over $600 to fly out of YVR, as much as I want to support Canadian air lines, it's a matter of economics, it's more then double to fly out of Canada. As others mentioned, even factoring in Hotels, it's still way cheaper flying out of the US.

Not only is the cost a factor, but its WAY easier for us to fly out of the Syracuse airport rather than Pearson in Toronto.

- The journey TO the airport is less stressful (crossing Toronto in bad weather/bad traffic/construction can be a nightmare, while our trip to Syracuse is a peaceful ride through the countryside)

- We clear customs at the border (eliminating that extra step at the airport)....for earlier morning flights, it so nice not to have to be there 3 hours ahead of the time the plane departs.

- The airport itself is so much tinier and way easier to navigate. No getting lost, feeling overwhelmed....you are literally able to stand in one spot and see from one end of the terminal to the other.

Even if flights from Toronto matched their Syracuse counterparts, I would still opt to fly from Syracuse. It's just a better experience overall.

 

[tgropp]

Two words....AIR CANADA!! Back in the 80's we had Wardair, CP air, canada 3000 and others who offered a great alternative to the monoply that Air Canada had. They then lowered prices and had unfair advantages that drove these companies out of business. Now we have everyone on Air Canada striking at different times. I would love to see this company dissolved and stop wasting our tax dollars. Unfortunately there are a lot of good loyal workers that should not lose their jobs. JMHO, but I think that this response may ruffle a few feathers.

 

[dancin Disney style]

How can they force Canadians to fly out of Canada?

My flights out of Seattle for our Jan trip Sea - MCO $279 RT incl taxes. I am not spending over $600 to fly out of YVR, as much as I want to support Canadian air lines, it's a matter of economics, it's more then double to fly out of Canada. As others mentioned, even factoring in Hotels, it's still way cheaper flying out of the US.

Sorry, poor choice of words on my part.....they are looking at figuring out how to change fees etc. that will make it more financially friendly for us to fly from Canadian airports.

 

[dis_guy]

Not all US airports are such a bargain, either. For us in east central Alberta, we'd have to drive 8 hours to a Montana city, pay for hotels, parking, then drive all the way back. All this to save about $100 per person! That's what we'd save by flying out of Great Falls. That's a no-brainer!

 

[Tower]

Two words....AIR CANADA!! Back in the 80's we had Wardair, CP air, canada 3000 and others who offered a great alternative to the monoply that Air Canada had. They then lowered prices and had unfair advantages that drove these companies out of business. Now we have everyone on Air Canada striking at different times. I would love to see this company dissolved and stop wasting our tax dollars. Unfortunately there are a lot of good loyal workers that should not lose their jobs. JMHO, but I think that this response may ruffle a few feathers.

Didn't ruffle my feathers at all! I was just telling DW that this morning! Air Canada has received special treatment for far too long. I'm just glad I'm blessed with Buffalo being so close to us as it is to warrant better savings.

 

[tinytink22]

I live in London, and when I was pricing out flights for my trip to Orlando in May it was gonna cost me $610 round trip out of London, when I found a flight out of Detroit for $185.

 

[bankr63]

Not always - I was just looking ahead to see what flights might cost for next March break. Could only get schedules into early Feb; March isn't out yet. For the same early Feb week in 2013 WJ is cheaper out of YUL than JB out of SYR. Both are about a 2 hr drive for us, so that's a wash.

Cheaper flights might come up later, but for March Break I prefer to book as soon as the fares are released so that I know we have a spot on our preferred flights; we try to arrange for maximum time on the ground in MCO, don't care if it costs more, get there early, leave late, every hour in the sun is worth its weight in gold!

 

[Tower]

every hour in the sun is worth its weight in gold!

Ummm, How do you 'weigh' that?

 

[canadiankim]

I live in Guelph, ON and hate to travel out of YYZ so this will be our third trip to WDW in the last 4 years where we have driven to Detroit to fly from DTW saving around $400 per person. That includes the hotel and parking the night before we fly, the gas to Detroit and back as well as a meal.

Who can afford to pay $1200 extra for a family of 4 just to fly from our "Home and Native Land!"

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For the same early Feb week in 2013 WJ is cheaper out of YUL than JB out of SYR.

The JetBlue website lists fares for sale until October 27th, 2012. How did you get the February 2013 prices? Do tell....I would love to be pricing out a New Years trip again from Syracuse!

 

[monkey30]

Not all US airports are such a bargain, either. For us in east central Alberta, we'd have to drive 8 hours to a Montana city, pay for hotels, parking, then drive all the way back. All this to save about $100 per person! That's what we'd save by flying out of Great Falls. That's a no-brainer!

I am with you on this one! Its hard to go to great falls and fly, however we would save $1000 doing this to go to LA or Vegas, so we keep the option open. (plus we have family in Calgary and near Lethbridge so splitting up the drive is not so bad!)

 

[Sue M]

The JetBlue website lists fares for sale until October 27th, 2012. How did you get the February 2013 prices? Do tell....I would love to be pricing out a New Years trip again from Syracuse!

I've been pricing our Jan 2013 trip on Kayak, don't know about WJ, but some fares are out.

 

[Baloo'sCrew]

Got a heads up today from Jet Blue that they will be releasing flights through January 6th 2013 this Sunday (March 25th). You can sign up (for free) to receive e-mail alerts. We have booked flights after receiving this alert for 2 previous trips and gotten wicked rates. Last trip out of Syracuse was Feb. 2011 for about $840 (2 adults + 2 kids) which was about $2000 cheaper than had we flown from Ottawa.