Flights from Canada- Advice please!?

[flinkerfrosch]

The two stops on the way there wasn't so bad, it was more the two stops on the red eye flight on the way home that deterred us! Overall, we had expected flights to be much more expensive and were relieved when we saw the prices were fairly reasonable!

We also wanted to have our flights reserved fairly well in advance, because we were booking a condo through VRBO that required payment in full. Overall, even in Canadian dollars, we've stretched our budget further than we expected and the trip to Maui wasn't much more than a lot of the nicer all-inclusives we were looking at in the Dominican Republic and Mexico! We started off looking at last-minute deals to Cuba and things escalated quickly! LOL

I would probably be the same! Going there is exciting so you don't mind certain things, but on the way home, you just want to get there!!

Haha, I know ALL about stretching the budget! I'm way off with mine, oops..
I'm hoping to try and save in airfare cause man it can be expensive!

We rented through Redweek for our 9 nights in Maui. I checked out VRBO as well. So far, I've had a great experience with the person I'm dealing with via Redweek, and the nice thing is we didn't have to pay all monies up front. Just a deposit and the rest 90 days before we arrive.

If you happen to have any tips to share for Maui, I'm all ears! I've got so much already planned when we arrive at Aulani in Oahu, but not much pall we for our Maui portion.

Thanks for your help

 

[flinkerfrosch]

http://www.hopper.com/

Awesome, thanks!!!!!

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Thanks. We have an early flight so we are staying over but we already booked Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Toronto Airport. We have Hilton points and it's very close by. Got it for $110 USD.
We used to do Rochester to/from Orlando when Airtran was the better deal. Now it's usually JetBlue or Southwest out of Buffalo. Buffalo now has a JetBlue direct to LAX which is also really great.
I've been to Toronto airport but never flew from it. I do like Rochester and Buffalo airports. Small, quick TSA etc.
We're probably going to use this as our excuse to finally get Nexus. It's only $50 per person (for 5 years), gives you TSA pre-check and expedited customs, not to mention streamlined border crossings.

Hampton Inn is nice too!!

I enjoy flying JetBlue and Southwest as well. Always had great experiences!

I much prefer Buffalo airport for the same reasons above that you mentioned. I prefer the smaller airports.

I've been looking into Nexus as well. It really is a great thing to have! My best friend who we travel with a lot (and her kids) have Nexus and we always split up and meet them after going through Security. They always beat us by a long shot! I've just been lazy in getting my butt in gear to get it for the family.

 

[sbeets]

I've been looking into Nexus as well. It really is a great thing to have! My best friend who we travel with a lot (and her kids) have Nexus and we always split up and meet them after going through Security. They always beat us by a long shot! I've just been lazy in getting my butt in gear to get it for the family.

Nexus is so worth it! For U.S., it's only $50 if you're over 18 and free if you're under so my family paid $100 to get nexus/global entry/tsa precheck for all 5 of us. In the U.S., they charge $75 just for precheck, and everyone has to have it. Apply for Nexus ASAP. It took me 3 months to get approved, and in some interview locations, they are backed up even more.

We flew WestJet for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. We went Winnipeg-Calgary-Toronto on the way out, and stopped at Vancouver on the way home. Our tickets were $620, and there were cheaper flights but they required an extra stop and i wasn't willing to do that. We had a quick 6 day trip, and I choose the shortest travel days. I wish we could have flown direct on the way home. We left at midnight, and everyone would have slept the whole way if we could have. We played hard in the ocean and pool on our final day and everyone was exhausted. We worked hard to stay awake til 7 pm when we got home, and then everyone collapsed. Jet leg wasn't too bad.

 

[pangyal]

We did Westjet- Delta on the way there and the same combination on the way back, though we stopped in California for five days to break up the trip. We were very happy with the prices. We had originally booked United-Air Canada but they ended up changing the layover in LA by more than three hours so I was able to get a refund and rebook with Westjet, thank goodness.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Nexus is so worth it! For U.S., it's only $50 if you're over 18 and free if you're under so my family paid $100 to get nexus/global entry/tsa precheck for all 5 of us. In the U.S., they charge $75 just for precheck, and everyone has to have it. Apply for Nexus ASAP. It took me 3 months to get approved, and in some interview locations, they are backed up even more.

We flew WestJet for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. We went Winnipeg-Calgary-Toronto on the way out, and stopped at Vancouver on the way home. Our tickets were $620, and there were cheaper flights but they required an extra stop and i wasn't willing to do that. We had a quick 6 day trip, and I choose the shortest travel days. I wish we could have flown direct on the way home. We left at midnight, and everyone would have slept the whole way if we could have. We played hard in the ocean and pool on our final day and everyone was exhausted. We worked hard to stay awake til 7 pm when we got home, and then everyone collapsed. Jet leg wasn't too bad.

