Air Canada quietly introduces fuel surcharges; WestJet [will] follow suit

[The Goon]

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/serv.../Business/home

I just did a quick search on westjet.com and aircanada.com for a flight I have to take to Toronto in July. Everything else being equal, Air Canada's fare was $125 more than WestJet's.

So if you have some travel planned over the next few months, it might be a good idea to book on WestJet quickly before they add on these charges.

[Got Miikka?]

Son of a bitch, you're right. I am flying to T.O. twice, once in July once in August. It's weird how it would cost less to fly to New York during those dates, but this surcharge from AC is going to make the ticket ridiculous either way. Yay soaring fuel prices!

[underGRADFlame]

Well let's all just be glad that the oil companies aren't price gouging!

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Well let's all just be glad that the oil companies aren't price gouging!

[TheCommodoreAfro]

I'm flying AC with the family from Tokyo in September. In total, we have over $1100 added on IN SURCHARGES, on top of the fare. The funny part is, I expected it to be more so I didn't put up a fuss.
With the prices where they are for these charges, one has to think there is some price gouging going on. I mean, it's not like it's happened before...

[tvp2003]

Ouch -- that didn't take long:

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...e-d1c1f9740b0b

WestJet Airlines Ltd said on Monday it will add a ticket surcharge of up to $45 per flight to cope with soaring fuel prices, joining larger rival Air Canada , which last week also added a levy on its tickets because of surging crude.
WestJet, Canada's No. 2 airline, said the charge will range from $20 to $45 per ticket and be effective on Tuesday.

Looks like today's the last day to book before the increase...

[ken0042]

Changed the title of the thread to reflect WestJet changing as well.

[Azure]

Maybe more people will.....DRIVE now.

Yay!

[MoneyGuy]

Get used to it, folks. I travel a lot and fly several times a year for business or pleasure (usually both at the same time). I see a time not too far off when air travel will be out of reach for the ordinary person. But I'm not ordinary, so maybe it won't matter to me. However, from pre-9/11 to, say, 2015, this whole landscape will have changed hugely. Travel now while you can.

[Tron_fdc]

Or take a train to BC.....oh wait a sec, you can do that for $1700 on that ridiculous Rocky Mountaineer.

So why isn't there any kind of train service out West that isn't the price of a firstborn? Anyone know?

[The Goon]

Well, I'm happy I took my own advice and booked our Toronto tickets with WestJet over the weekend.

I agree with MoneyGuy - the days of a quick cheap vacation may be over. Until they can perfect teleportation, anyway.

[Got Miikka?]

Going to book my T.O. flight today to avoid this useless surcharge.

I guess I need to become Money Guy too. Never liked being 'ordinary' anyway.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Get used to it, folks. I travel a lot and fly several times a year for business or pleasure (usually both at the same time). I see a time not too far off when air travel will be out of reach for the ordinary person. But I'm not ordinary, so maybe it won't matter to me. However, from pre-9/11 to, say, 2015, this whole landscape will have changed hugely. Travel now while you can.

it isnt already?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Get used to it, folks. I travel a lot and fly several times a year for business or pleasure (usually both at the same time). I see a time not too far off when air travel will be out of reach for the ordinary person. But I'm not ordinary, so maybe it won't matter to me. However, from pre-9/11 to, say, 2015, this whole landscape will have changed hugely. Travel now while you can.

While that may be true, there will still be competition within the industry and the deals that come with it. I travel a lot myself and have always been able to find the deals, and i suspect i'll still be able to in the future.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

it isnt already?

Last January i spent a week in Hawaii for a $1000 - hotel and airfire included. You just gotta look - the deals are out there.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

it isnt already?

For my trip to Winnipeg next week I paid $280. Back in 1992 when I first moved to Calgary the magic number for the price was $300- under $300 was a deal. So setting aside fuel prices the cost compared to inflation over the last 16 years is a lot cheaper. Even the flight I booked in the summer works out to $400 for the peak period.

All I care about is that they work it into the price. I hate finding a cheap flight, then seeing that there's more fees than what the fare is. Or people telling me all the time "why are you driving, I saw an ad in the paper for flights for $99."

[RW99]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Or take a train to BC.....oh wait a sec, you can do that for $1700 on that ridiculous Rocky Mountaineer.

So why isn't there any kind of train service out West that isn't the price of a firstborn? Anyone know?

A short trip to Mulletville gives you access to VIA at a much better rate.

Rocky Mountaineer is high end sightseeing, not for travel.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by RW99

A short trip to Mulletville gives you access to VIA at a much better rate.

Rocky Mountaineer is high end sightseeing, not for travel.

Yeah, but I'm talking Cal-Van. If you can't afford to fly, you're stuck on a bus. Pretty much every country I've EVER been to has a train service that isn't 1st class only between major cities.

Along those lines, does an eastern train service even exist? I know it does in Ontario, but what if I want to visit my relatives in Winnipeg, I'm in Calgary, and I don't want to have to stop in every small town along the way?

[tete]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Yeah, but I'm talking Cal-Van. If you can't afford to fly, you're stuck on a bus. Pretty much every country I've EVER been to has a train service that isn't 1st class only between major cities.

Along those lines, does an eastern train service even exist? I know it does in Ontario, but what if I want to visit my relatives in Winnipeg, I'm in Calgary, and I don't want to have to stop in every small town along the way?

There's still no train service east of Calgary - you have to go up to Edmonton. Not sure about the Edmonton to Saskatoon leg of the trip, but I know from Saskatoon to Winnipeg you stop in Melville, Brandon(ish - it's 40 mins north of Brandon), Portage and then Winnipeg. They don't stop in every town along the route.

[Ryan Coke]

As has been pointed out, air travel generally is still much cheaper than it was 15-20 years ago, even more so when you factor in inflation. Also, start doing some analysis on other modes of transportation and the associated costs, and you'll likely be surprised.

And what is the 'yay' for if it forces people who are bad at math into their cars? I'll guess it is one of those environmental 'airplanes are bad' ideas? Have you done some specific fuel consumption calculations for driving vs flying? I ran some numbers a while back, and I am too lazy to do it again, but realistically you have to have 3 or more people in a civic between YYC and YVR to have a smaller 'carbon footprint' than getting on a 737 NG with 130 people on it.

But what do facts and certain environmental special interest groups have to do with each other.

PS. But yes, book before midnight tonight to save yourself the fuel surcharges at westjet.com