Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Hi, looking to take a trip to anywhere aug aug 22-sept 5.
Want best city forthe dollar. I Assume a US destination would be my best bet on this?

Not neccessarily those specific dates, just sometime between those dates.

I don't really know how to find deals other than looking at expedia, travelocjty, and the like.

Any help would be appreciated.

We're in the same boat -- dates are flexible, but deals within Canada/US seem few and far between. Certainly no heavily discounted fares in the last couple of months it seems; I'm sure Chris can chime in but it looks like the only deals in recent memory have been only to Mexico, South America, and Europe destinations.

We'd do a road trip, but with a new baby extended travel is not ideal...

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Sled

I'm looking for Vegas September 2nd to 5th from Calgary. Would love to take the wife on a nice trip, any suggestions on cheap flights?

Hi Sled,

Unfortunately there hasn't really been anything too amazing for Vegas since the Delta flight I posted back on May 12th. It was actually for the September long weekend at $276 after tax.

At the moment, the Air Canada flights look cheapest at around $450.

WestJet has said their Vegas numbers have been pretty strong ever since February so I guess the airlines haven't had much reason to offer sales.

Looking for some flights around august 13 or 12th to 15th for my wedding in vegas. Some people still haven't booked. All I am finding is just over 500. Anyone else able to find anything cheaper?

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anything cheaper than around $490ish (Air Canada).

I just took a quick look at Expedia.....if you want from the 11-15 there are some just over $400 (I'm assuming you're leaving from Calgary?), if you want the 12-15 then it is a few bucks more, around $430. Might be cheaper to get a package deal than just a flight. But that was just a 5 minute look, I'm sure Chris has probably got something a bit better.

Do you remember which airline? I definitely don't see anything that cheap at the moment.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Hi, looking to take a trip to anywhere aug aug 22-sept 5.
Want best city forthe dollar. I Assume a US destination would be my best bet on this?

Not neccessarily those specific dates, just sometime between those dates.

I don't really know how to find deals other than looking at expedia, travelocjty, and the like.

Any help would be appreciated.

We're in the same boat -- dates are flexible, but deals within Canada/US seem few and far between. Certainly no heavily discounted fares in the last couple of months it seems; I'm sure Chris can chime in but it looks like the only deals in recent memory have been only to Mexico, South America, and Europe destinations.

We'd do a road trip, but with a new baby extended travel is not ideal...

Hi Temporary_User,

In terms of 'best city for the dollar', well, that could mean a few different things, but in terms of how far you're traveling for the money, the best deal in August is probably Australia or Brazil.

I'm not sure if you've ever seen the YYC Deals Map or not. Open it up, click on August, and then click on under 17 cents per mile.

Actually just click here that will be easier.

^^^ That's a map of everywhere in the world in August that is under 17 cents a mile from Calgary. The cities in green have the lowest cost per mile.

Typically you won't find anything under $0.20/mile within Canada or the U.S.. Hawaii is often an exception to that rule.

So purely from a 'most distance for my dollar' value in August I would probably say Hawaii ($550ish roundtrip after tax), Australia ($1200ish), Brazil or Chile ($1000ish).

American Airlines has flights to Puerto Rico in August for $580.

There's been some decent prices to Central America popping up for fall (Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama).

tvp2003: Within Canada/US for August, Delta has some flights to San Diego for $386. Aug 17-24. Phoenix too. Nothing overly amazing but seems to be the cheapest.

cM

[worth]

Originally Posted by cmyden

It seems cheaper flights to Cairo may not start until around the 3rd week of October. Oct 17 to Nov 8 is $1284 after tax but that's using Air Canada and Egypt Air. Lufthansa is around $1390 from Oct 17 to Nov 10.

For the cheaper Lufthansa flights, let's see...

Oct 31 to Dec 1 is $1290 on Lufthansa
Oct 27 to Nov 26 is $1240 on Air France. Lufthansa is $1500.
Oct 17 to Nov 17 is $1290 on Lufthansa
Oct 13 to Nov 14 is $1421 using Air France. $1677 on Lufthansa.

So it could just be the mid October/November/December flights on Lufthansa that are cheap.

Oct 18 to Nov 7 is $1240 on Air France if you were looking for a 3 weeker.

Chris,

I'm booking my Cairo flight this week. I think the Air France flight is my best bet, I can get flights on there at around $1300-1,400. Is there anything else I should be looking at before I book with them?

Thanks!

Edit:

I actually just looked on the KLM website and there are flights on there for $1,263, which looks like the best deal so far.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by worth

Chris,

I'm booking my Cairo flight this week. I think the Air France flight is my best bet, I can get flights on there at around $1300-1,400. Is there anything else I should be looking at before I book with them?

Thanks!

Edit:

I actually just looked on the KLM website and there are flights on there for $1,263, which looks like the best deal so far.

Yep, it looks like KLM or Delta are the cheapest (look to be identical) and the YYC Deals Map is showing the KLM flights in October as being the cheapest of the year, so I'm fairly confident that's as cheap as there is at the moment.

[wooohooo]

Any all inclusive deals from August 21-27th/28th? Got a wedding on the 28th so maybe be back in the morning?

Just looking to get out for a week or so.

Thanks!

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Any all inclusive deals from August 21-27th/28th? Got a wedding on the 28th so maybe be back in the morning?

