Taxes and fees on flights out of Canada are ridiculous!

[averysmom]

OMGosh
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!

 

[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.

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!!!!

 

[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
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 ,,,,,,,,,,,one more call and then I'll just tell him I HAD to book.

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

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..

 

[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..

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.
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!
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!!!

 

[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.