Please Help With Air Canada vs. WestJet

[AndyMcV]

Hi Gang

I'm travelling to WDW May 29th to June 9th with DW, DS5 and DD1. We are able to use my Dad's aeroplan miles for our flights. However A/C is booked up so that we can't get direct flights and we have to go through an affiliate (US Airways, etc...). So the only reasonable flight available is going down at 8:30am arriving at 2:00pm going through Charlotte NC and coming back at 11:30am arriving at 5pm going through Washington.

I just happened to go on the West Jet site and plugged in my flight dates. They have a direct flight leaving at 9:45 getting in at 12:20. On the return flight 1:15pm getting in at 4pm. These are great times!! The cost floored me as it's only $200 each (free for my daughter) and yes this is taxes in. This is half the cost of Air Canada's cheapest fights. What am I missing????

Should I drop A/C and fly West Jet for the better times (especially with 2 small kids)?

Please help,
Andy

 

[AndyMcV]

SORRY SORRY SORRY

MY mistake.... uuugh. I was only looking at the departing fees. It is around $200 each way making it a ~$400 trip each. Same as Air Canada.

Sorry for the confusion. I'm just to damn excited about going to Disney.

 

[MaryannF]

Just flew WestJet for the first time last week. We had the best experience. I was nervous as the last two trips were with Air Transat and Air Canada and they were disasterous. Air Transat left Toronto 3 hours late (they announced over the loud speaker in the boarding lounge that they couldn't find the pilot) and on the return from Orlando we were over 6 hours late and made an unscheduled stop (on a direct flight) in St. Pete's to pick up passengers. With Air Canada it took us over 12 hours to get to Orlando (again I booked a direct flight but ended up going to Chicago first and then to Orlando) I booked WestJet on-line and got a confirmation number. I got an e-mail from them to tell me that the departure time had changed slightly. The flight is a no-frills flight. No in flight movie but both ways we had satellite TV (little screens in the seat in front of you & complimentary earphones) Snacks and drinks were offered twice and there was a sandwich menu that you could chose to buy from. Lots of people took food on the plane the only stipulation was no beef or citrus. The crew were friendly and the service was prompt and efficient. We left on time and arrived on time. We will definitely fly with them again.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I like Westjet 100X more than AC.

 

[my3princesses]

Westjet is a great airline! The staff are amazing and make the trip a lot of fun. Unfortunately we couldn't get a flight with them for our trip this Thursday but are flying Air Canada which is prefer over Air Transat because they have never let us down. Air Transat on the other hand has never given us a flight without some sort of problems.

If you can, use Westjet! I recommend them!

 

[blizzard]

I feel qualified to answer this one as I work for Air Canada and my husband works for WestJet. We have flown to Orlando on both airlines.

If the fares are equal, I would pick the flight that is most convenient for you (ie: direct, departure/arrival times)

Under your circumstances, if you can afford the fare (as opposed to using points) it sounds like paying for the tickets would be the best bet.

We have had many excellent experiences on both Air Canada and WestJet, and of course have heard horror stories about both too.

 

[Scratch42]

Glad to hear that WestJet is OK!

We are travelling for the May 24 and I could not get a flight back on AC! Went over to WestJet and booked there!

I'll report back.

Scratch

 

[wenabre]

I flew Westjet in Dec to go to WDW and could not have been happier with the service and flight. I have always had good service with AC, but if I am paying for a flight ( not aeroplan) and I have a choice of airlines....its Westjet all the way........

 

[Amberle3]

I will fly Westjet over AC any day. I'd even pay a little more to fly Westjet than AC.

 

[matsterrocks]

I love West Jet!! If it wasn't for them we would still be paying big bucks for our flights out here in Edmonton. We flew West Jet to WDW in Dec and it went nice and smooth.

 

[maja36]

No question, switch to westjet, we just did usairways with stopovers in charlotte and coming back a 3 hour stopover in philly. Definitely ruined my trip, it is hard enough traveling with kids (mine are 1 and 6), but the 2 extra flights and wait times made it worse. Pay the fee for air canada to get your points in the future and go with west jet. You will be glad you have the direct flight, believe me. Us air is great, but the stopovers are killers with little kids. Have fun.

 

[Bluenoser]

I've flown 20+ times in the last three years and I'll take WestJet any day. Their flight personnel are the best! I have never enjoyed a flight more. They are happy, personable and friendly. Always find AC stuffy. The WestJeft guys joke with passengers and really make you feel welcomed and at home.

 

[barb45]

MaryannF - just so you know for the future - direct and non-stop are 2 different things. Direct does not mean non-stop. Many people make this mistake. If you want a non-stop flight you have to make sure that it says non-stop. I believe that direct means that you either stay with your plane (as when you pick up more passengers) or the same airline (can't remember which right now).

I'm glad to hear all this good news about Westjet though because I just booked with them for the first time to go out to New Brunswick and was a bit worried.

 

[basas]

I hate both

 

[Tantor]

I feel qualified to answer this one as I work for Air Canada and my husband works for WestJet. We have flown to Orlando on both airlines.

If the fares are equal, I would pick the flight that is most convenient for you (ie: direct, departure/arrival times)

Under your circumstances, if you can afford the fare (as opposed to using points) it sounds like paying for the tickets would be the best bet.

We have had many excellent experiences on both Air Canada and WestJet, and of course have heard horror stories about both too.

Totally agree with this, pick the one that is convient for you. Both are good.

 

[MaryannF]

MaryannF - just so you know for the future - direct and non-stop are 2 different things. Direct does not mean non-stop. Many people make this mistake. If you want a non-stop flight you have to make sure that it says non-stop. I believe that direct means that you either stay with your plane (as when you pick up more passengers) or the same airline (can't remember which right now).

Ok, so I booked a direct non-stop flight both times as I explained to the travel agent that landing and taking off really bother me as I get motion sick. With Air Transat we didn't get off the plane but sat on the tarmac without air conditioning for over an hour. With Air Canada I had to get off the plane in Chicago and wait 3 hours to board a different plane. So even though you may book something it's not always how it turns out and when changes to flights happen last minute you have no recourse.

 

[minnie56]

I have almost 300,000 aeroplan miles and never seem to find a flight to be able to redeem them on unless I can plan (and I don't and I won't!) at least a year ahead!!!

I always try Westjet first now and then I go to www.jetblue.com and consider flying out of Buffalo. AC has sadly become a last resort for our home!

Hope you manage to find something that suits!