Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Knalus

What's the chance I'll see something like this for July? Zero? Seems like there's more really low fares around in the last few months than normal.

I wouldn't say zero, but definitely lower odds than June. July/August are by far the highest demand periods for Europe. Last year I don't believe there was much of anything in summer until a late price drop on some flights in August.

But if there is to be a significant drop on flights with Air Transat, it most often occurs about 2-4 weeks before departure.

[hungryhun]

Hey cmyden,

I am considering going to Nepal in the fall. I haven't done much research on flights as of yet, what would you say is a reasonable price and do you have any creative ways of getting there that would save me a few dollars. For example booking separate flights on different airlines.

TIA

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

As long as you depart/return on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you can fly on Delta Airlines from Edmonton to Philadelphia round trip return for $355 (all taxes included). This includes travel all the way up to December.

Expires Monday at midnight.

[cmyden]

There's another cheap last minute flight to Chicago this weekend ($336 roundtrip after tax). Try May 28-30 or 31 on United.com right now.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by hungryhun

Hey cmyden,

I am considering going to Nepal in the fall. I haven't done much research on flights as of yet, what would you say is a reasonable price and do you have any creative ways of getting there that would save me a few dollars. For example booking separate flights on different airlines.

TIA

Hi Hungryhun,

The YYC Deals Map shows the cheapest flights into Kathmandu for the upcoming year as being around $1500 roundtrip after tax. That would be a good price to aim for.



If you click on Delhi, India - the green marker just to the left, you can see that it's theoretically possible to get to India for as cheap as about $1124. Flights between Delhi and Kathmandu look to run about $245 roundtrip on JetAirways.

So you could maybe get it down to around $1400ish if you're lucky.

But more likely, you're probably looking at around $1500 as a bottom price.

What's the cheapest you've been able to find so far? Nepal would be amazing.

[cmyden]

Summer flights to Germany - $648 to $748 roundtrip after tax

Air Transat just dropped some of their June flights to Germany.

Try June 18 to 26 on www.airtransat.ca from Calgary to Frankfurt.

screenshot:




You can also come back on July 3rd for the same price.

Another interesting one is Calgary to Munich, Germany which is down to $748 roundtrip after tax. Try June 22-30 on Air Transat's site.

Munich is one of my favorite cities in Europe, with the historic buildings, impressive architecture and copious amounts of amazing beer.



The other thing you could do is fly into Frankfurt on June 18 and out of Munich on June 30. It works out to $698 after tax. Just try a 'Multi-destination' flight search on Air Transat's site.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by cmyden

There's another cheap last minute flight to Chicago this weekend ($336 roundtrip after tax). Try May 28-30 or 31 on United.com right now.

What would the average ballpark cost be from Calgary to Chicago, about a month in advance?

Thanks for this thread! Love it!

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Draug

What would the average ballpark cost be from Calgary to Chicago, about a month in advance?

Thanks for this thread! Love it!

Chicago seems to usually hover around $650-$700 roundtrip after tax for the cheapest flights.

The average would be higher, take a look at a 3 day flexible date search for flights to Chicago around June 30...

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#YYC-CH...-29/2011-07-06



Of course you're also getting into summer, which brings the fares up a bit.

[cmyden]

June flights to Scotland have dropped to $618 roundtrip after tax

Some June flights to Glasgow, Scotland have dropped to $618 roundtrip after tax.



Try June 8 or 15 to June 22 on Air Transat's site (www.airtransat.ca)

screenshot:

[User Name]

anyone know of cheap flights from calgary to toronto?

[hungryhun]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Hi Hungryhun,

The YYC Deals Map shows the cheapest flights into Kathmandu for the upcoming year as being around $1500 roundtrip after tax. That would be a good price to aim for.



If you click on Delhi, India - the green marker just to the left, you can see that it's theoretically possible to get to India for as cheap as about $1124. Flights between Delhi and Kathmandu look to run about $245 roundtrip on JetAirways.

So you could maybe get it down to around $1400ish if you're lucky.

But more likely, you're probably looking at around $1500 as a bottom price.

What's the cheapest you've been able to find so far? Nepal would be amazing.

Thanks cmyden! I will consider this deal. Previously the cheapest I had found was around $1800. I thought that was a half decent price considering the distance and stopovers!