Just looking to get out for a week or so.

Thanks!

The Palladium Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta leaving on the 20th is about the cheapest at $817/person after tax.

The reviews seem so-so, wouldn't say overwhelming...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...fic_Coast.html

It's really about the only decent one under $1000/person though around that time.

My parents really liked the Palladium. They said they liked it better than the Decameron.

[malcolmk14]

I have August 21-29 off with $1500 I can spend with Air Canada Vacations.

What would be the best way to use it? I'm willing to pay $500ish on top of the $1500 for something really sweet.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I have August 21-29 off with $1500 I can spend with Air Canada Vacations.

What would be the best way to use it? I'm willing to pay $500ish on top of the $1500 for something really sweet.

I take it you can go anywhere that Air Canada Vacations does? Can you use the credit as 'flight only' ?

Are you just looking for something like a Mexico/Cuba/Dominican all inclusive ?

Personally I can't see the appeal while it's summer here, and hurricane season there, but to each his/her own.

Are you just looking to lay around on a beach ? What kind of vacation are you looking for?

cM

[Aeneas]

Would like to go to Phoenix Wed 10 Nov - Sat/Sun 13-14 Nov for the Flames game, etc.
Any deals on the horizon? I see you mentioned Phoenix in an above post...
Thanks

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Would like to go to Phoenix Wed 10 Nov - Sat/Sun 13-14 Nov for the Flames game, etc.
Any deals on the horizon? I see you mentioned Phoenix in an above post...
Thanks

I got to Phoenix for about $70 one-way last March on WestJet. Check with chid.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by cmyden

I take it you can go anywhere that Air Canada Vacations does? Can you use the credit as 'flight only' ?

Are you just looking for something like a Mexico/Cuba/Dominican all inclusive ?

Personally I can't see the appeal while it's summer here, and hurricane season there, but to each his/her own.

Are you just looking to lay around on a beach ? What kind of vacation are you looking for?

cM

I'm pretty sure the credit can be used for anything, not just restricted to flight only.

Honestly, I'm open to anything at all. I Have thought about an all-inclusive, but hurricane season kind of turned me off of that.

I don't HAVE to use it this month, just thought I'd get some ideas of what's out there. The AC Vacations site doesn't make it easy to search.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Would like to go to Phoenix Wed 10 Nov - Sat/Sun 13-14 Nov for the Flames game, etc.
Any deals on the horizon? I see you mentioned Phoenix in an above post...
Thanks

Phoenix was ridiculously cheap at some points in 2010, I believe it was down below $200 roundtrip after tax. It's routinely one of the cheapest cities to get to from Calgary.

The cheapest at the moment though is around $380, using Delta.

There hasn't been anything too amazing for Phoenix since the spring, but maybe as we get into the latter part of summer some fall deals will start to appear.

The other issue is that airlines are feeling a bit more confident these days and they haven't felt the need to make as many price cuts.

[tete]

I'm going to Toronto Sept. 24-26, so just a quick weekend. I'd like to take the red-eye that leaves at 12:30ish Friday morning and the current WJ price is $219. With a return flight, I'm looking at almost $600 - anyone know what a good deal is for a flight from YYC to YYZ? Should I hold out for a sale or just book now?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by tete

I'm going to Toronto Sept. 24-26, so just a quick weekend. I'd like to take the red-eye that leaves at 12:30ish Friday morning and the current WJ price is $219. With a return flight, I'm looking at almost $600 - anyone know what a good deal is for a flight from YYC to YYZ? Should I hold out for a sale or just book now?

I can tell you that it shouldn't get much higher than that. In April I booked about two days before my flight and paid just a touch below $600.

For a flight at the end of May I waited until about three weeks before and got there for $300 or so.

[Phaneuf3]

This one's a loooong ways in the future so I have a lot of lead time to wait for an awesome deal.

Calgary to Denver from Feb 12th(ish) to Feb 15
Any recommendations about when's a good time to book a great deal/which airlines will have the best price?

[cmyden]

Calgary to Munich, Germany - $671 roundtrip after tax

Air Transat just released a direct flight to Munich and back for $671 roundtrip after tax.

It departs on September 8th and comes back September 16th.

You can see it right on Air Transat's site at http://www.AirTransat.ca

and

Calgary to Glasgow, Scotland - $630 roundtrip after tax

Also on Air Transat, on the following dates:

August 25 to September 15
August 25 to September 22
September 8 to September 15
September 8 to September 22

cM

[Suave]

Originally Posted by tete

I'm going to Toronto Sept. 24-26, so just a quick weekend. I'd like to take the red-eye that leaves at 12:30ish Friday morning and the current WJ price is $219. With a return flight, I'm looking at almost $600 - anyone know what a good deal is for a flight from YYC to YYZ? Should I hold out for a sale or just book now?

The Air Canada red eye is $189 right now, round-trip just over $500.

[cmyden]

Calgary to Chicago - $400 roundtrip after tax

Chicago doesn't go on sale all that often, it usually hovers around $550-$700 roundtrip after tax.

US Airways just lowered their October/early November flights to $400 roundtrip after tax. They're via Phoenix though, so it's not exactly the most direct route.

October 27 to Nov 3 for example...

Look for the flights that are $141 each way before tax on http://www.USAirways.com

cM