Why is airfare so high?!?

[cjbcam]

Ok started looking for flights to Orlando in February and the price is ridiculous! Pretty much $6000 for my family of six! They wonder why Canadians drive to the states and fly from there. Either way I have to drive a few hours to an airport so of course I'm going to drive over the boarder to save a few thousand dollars.

 

[deedubb]

I'm surprised it is so expensive in February. Those are Christmas/March break prices. Did you try moving the date of departure by a few days (if possible)? You may save significantly by leaving mid week.

 

[morrik5]

Having issues as well between costs and times of non-stop flight departures. PLEASE let there be a Canadian seat sale coming up for next year

 

[cjbcam]

I'm surprised it is so expensive in February. Those are Christmas/March break prices. Did you try moving the date of departure by a few days (if possible)? You may save significantly by leaving mid week.

It's not significantly different. I only have the one week off

 

[MegEliz]

Yes! It's been insane! We are in Vancouver and can usually find a decent flight for around $360 cad and that's for a decent flight arriving around 7pm at MCO with one lay over. This time around those flights are going for around $800!! So we booked out of Seattle yesterday. But we are taking a direct flight into Tampa. We still had to pay $570 cad each but at least it's a straight shot and we aren't paying $800 a pop.

 

[Sue M]

I used to fly out of SeaTac and even with hotel both ways it was cheaper. Now there isn't a sig enough difference so flying out of YVR, Alaska. $738 per person in late nov, return early Dec . Flight out of SeaTac $606
So with hotels that pretty much eats up any savings. Flight leaves SeaTac at 8:00 am, would have to check in at 6:00am and would have to drive down to Seattle leaving Vancouver by 2:00am if I didn't book overnight hotel room. Not up for driving with no sleep.
Sad. I remember flights RT out of Seattle for $300, so was still quite a savings even with park n fly hotel room.

I ended up booking flight home with miles, so only have to pay outgoing flight. $389. I looked up Tampa, it is cheaper, $331 (one way YVR to Tampa ) but having to rent a car and drive 90 min again, takes away any savings. Like the ease of DME and not seeing luggage until it magically appears in room, lol.
I never have a car rental in WDW. Prefer to let Disney do the driving. Especially with all the road work happening.
Plus if we have another winter like this past one, no way am I driving down to Seattle! Yikes.

 

[Sue M]

We arrive at MCO at 4:25 Alaska yvr-sea-mco so ill have time that evening to go to DS Customer relations to redeem my Canadian ticket.

 

[kiford]

If you're flying out of Pearson, the airport fees are some of the highest so nothing is ever cheap. Plus the selection of airlines and routes is limited compared to the US. Wen my father, who lives in Hamilton travel, he drives to Buffalo to fly. Even with the cost of a hotel the night before which he often does, dinner and breakfast, and parking, it's still less expensive by a significant margin.

 

[grantclaire]

I think it is simple supply and demand, Canadians love to take a winter break somewhere warm!

 

[pigletto]

I think it is simple supply and demand, Canadians love to take a winter break somewhere warm!

I'd be really surprised if Canadians are still travelling to the U.S. in the same numbers given the state of our dollar. I almost wonder if they aren't raising the prices to recoup some of the losses.

 

[bcwife76]

Ouch! This past January 4 of us flew from Vancouver to Orlando, one layover in each direction and we paid $ 1800CAD all in. Now, we are looking at flying to Orlando for November 2018; looking at November 2017 prices does NOT make me happy so we shall see. Might have to consider flying from SeaTac for the first time EVER.

