Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[cmyden]

Air Canada just released a promo code for 30% off flights between AB and AB, BC, MB, NT, Thunder Bay, and YT.

link: http://aircanada.com/en/offers/air/d...t.html#-GOWEST

The code is WEST

Save 30% off Tango and Tango Plus fares on select flights within Western Canada

To get your exclusive discount, simply enter this promotion code when booking right here at aircanada.com:
Promotion code
WEST

Valid on Tango and Tango Plus fares.
For travel until September 4, 2011.
Book by June 28, 2011 midnight, from your city of departure.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

West Jet has some pretty good seat sales going on right now. I just booked a round trip to Toronto for $494, taxes included.

It's this one:

http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/deal...to-ge-20110623

$500ish is pretty much the usual bottom these days. Toronto doesn't truly go on sale all too often. It did once this year though, when they dropped to $350ish.

[drewboy12]

Cymden. I need a flight from LAX-BKK for December 29th. Prices right now, stand cheapest at $620. I only need a one way ticket. Do you know if it will be cheaper later in the year, or should I buy now? I dont care about connections, or routes, as long as I get to Bangkok.

I should mention I am open with dates and cities to fly out of. I will be flying from St. Lucia to which ever city I choose to get to Bangkok from. lol... So it is kinda open. Preferably I would liek to fly there on December 29th, but willing to fly on a later date if it is a lot cheaper.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

Cymden. I need a flight from LAX-BKK for December 29th. Prices right now, stand cheapest at $620. I only need a one way ticket. Do you know if it will be cheaper later in the year, or should I buy now? I dont care about connections, or routes, as long as I get to Bangkok.

I should mention I am open with dates and cities to fly out of. I will be flying from St. Lucia to which ever city I choose to get to Bangkok from. lol... So it is kinda open. Preferably I would liek to fly there on December 29th, but willing to fly on a later date if it is a lot cheaper.

Hi Drew,

Airfares are unpredicatable, by anyone, and here's my best attempt to explain why...

http://www.yycdeals.com/should-i-buy...asked-the-most

Anything around Christmas holiday period though, I wouldn't get my hopes up too high for a deal.

$620ish seems pretty decent really. Take a look at mid-October, and prices are only $40 cheaper...

http://www.kayak.com/flights/#LAX-BK...10-19-flexible

St. Lucia to LAX seems like the smartest choice to me.

[likwid888]

This may be a bit too soon. But do you know of any deals for Calgary - Honolulu in early October?

[bizaro86]

Someone break the travel related internet? itasofware wasn't working earlier today, and now it's "down for maintenance" and when I hit the yycdeals map I'm not getting any information.

The 2011-2012 schedules up and I need to book in a road trip!

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Someone break the travel related internet? itasofware wasn't working earlier today, and now it's "down for maintenance" and when I hit the yycdeals map I'm not getting any information.

The 2011-2012 schedules up and I need to book in a road trip!

https://matrix1.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch

Seems to work fine for me?

Ah wait, just noticed it's redirecting to HTTPS now. Believe it was just HTTP before? Could be the problem.

I'll take a look at the deals map to see what the issue is.

This may be a bit too soon. But do you know of any deals for Calgary - Honolulu in early October?

Actually I was just noticing today that WestjetVacation packages to Hawaii in October took a bit of a tumble from some cities. Not as much for Calgary though. Courtyard by Marriott packages are at $884/person for flight + hotel. Try departing Oct 3.

What's the best one you've seen so far?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by cmyden

https://matrix1.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch

Seems to work fine for me?

Ah wait, just noticed it's redirecting to HTTPS now. Believe it was just HTTP before? Could be the problem.

I'll take a look at the deals map to see what the issue is.

That link is for the original (matrix 1) version. When you go to itasoftware and hit "Search Airfares Now" it takes you to the new version found here: http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ Actually, that takes you to an error page currently.

Thanks for the link to the older version though, didn't think it would still be working, should have checked my old favourite...

And as always, thanks for the yycdeals.com map. Seriously the best part of the internet.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

That link is for the original (matrix 1) version. When you go to itasoftware and hit "Search Airfares Now" it takes you to the new version found here: http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ Actually, that takes you to an error page currently.

Thanks for the link to the older version though, didn't think it would still be working, should have checked my old favourite...

Ah right, I forgot maybe not everyone would still use the original version. Personally I think the original interface is better and it's definitely far more powerful especially if you know a few of the commands.

I'm guessing that they're moving servers today, or at least changing something around, evidenced by the HTTPS in the URL now. Let's just hope it's not Google throwing off the switch.

And as always, thanks for the yycdeals.com map. Seriously the best part of the internet.

