Wow, AC has a hard time competing on price...

[coastgirl]

I know in Canada AC actually does well on price and has the best schedules..I had to make some flts last summer from Halifax to Victoria and tried to find better but couldn't. However, doesn't look like they can't compete on south of the border, even with the extra driving time/expense.

We have enough AP points for 3 tickets Halifax to MCO (not great dates or great routing, but close enough for free), and we are a family of 4. I just tried to figure out how much that one extra seat would cost us--in Dec, returning on the 2Oth, so hardly holiday season, cheap non-refundable "tango" fare--and it's still over $700 for ONE person! Holy crow!! Guess if we're going, we'll be driving to NH or something to catch a plane.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I know in Canada AC actually does well on price and has the best schedules..I had to make some flts last summer from Halifax to Victoria and tried to find better but couldn't. However, doesn't look like they can't compete on south of the border, even with the extra driving time/expense.

We have enough AP points for 3 tickets Halifax to MCO (not great dates or great routing, but close enough for free), and we are a family of 4. I just tried to figure out how much that one extra seat would cost us--in Dec, returning on the 2Oth, so hardly holiday season, cheap non-refundable "tango" fare--and it's still over $700 for ONE person! Holy crow!! Guess if we're going, we'll be driving to NH or something to catch a plane.

You have to be joking. Air Canada good on prices.

 

[tone.def]

I know in Canada AC actually does well on price

Air Canada???

You mean they do well in gauging consumers with their prices???

They should pay us to fly with them!!! West Jet and Can Jet has my loyalty now.

 

[Legend of Odon]

And of course don't forget that on your "free" tickets you will still need to pay all taxes and fees.......which is often 100.00-150.00$. We are converts now to driving across the border and paying a fraction of what AC charges, sad as that is........

 

[dancin Disney style]

And of course don't forget that on your "free" tickets you will still need to pay all taxes and fees.......which is often 100.00-150.00$. We are converts now to driving across the border and paying a fraction of what AC charges, sad as that is........

Last year our flights out of BUF cost us in total what we would have paid in taxes alone out of YYZ.

BEAT THAT AC!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RainbowsMist]

I've always flown out of Halifax too...however now with a family of 5 our flights came in anywhere from 3100 (Canjet - IF we're lucky) to 4000+ (AC).

We've opted to drive to Boston and fly direct with Delta for 1409 CAD (5 ppl) everything included. I purchased our tickets back in April for our trip next March.

Canjet just released their schedule yesterday from Feb-April. My mom booked her flight last night through Canjet and for 2 people it cost 1100 for March 14-31.

Makes no sense.

 

[coastgirl]

OMG, can't believe I posted a post that made it sound like I like Air Canada! Actually, I have been trying to work my way out of their grips for years, but last year had a family illness and death that meant I had to fly from Halifax to Victoria, not once, but twice, on short notice during the high season. West Jet could approach (not beat) on cost, but not schedules. I was greatly chagrined that AC was the best solution. Of course then I tried to change my ticket mid-trip (so my sister could fly back east with dd and me to the funeral) and got THE most unsympathetic customer service agent. And there's no such thing as bereavement fares anymore. Much as I dislike the way they do business, for domestic flights they usually have the best option in my experience. Maybe TO to Vancouver or really big markets do ok with the charters/Westjet, but not the smaller cities. The legacy of a monopoly I guess. Westjet's schedule is getting better, thank goodness. I'd much rather give my business to someone who actually seems to appreciate it. I was surprised when I checked my options that AC doesn't seem to feel the need to bother on the transborder routes, or maybe it's just the leisure travel routes.

Anyway. Hoping I find a cheap way to get south with some carrier! ;-)

 

[wee-haggis]

I know in Canada AC actually does well on price and has the best schedules..I had to make some flts last summer from Halifax to Victoria and tried to find better but couldn't. However, doesn't look like they can't compete on south of the border, even with the extra driving time/expense.

We have enough AP points for 3 tickets Halifax to MCO (not great dates or great routing, but close enough for free), and we are a family of 4. I just tried to figure out how much that one extra seat would cost us--in Dec, returning on the 2Oth, so hardly holiday season, cheap non-refundable "tango" fare--and it's still over $700 for ONE person! Holy crow!! Guess if we're going, we'll be driving to NH or something to catch a plane.