I'm seriously considering Nexus. We travel at least 2x's a year, so would be so worth it!
I enjoy West Jet, never had issues with this airline either. Actually, now that I think of it, I've always been lucky with great customer service etc while flying (knock on wood- I'm flying next week lol) I'm actually flying West Jet next week, so we shall see...
$620 per person I would be happy with.
I was pricing some last night and found some great deals, but didn't like the times. I'm the same, I would rather pay a bit more to get better times that work better for my family.
I'm hoping the Jet lag isn't too bad. We will have 3 days to recoup before heading back to work and school for the kids.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

We did Westjet- Delta on the way there and the same combination on the way back, though we stopped in California for five days to break up the trip. We were very happy with the prices. We had originally booked United-Air Canada but they ended up changing the layover in LA by more than three hours so I was able to get a refund and rebook with Westjet, thank goodness.

I like West Jet, never flown Delta.
I was consideing a stop in Cali to hit DL for a day or 2, but decided we wouldn't. As much as I would love to, I have a feeling everyone will be ready to head home after 20 nights away.
I find after a 3 week vacation I have the 'itch' to get home and get back to our normal routine. Don't get me wrong, I love love love to be on vacation, but I can't explain it...my brain just shifts into home mode and I'm ready to be home.
That's great you got a refund. Sucks they changed things for that long of a layover. I would have done the exact same thing as you!
Thanks for your help!

 

[disney0210]

OP, have you tried Google Flights? I've tried so many combinations from YYZ to HNL but the problem is, the price Google Flights gives is almost always never the real price, like YYZ to LAX to HNL to YYZ - it gives me $648 which would've been great, but when I click the airlines (Westjet and Delta in this case), the price is really $808. It gets worse. Like in some itineraries, it gives me $648 vs over $1200 actual.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

OP, have you tried Google Flights? I've tried so many combinations from YYZ to HNL but the problem is, the price Google Flights gives is almost always never the real price, like YYZ to LAX to HNL to YYZ - it gives me $648 which would've been great, but when I click the airlines (Westjet and Delta in this case), the price is really $808. It gets worse. Like in some itineraries, it gives me $648 vs over $1200 actual.

First, I would like to say thank you for looking for me, so kind and very much appreciated!!
As for Goggle flights, I haven't checked that yet. But yes, that's very strange! The price of $648 would be great, but then it jumps way up which is so strange?
I was playing around on cheafights.ca and found a great deal! When I went to book it, it came up as 'error' I called the customer service line, and after some investigation of the flight I tried to book, it turned out the price was wrong and WAY more expensive. The same flight and cheap price is still showing on that website!? I don't get it!?

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I found a one way to Maui for the 4 of us (2 adults and 2 kids) for $319 everything in! Is this a good deal?
Only thing that's holding me back is it has 2 stops.
Anyone that's an expert at flying to Hawaii....if I waited, do you think I could find a flight with only 1 stop to Maui instead of 2 around this price? I would pay a bit more for only 1 stop.

I also had an alert for the entire trip- Toronto to Maui and then Honolulu to Toronto for $2700 for 4. The way there is 2 stops, the way back is 1 stop.
Air Canada there and United home. Do I wait??? I'm torn lol

Thanks!

 

[alohamom]

I found a one way to Maui for the 4 of us (2 adults and 2 kids) for $319 everything in! Is this a good deal?
Only thing that's holding me back is it has 2 stops.
Anyone that's an expert at flying to Hawaii....if I waited, do you think I could find a flight with only 1 stop to Maui instead of 2 around this price? I would pay a bit more for only 1 stop.

I also had an alert for the entire trip- Toronto to Maui and then Honolulu to Toronto for $2700 for 4. The way there is 2 stops, the way back is 1 stop.
Air Canada there and United home. Do I wait??? I'm torn lol

Thanks!

Two stops is tough but if you have to do it, on the way there is much better. I think $2700 for four isnt bad since you are essentially island hopping. I would price out how much the same day would be if you flew to HNL from Toronto and then used a round trip island flight from HNL to Maui that same day rather than the flight right into Maui (because of the two stops in the price you are looking at, this makes it comparable). Also dont forget to include your one way maui to HNL in the middle of your trip for the price comparison.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

Two stops is tough but if you have to do it, on the way there is much better. I think $2700 for four isnt bad since you are essentially island hopping. I would price out how much the same day would be if you flew to HNL from Toronto and then used a round trip island flight from HNL to Maui that same day rather than the flight right into Maui (because of the two stops in the price you are looking at, this makes it comparable). Also dont forget to include your one way maui to HNL in the middle of your trip for the price comparison.

