Trying to decide AC15% off code one way or wait.

[chimo2u]

I got an email pin for AC15% off if I book by Dec 31. The dates are into Nov 2012. I was contemplating buying our return tickets for Oct 7, 2012 as with the discount code for three of us is approx $960.00... Not overly bad, as tickets have been pricing around $1300 oneway up to this point. I will also have to add three baggage fees of $25 ea as this is air Canada....that's not a deal breaker, obviously I prefer WJet's all inclusive fares, but this fare is better than what I've seen up to now. I like the return schedule. It has us depart Orlando at 13:50 and arrive back in Edmonton by 9 pm, with a short transfer and two hr in-between in toronto.

I am thinking if I manage to get flights for the three of us for under $1800 this yr, I will be doing good. Would you lock in the one way return with AirCanada now, and wait to see what happens with WJ for a departure fare in the coming months, or should I hold out and wait for an ALL West Jet fare? I priced both ways with AC with the 15% off, and it is still quite high at $2200 for the three of us, also the departure from Edmonton times aren't great....it means a red eye, which I really don't like.
So do you think I should at least lock in our Orlando to Edmonton home fare at this current discount?
Thanks for your thoughts
Marie

 

[chimo2u]

No replies yet? Booo I really don't know what to do....if I jump and book the return fare, I am thinking at least one leg is covered, then all I need do is wait and see if I can get my desired departure flights at a decent deal. Judging airline purchase timings is so unnerving! My luck I'll book and something better will come along!

 

[Gigi22]

My feeling is that there should be an AC seat sale that starts in Jan./Feb., and I was hunkering down to wait it out before purchasing a ticket for late spring 2012.
DH wanted me to firm something up, so I have purchased DH's return flight (in Business Class) to MCO using an Air Canada discount of 15% for his ticket. I had previously purchased my own ticket using Aeroplan points, so we were looking at a total cost for the two of us flying return of about $1350, or $675 each. Which is still all good for flying in Business Class.
So the question is, how long do you feel you can afford to wait before you pull the trigger on this purchase? Looking at the time you want to fly down, how happy are you with just taking the 15% discount now?

 

[chimo2u]

Thanks Gigi good on ya for getting the executive class tickets! That's what my son and I did last yr....aeroplan miles for his and I paid about $800 for mine / by 2, I figured it worked out to $400 each, and it was great flying first class! I'll likely never afford that again....only downside was, since we where aero plan ticket purchasers/ and not elite regulars, we where treat last, and served last even though our seats where near the front...,they ran out of the pizza my son wanted and we got last pick of everything because we weren't "Mr. jones" their every week- regular business customer who got A++ treatment! I was really miffed by how we where blatantly ignored, and when I asked why he didn't get his first choice meal, they said " we have to serve our regular elite flyer passengers first"...yeah right....they really discriminated with service! It felt awful.

Now back to my ticket dllemma I guess I am looking at it like.....ok....if this is best I could get I'm ok because my target price in my mind is "1800 or better for the three of us".....I really don't see us getting awesome "400$ all taxes in pp or less fares of yester year" and right now on West Jet, tickets are $369 each way....totaling approx $2600.00 with all the taxes, etc..... So if I pay the $950ish the AC 15 % off sale is offering, that leaves me another $900 or so to budget for outgoing flights....I can also start paying off my credit card for one leg off the tickets now while I wait for better pricing on the outgoing leg.....I am leaning towards just grabbing them....I will price it again later today and see if I am happy enough to pull the trigger on them
ETA: one downside of AC is those nasty baggage fees....I have to add on an extra $75 for those! Yuck! ... I love west jets free first bag policy....but then again, the slightly higher ticket probably accounts for that! You never can win :/

 

[Gigi22]

Hmm. Interesting about your experience with the Aeroplan tickets in First Class--we have never had the chance to fly First, only Business. I can honestly say that we have never noticed any difference in the quality of the service we get in Business, as opposed to the service everyone else gets. DH is the original white knuckled flier, so we try to fly direct and in Business as much as possible.
Good luck with the purchase decision--I know it is a real nail biter deciding when to make the purchase. Just another way air travel now sucks more than it used to!

 

[monkey30]

What about Westjet vacations, dont rule them out. Call them as we ended up with cheaper prices booking as a package with them then with Disney! We saved about $400 total!
We have a crappy flight out of Edmonton (1am) but its direct and we land in MCO at 730am.

Hope you find something good!!

 

[chimo2u]

What about Westjet vacations, dont rule them out. Call them as we ended up with cheaper prices booking as a package with them then with Disney! We saved about $400 total!
We have a crappy flight out of Edmonton (1am) but its direct and we land in MCO at 730am.

Hope you find something good!!

Hi Monkey we have free dining with our pkg, so I think that's a better deal than we could find with WJ vacations....I'll take a gander though

 

[chimo2u]

Well, I did it...,decided to jump on the 15% AC pin and book our RETURN flights now....got the three of us on AirCanada with decent depart time of 13:50 pm, a short 2 hr layover in Toronto, then we will be home in Edmonton by 9pm....all 3 flights with the discount came to $960....not bad considering I have only been seeing flights in the $2600.00 range for the three of us....if I can manage to get my OUTBOUND flights I want with West Jet at $900 or under, I will be satisfied....with airfare as crazy as it is right now, I figure anything for the three of us around $1800.00 is ok in my book!
I am so happy to have at least ONE leg all booked and confirmed now fingers crossed for good pricing on our outbound leg!

 

[Gigi22]

Chimo2u, fingers and toes crossed for you! And, enjoy the holiday season!

 

[Ted in Halifax]

That is a fine price ... I would have jumped at that. Great deal!

 

[chimo2u]

That is a fine price ... I would have jumped at that. Great deal!

Thanks Ted YES, I realize it is only ONE of our legs....but I honestly thought $950 for 3 people was not bad....if we can find our departure flights at $900 or less, I think with the way prices have been, $1800 total for three people is sitting fine with me...,I know it could be much worse!!! I'm now on the lookout for the departure flights, fingers crossed a decent discount comes out for those

 

[monkey30]

We got free dining with our west jet vacation package, glad to here you booked

 

[chimo2u]

Another thing is, I've already got my resort chosen and booked at Board Walk Inn deluxe room, And only Sept 29-Oct 4 is Disney, on Oct 4, we move over to Universal Studios/ Hard Rock Hotel until the 7 th of October. (managers rate for our three nights at HRH) I think there are too many variables for us to have booked with West Jet Vacations.... Glad I found good return flights, I just hope I can find the OUTBOUND west Jet flights I want at a good price now! that's the next part of this puzzle

 

[monkey30]

Another thing is, I've already got my resort chosen and booked at Board Walk Inn deluxe room, And only Sept 29-Oct 4 is Disney, on Oct 4, we move over to Universal Studios/ Hard Rock Hotel until the 7 th of October. (managers rate for our three nights at HRH) I think there are too many variables for us to have booked with West Jet Vacations.... Glad I found good return flights, I just hope I can find the OUTBOUND west Jet flights I want at a good price now! that's the next part of this puzzle

Good luck!! I know what a pain it can be sometimes to try and juggle everything!

Enjoy your trip, we have 30 days left before we return, we are kicking ourselves for not getting the annual pass last time we went as that would have saved us money. Oh well that is life!