 

[Sprockie]

We are two hours from Syracuse, so we fly out of there as much as possible. Booked non stop flights for $132 pp each way on Jetblue in early December. Their rates fluctuated, so an app that alerts you is helpful to tell you when prices are down eg. Hopper.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We prefer Westjet but are not opposed to looking for other options. We signed up for their rewards etc... and have regularly received (about 4 times a year) offer about 20-25% off many fares. We've always thought about using Jet Blue from Syracuse but with the direct flights out of Ottawa Westjet have worked best for us. We wound up getting a Westjet card as the companion flights also made a difference. Should they continue to reduce the direct flights from Ottawa we'll abandon them quickly (we'd rather drive 3hrs to Syracuse and use Jet Blue than go through Pearson again --- having to pickup luggage and go through customs there is something we'd rather not have to do again --- so poorly organized).

With Ottawa there is also Allegiant through Ogdensburg but the flight schedule and the added costs (US dollar, parking, luggage, etc....) make it less than appealing.

Sorry... didn't mean to ignore the original post... we found that we try to book as soon as flights are released.... but also we sign up for all airline programs and also do regular searches for coupon/promo codes. As mentioned we have a Westjet credit card so maybe look at that as well.... the companion fares alone make a big difference plus the westjet dollars don't hurt either...

 

[starvenger]

If you must fly out of Pearson then the key is to be patient. Use something like Google Flights or Kayak to send you price change alerts. 9 months out, there is bound to be some fluctuation. Hopefully you can find something at around $3000/6.

I'd be really surprised if Canadians are still travelling to the U.S. in the same numbers given the state of our dollar. I almost wonder if they aren't raising the prices to recoup some of the losses.

I've noticed that the dollar has started to slowly climb back up after hitting some brutal lows, so there's some good news there. I am cautiously optimistic that it will keep going up to something reasonable.

 

[Sue M]

Ouch! This past January 4 of us flew from Vancouver to Orlando, one layover in each direction and we paid $ 1800CAD all in. Now, we are looking at flying to Orlando for November 2018; looking at November 2017 prices does NOT make me happy so we shall see. Might have to consider flying from SeaTac for the first time EVER.

Alaska has a nice early morning flight direct from Seattle to MCO. Gets you into MCO by 4:35. But early flight means you have to leave by 2:00am ish to get down, find parking etc, unless you get an overnight hotel with park & fly rate. We like the Southcenter area, only a 10 min drive to airport and most of the hotels have park & fly and airport shuttle.

 

[badiggio]

Imo you're looking way too early.It doesn't hurt to look but,typically in my experience the best prices are in the 3 months from departure area.When prices are between 300-400 Canadian from Ottawa,then I book.I've flown from Syracuse with a group and got great deals,but I wouldn't in the winter.

 

[MoreTravels]

If you have young children that cannot spend 9 hours travel with 4 hours layover... non-stop direct flights are not really optional. I would not risk of non-stop flights by waiting to 3 months before departure to book. It's about supply and demand... if there is a lot of demands, there will be no seat sale to get rid of the leftover seats at 3 months. In my experience, direct flights to Florida in Christmas season almost always sell out.

 

[hdrolfe]

I booked my August (direct) flights in February, they have since doubled and show no signs of coming down. I am waiting for March Break flights next year, and see them going up and up. I may change my cruise dates to April when I know flights are a little less expensive, cruise is the same price, means kiddo misses an extra week of school but to be honest, he'll be in grade 3 and I simply don't care. Things like March break, Christmas, those flights don't seem to come down, and the direct ones often sell out.

 

[grantclaire]

I'd be really surprised if Canadians are still travelling to the U.S. in the same numbers given the state of our dollar. I almost wonder if they aren't raising the prices to recoup some of the losses.

I am sure you are right, Disney still gets the "one and done trips" and I think us regulars try to find ways to cut costs. That being said our flights from Toronto to Orlando and back this past March Break were full flights!

 

[mkmommy]

I'd be really surprised if Canadians are still travelling to the U.S. in the same numbers given the state of our dollar. I almost wonder if they aren't raising the prices to recoup some of the losses.

It is so expensive travelling in Canada too though. I am out west now , it is off season and everything is way more expensive than March break Florida prices. I paid $200 CAD for what I would say is a 2 star motel in Banff which probably goes for $300 in summer.