Thanks! A lot more interesting things on the way!

[likwid888]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Actually I was just noticing today that WestjetVacation packages to Hawaii in October took a bit of a tumble from some cities. Not as much for Calgary though. Courtyard by Marriott packages are at $884/person for flight + hotel. Try departing Oct 3.

What's the best one you've seen so far?

We are actually looking to stay in a specific hotel (Hilton Hawaiian Village). The best we have seen is around $2500, flights and 7 nights, for 2 people. I believe it was through the WestJet Vacations site.

[LChoy]

Quick question

What is the difference between Business Class and First Class for Air Canada?
We are using our Aeroplan points for a trip to Hawaii. With Business class, it starts at 120000 points. With first class, it's 160000 points. Not sure if it's worth going from Business Class to First Class. Thoughts?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by likwid888

We are actually looking to stay in a specific hotel (Hilton Hawaiian Village). The best we have seen is around $2500, flights and 7 nights, for 2 people. I believe it was through the WestJet Vacations site.

If you have it narrowed down to one specific hotel, just compare it to what the flight and hotel would cost separately on Kayak. That will pretty much cover all your bases.

Could give Expedia a shot to see if having them mash together the flight + hotel gives any savings (occasionally it will if they've been able to get a discount on a block of rooms).

The Canadian tour operators have it at around $1234/person after tax for their cheapest packages to that hotel at the moment as you've found.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Quick question

What is the difference between Business Class and First Class for Air Canada?
We are using our Aeroplan points for a trip to Hawaii. With Business class, it starts at 120000 points. With first class, it's 160000 points. Not sure if it's worth going from Business Class to First Class. Thoughts?

It usually comes down to better food and more space/comfort. Sometimes more attention per passenger.

I think you get the pod seats in Business, so not sure if there's a big difference there.

Personally I think both Business & First are a huge ripoff for what you get for the money (whether it's in point form or not). Can't imagine it unless it was on someone else's dime, or I was so ludicrously rich that money had no value to me.

Assuming an Aeroplan point is worth about 1.6 cents per mile ...

http://thoughtsfrommylife.com/articl...Comparing_Them

40,000 points = $640 for slightly better food and a little more comfort.

Can think of some pretty nice restaurants a couple could eat at for $640. Or pay for a nicer room in Hawaii (and it will last the whole week). Hell, that's another flight to Hawaii.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Quick question

What is the difference between Business Class and First Class for Air Canada?
We are using our Aeroplan points for a trip to Hawaii. With Business class, it starts at 120000 points. With first class, it's 160000 points. Not sure if it's worth going from Business Class to First Class. Thoughts?

Air Canada doesn't have a First Class, just "Executive First" which is a business class, so you pay business class points. Some of the other star alliance airlines have economy, business, and first class, like United and Lufthansa. If you're going to Hawaii, none of the airlines offer 3 class service from North America, so there is absolutely no difference.

If you're using your aeroplan points, it might be worth flying united or US Air through the US. The extra cost for taxes and fees will be much less, and you can probably get a one stop flight anyway.

PS Air Canada only flies their old business class to HNL, so you wouldn't get the pods anyway, just a bit of extra legroom, so probably not worth it.

[tvp2003]

Some press from the Calgary Herald on our very own cmyden: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...781/story.html

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Some press from the Calgary Herald on our very own cmyden: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...781/story.html

Lol, yeah, out of all the great advice I gave during the interview I'm not sure how 'booking ahead on major airlines' became my '#1 tip'.

I did try to explain that giving a one or two sentence answer for general overall advice when it comes to travel prices is impossible, so I guess that's what they boiled it down to.

[drewboy12]

Originally Posted by cmyden

I did try to explain that giving a one or two sentence answer for general overall advice when it comes to travel prices is impossible, so I guess that's what they boiled it down to.

No doubt... Its more a skill set. lol.

I choked when I read that chick spent $10k on a 5 week trip... Not alone, her and her friends all spent 10k...

[cmyden]

Lol, yeah, out of all the great advice I gave during the interview I'm not sure how 'booking ahead on major airlines' became my '#1 tip'.

Originally Posted by fotze

Thats some groundbreaking advice there Chris. haha

To be fair, you can usually get much better deals booking your flight before departure than after the plane is in the air.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by cmyden

To be fair, you can usually get much better deals booking your flight before departure than after the plane is in the air.

Maybe a new extreme sport. Like wakeboarding, but with aircraft instead of boats.

[cmyden]

July 10-17 from Calgary to Frankfurt, Germany is down to $599 roundtrip after tax. Can see it on Air Transat's site.