Cheapest Way to Fly?

[Jets4Life]

It's been ages since I've taken an airline ( I usually just drive or carpool). I was wondering how I would secure the best deal for airline tickets. I plan on visiting Winnipeg in mid October. Would putting my name on a standby list be cheaper? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[Northendzone]

Hide in the landing gear. It is a two hour flight, dress warm, you should be fine.

Do you have air miles? How much are the flights today?

Not sure if you get a deal going standby, but if you have some flexibility on when you can leave, the that is an option.

Have you thought about the bus?

[DownhillGoat]

Check kayak or wait for a wesjet blue tag sale to Winnipeg.

Personally I'd take the other, less expensive, less painful solution, and not go to Winnipeg at all.

[tvp2003]

Start here: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...=74271&page=47

Also here: http://www.yycdeals.com/ If you scroll down to the August 31 post, there is a good post by CP's cmyden as to why it's hard to get a good flight deal within Canada. No such thing as flying on standby as far as I know; I see some people on kijiji trying to buy buddy passes on Westjet but I would be surprised if that ever works out...

[ken0042]

IIRC- when you use somebody's Buddy Pass on WestJet; the employee has to pay for the flight on his/her credit card. I guess to discourage that sort of thing; and to make sure the passes are being used for close friends and family.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Hide in the landing gear. It is a two hour flight, dress warm, you should be fine.

Do you have air miles? How much are the flights today?

Not sure if you get a deal going standby, but if you have some flexibility on when you can leave, the that is an option.

Have you thought about the bus?

I may still end up driving. It's only a 14-15 hour drive. The only thing I hate is driving through Saskatchewan (no offence to any Sask. residents).

[SportsJunky]

I fly to Winnipeg often for work and the flights are always jam packed. I'd think going stand by would make for a very frustrating day for you.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by ken0042

IIRC- when you use somebody's Buddy Pass on WestJet; the employee has to pay for the flight on his/her credit card. I guess to discourage that sort of thing; and to make sure the passes are being used for close friends and family.

Incorrect. The employee emails the buddy pass to whoever is going to use it. It's made out to that person and only they can use it. That person who is going to use it pays with their own credit card when they call to list.

Also, there is no such thing as listing to fly standby (with AC & WJ) unless you are using a buddy pass/travel companion.

Check Westjets website on Thursday between 1-4pm MST. That's when you will find the best deals

[Claeren]

As a strong general rule - for both WestJet and Air Canada - the earlier you buy the better.

For YYCYWG that likely meant the Labour Day sale in September. Without looking at the current fare in mid-October, it may dip slightly IF there is a sale before you travel but it is unlikely so close in to the departure date - and prices are far more likely to keep climbing right until departure.

Domestic networks are running at ~90% load factors and over long weekends (like Thanksgiving) close to 100%. You generally have to book months ahead to get the real deals. (IE: If you are looking to fly over Spring Break in 2013 I would buy sooner than later.)

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I may still end up driving. It's only a 14-15 hour drive. The only thing I hate is driving through Saskatchewan (no offence to any Sask. residents).

Don't kid yourself. It gets boring around Medicine Hat and stays that way well past Winnipeg.

[saskflames69]

Bring noseplugs when visiting Regina.

[Wormius]

It's called mescaline, it's the only way to fly.

[Bigtime]

Cheapest way to fly eh?

[Wormius]

BUMP!

I remember a conversation earlier about intentionally missing a connecting flight, because it was cheaper to get off at the stop-over than actually booking a flight directly there. I was looking at this for flights from YYC to SFO is about $100+ per ticket over YYC-SFO-LAS.

I already know that you can only take carry on if you try to go this route, and the rest of your itinerary for that flight will be cancelled, but my question is, can you search for the cheapest ticket based on the stop-over point? I haven't done a lot of research, but how can I find the cheapest ticket that would land me / family members in SFO? Or is it just an iterative approach of seeing which flights will stop at a particular airport?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Wormius

BUMP!

I remember a conversation earlier about intentionally missing a connecting flight, because it was cheaper to get off at the stop-over than actually booking a flight directly there. I was looking at this for flights from YYC to SFO is about $100+ per ticket over YYC-SFO-LAS.

I already know that you can only take carry on if you try to go this route, and the rest of your itinerary for that flight will be cancelled, but my question is, can you search for the cheapest ticket based on the stop-over point? I haven't done a lot of research, but how can I find the cheapest ticket that would land me / family members in SFO? Or is it just an iterative approach of seeing which flights will stop at a particular airport?

I think that's called hidden city booking. I've done it once, but didn't do it again after reading about airlines coming after people who were repeat offenders. If you barely fly I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[troutman]

Drive to Great Falls. Fly to Fargo. Drive to Winnipeg.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by troutman

Drive to Great Falls. Fly to Fargo. Drive to Winnipeg.

Seriously doubt that's any cheaper

[troutman]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

Seriously doubt that's any cheaper

Don't ever take me serious.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I think that's called hidden city booking. I've done it once, but didn't do it again after reading about airlines coming after people who were repeat offenders. If you barely fly I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Ah!1 that's the term! Thanks.

[Hemi-Cuda]

In a sort of related note, I'm planning a trip over to Thailand in April and looking at my flight options the cheapest by far are the American airlines (United and Delta). They're at just over $1000 for a round trip ticket to Bangkok, while Air Canada and Cathay Pacific (whom I used last time) are several hundred dollars more. I've heard many bad stores about flying with American lines, is it worth saving the money to go with them or more of a headache than it's worth?