I agree, I'm not a fan of 2 stops and my gut is saying to wait and watch...

I'm going to look into your suggestion of flying from TO to HNL and then booking the inter-island flight as another option.

To be honest, I'm not factoring in my flight costs for the inter-Island flights. Im hoping to spend no more then $3000 for our flights to and from Toronto and then worry about the inter -island flights. From what I can see when I priced them, they were around $60 or so each person, give or take which isn't too bad at all.

Thanks for your tips

 

[alohamom]

You have a very do-able budget for your flights, you will be totally fine!

 

[flinkerfrosch]

You have a very do-able budget for your flights, you will be totally fine!

That's good to know, thanks!

I'm hoping to spend under $3000, but if I don't, well, it is what it is.
It makes me cringe thinking I could potentially spend around $3000 for flights. It's like a 1 week all inclusive vacation lol...but...it's Hawaii, so it's all good and worth it

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I have another question about flight time and Jet lag from Honolulu to Toronto?
I'm looking at flights now, really good price...
I'm not sure what one I should pick, and what flight itinerary would be better to pick.
Depart- Honolulu @ 4:55pm, 1 stop and land in Toronto at 9:15am (11hrs 22 mins total)
OR
Depart- Honolulu @ 11:30pm, 1 stop and land in Toronto @ 5pm (13hr 10 mins total)

What one would you pick and why? I'm really torn.
I like having a whole day in Hawaii the day we leave, but I also like being home in the am the day we get home.

Thanks

 

[alohamom]

I am 100% in the camp of the later flight. We have done both and from a jet lag point of view it is soooooo much easier to stay up only a few more hours once you get home than staying up all day. Plus, with that stop in the middle, no one is getting a full nights sleep on the plane, it is absolutely interrupted because yo have to stop. So you end up with incredibly grouchy kids and hubby around 3:00pm (trust me on this one LOL!) and if you give into it and fall asleep it is like taking a nap. Then you are up all night again. I wouldnt even hesitate to book 11:30pm over 4:30pm.

 

[alohamom]

Also, I have always found that with a late night flight, my kids might be able to get through the first leg without sleeping (teens, sigh) but by the second part of going home they are wiped and will sleep just enough to get them home, eat something, settle in and then sleep a solid 10-12 hours till morning.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

I am 100% in the camp of the later flight. We have done both and from a jet lag point of view it is soooooo much easier to stay up only a few more hours once you get home than staying up all day. Plus, with that stop in the middle, no one is getting a full nights sleep on the plane, it is absolutely interrupted because yo have to stop. So you end up with incredibly grouchy kids and hubby around 3:00pm (trust me on this one LOL!) and if you give into it and fall asleep it is like taking a nap. Then you are up all night again. I wouldnt even hesitate to book 11:30pm over 4:30pm.

Great points!!! It's so nice to get your advice when you have first hand experience.
Also makes sense if you're home later in the day you have less time to stay awake lol...my kids would probably pass out on the drive home (it's about an hour drive) but I'm sure they could eat, and then go to bed again. I'm sure we would all be so tired by then.
Thank you!

 

[alohamom]

So if it takes about an hour home from YYZ I am going to flip it and say maybe you should look at the flight that lands earlier. Here is my thinking. The later flight lands at 5pm. By the time you get off the plane, your luggage and collect your car you are looking about 6pm/6:30pm on a Friday (Dec 7/8 I think you said) You are going to be right smack in the middle of TORONTO RUSH HOUR!!! That is going to add an extra half hour to your drive at least, if not more depending on where you live. Whereas if you take the flight that gets you in at 9:15am, you are off and out of YYZ around 10:15 and home just before noon. No real traffic issues to deal with at all. IF you were coming home on a Sat or Sun then I would go with the late flight, but because of the rush hour issue, I would probably look at coming home earlier.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

So if it takes about an hour home from YYZ I am going to flip it and say maybe you should look at the flight that lands earlier. Here is my thinking. The later flight lands at 5pm. By the time you get off the plane, your luggage and collect your car you are looking about 6pm/6:30pm on a Friday (Dec 7/8 I think you said) You are going to be right smack in the middle of TORONTO RUSH HOUR!!! That is going to add an extra half hour to your drive at least, if not more depending on where you live. Whereas if you take the flight that gets you in at 9:15am, you are off and out of YYZ around 10:15 and home just before noon. No real traffic issues to deal with at all. IF you were coming home on a Sat or Sun then I would go with the late flight, but because of the rush hour issue, I would probably look at coming home earlier.

You're right, we could run into rush hour, but we would hop on the 407 lol...we live in Brooklin (Whitby area) and the 407 is just mins from our door step so that would save us a ton of time!!!