I think your closest US airport (that can get you to MCO) is Portland ,Maine (about 530km). I saw prices for your approx Dec dates ,US$233......
or
Drive to Boston (about 650km)for US$243 pricetag.

 

[andysgirl360]

Going to WDW in August:

AC= 1400.00 (approx for 3 people) from Montreal
Jet Blue from Burlington VT (90 min drive) = 772.05 CDN including all taxes and the exchange rate.

No contest!

What is also sad is that it is cheaper to fly to the US than within my own country. Vancouver - Montreal on AC would have cost us $2100.00.

 

[coastgirl]

Going to WDW in August:

What is also sad is that it is cheaper to fly to the US than within my own country. Vancouver - Montreal on AC would have cost us $2100.00.

I know; I have priced trips to Europe that are cheaper than flying from east to west in Canada. I know we're a big country, but geez, maybe instead of throwing millions at "sponsorship" in Quebec the gov't could make it easier for Canadians to visit their countrymen. It's just too bad.

 

[tone.def]

I know; I have priced trips to Europe that are cheaper than flying from east to west in Canada. I know we're a big country, but geez, maybe instead of throwing millions at "sponsorship" in Quebec the gov't could make it easier for Canadians to visit their countrymen. It's just too bad.

So you want the government to pay private companies to give us a deal? Pitch that to your MP and see how well it goes over

 

[coastgirl]

So you want the government to pay private companies to give us a deal? Pitch that to your MP and see how well it goes over

I actually did think there was merit in AC being a crown corp in the past, like CBC, to ensure equality of access for all Canadians, even the ones in smaller markets. But I'm getting political now so I'll shut up.

 

[Northstar]

Hey, Coastgirl... just checked on Air Canada's East Coast US summer seat sale and they had flights Halifax - Montreal - MCO for average of $550/person. Not bad for AC. But (sigh) that's only for flights up to September 10. Like you, we're going in December... tell you one thing, I'm never flying through Toronto again since we now have to change terminals there!

And we don't have enough aeroplan miles to be AC's slaves anyway. I'll go with whoever's cheapest, but I won't spend a precious day driving to an airport in the US.

 

[seashoreCM]

It's done in the U.S. all the time too, driving to another airport to get a better fare. If you check back every so often, do you see different and better fares? How about different times of the day or a day before or after what you first checked? In November and December there are times where on U.S. flights a one day difference in timing can mean a threefold difference in fare.

>>> Wow, ... has a hard time...

I beg to differ.

All they have to do is try.

I'll spoon feed you (the company administrator). 1. Sit down at the computer. 2. Go to the screen where the prices are input. 3. Click on a box containing an uncompetitive price. 4. Use backspace and or delete key to clear out that box. 5. Type in a competitive price. 6. Click OK.

Of course you or I can lead a horse to water but cannot make him drink.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[madonna31]

Southwest rules!

 

[Northstar]

Halifax is ... well... geographically and airline-challenged. We're talking driving distances of 400+ miles to get to a US airport (I think Bangor is the closest, then Portland). And no Southwest here...

To be fair to Air Canada (and we just hate to be fair to Air Canada, because they are rotten), a lot of the price difference is not their fare... it's taxes and fees they can't avoid tacking on. The other airlines flying out of Halifax don't do a whole lot better on price. We have to get into the US before we see those better prices, and it's a big road trip to get into the US. So we either pay BIG bucks to get to the Mouse sooner, or lose a day on each end of our vacation.

But hey, I'm not bitter. I'm going to Disney!

 

[mackeyapp]

Hi Northstar

I hear you! We are waiting, hoping and praying for a better price to come along for this family of 4. We will be there regardless and we have a 4-5 hr drive just to get to Halifax airport. Yippee!! Let's hope for little snow again this year.

 

[Northstar]

May the weather gods smile on your drive-and-fly day! Now I really feel like a complainer... I would just wither up and die on the vine if I had to drive that far to get to Halifax airport. You Cape Bretoners are tough!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Of the three trips I've taken (2 with my DH), I've only flown a Canadian carrier once - the first trip. Even flying out of our local Canadian airport the US carriers are much cheaper than A/C. WestJet isn't bad pricewise, however, I've found their flight schedules are the worst. Unfortunately until A/C or WestJet can compete with the US I think we'll stick to one of the major US carriers.