[cmyden]

How a family of 4 can get to Cancun for $185 roundtrip after tax (per person)

So AirCanadaVacations.com just dropped the price of their June 18 to 25 flight from Calgary to Cancun, Mexico down to $306 roundtrip after tax. Pretty great price right?

Well here's where it gets really interesting. With this deal, children only pay the tax. This is highly unusual, as on most flights children usually pay full fare, same as an adult.



But try 2 adults, and 2 children over at AirCanadaVacations.com from June 18 to 25 from Calgary to Cancun, Mexico and this is what you'll see:



$740 roundtrip after all taxes/fees for all 4 flights! That's $185 per ticket.

A family of 5 can get it down even further, to $160ish. Octomom could get an even better deal.

[drewboy12]

Air Canada has a strike looming this month do they not...... Pilots were un able to re negotiate, and customer service are striking?.... am I wrong?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

Air Canada has a strike looming this month do they not...... Pilots were un able to re negotiate, and customer service are striking?.... am I wrong?

Yep!

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli.../06/air-canada

THE union that represents 3,800 customer-service and sales staff employed by Air Canada has set a June 13th deadline for the ratification of a new contract, otherwise its members will go on strike. The workers have been without a contract since March 1st. The sticking point is Air Canada's wish to reduce pension benefits for existing employees and change the pension plan for new workers from defined-benefit to defined-contribution, something the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 2002 union vehemently opposes.

In the event of a strike, Air Canada has said it would maintain full operations and implement a contingency service to minimise any impact on passengers. But that might be difficult if other union members refuse to cross picket lines or if the airline's pilots also walk off the job.

[drewboy12]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Yep!

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli.../06/air-canada

Good luck Air Canada...

[Scoopdogg]

I'm thinking about this cancun flight but I'm not too sure where to look for just a hotel down there. I think somewhere in the Mayan Riviera would be better for me because I would be traveling with my wife and 2 small children. Can anyone recommend a good family resort? Something that is geared towards kids?

Also, what is a good site to look at when just booking a hotel for that area.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by Scoopdogg

I'm thinking about this cancun flight but I'm not too sure where to look for just a hotel down there. I think somewhere in the Mayan Riviera would be better for me because I would be traveling with my wife and 2 small children. Can anyone recommend a good family resort? Something that is geared towards kids?

Also, what is a good site to look at when just booking a hotel for that area.

There's lots of good family resorts - Gran Bahia Principe is good, as is the Iberostar, but the one I keep wanting to go to (haven't been there yet) is the Barcelo - has a waterpark for kids in addition to the usual wading pool.

If you join My Barcelo, they give you access to the "Happy Days" promos that can be as much as 50% off depending on your dates.

As for what site to book just the hotel - I'd compare sites like Orbitz (USD), Expedia.ca, Travelocity.ca and the like to the actual hotel's site. Often one will be cheaper. Check around as well, sometimes there's buy-four-get-one-free offers at travel sites for hotels, but check the prices.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Scoopdogg

I'm thinking about this cancun flight but I'm not too sure where to look for just a hotel down there. I think somewhere in the Mayan Riviera would be better for me because I would be traveling with my wife and 2 small children. Can anyone recommend a good family resort? Something that is geared towards kids?

Also, what is a good site to look at when just booking a hotel for that area.

Personally, I would start with a search on TripAdvisor...

http://tinyurl.com/6yrd8xn

That's the highest ranking hotels that are currently under $100/night.

You can get a quite nice hotel in the Mayan for $66/night

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

Looks like the hotel has good food.

[cmyden]

New record for cheapest flight to Scotland: $568 roundtrip after tax

If you can leave last minute, Air Transat's June 8-15 flight from Calgary to Glasgow, Scotland has dropped to $568 roundtrip after tax.



Try it on www.airtransat.ca and here's what you'll see:

[cmyden]

Good deal on Westjet's Blue Tag Thursday - Mazatlan for $285 roundtrip after tax

I'm always watching Westjet's Blue Tag Thursday deals. Usually the deals are kind of ho-hum but there is the occasional gem.

This week they've dropped their June/July flights to Mazatlan, Mexico down to $285 roundtrip after tax, definitely an awesome price, even if it is the off-season.

screenshot from Westjet.com



For those that are unfamiliar with Westjet's Blue Tag Thursday Deals - they come out every Thursday and are valid for 3 hours, between 1PM and 4PM.