West Jet eliminates their fuel surcharge

[Claeren]

^ I would rather fly between most Canadian airports than American ones though.

The entire system is different, you are comparing apples to oranges.

One is a dense market the other a sparse one, one has private airports and private terminals the other has what are basically public airport authorities, one has a ton of airlines but most of whom are on the brink of collapse while the other only has two but at least they are both (now) not about to collapse, one has a government that lets them do as they please while the other charges massive airport 'rents', one has imposed all sorts of taxes and the other.... well, less so.

Canadian airlines, while expensive, do tend to have newer aircraft, nicer and better trained staff and (with a few notable exceptions) operate out of far nicer and cleaner airports.


One big change IMO will be when SouthWest and WestJet really start linking up as they plan. It should really push down fares and open up new route options I think....


Claeren.

[Flaming Choy]

That's pretty cool news from Westjet, but doesn't help with my NYC flight. Even with the fuel surcharge eliminated, my original flight costs $600 less. I guess I got a good deal the first time.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Claeren

^ I would rather fly between most Canadian airports than American ones though.

The entire system is different, you are comparing apples to oranges.

One is a dense market the other a sparse one, one has private airports and private terminals the other has what are basically public airport authorities, one has a ton of airlines but most of whom are on the brink of collapse while the other only has two but at least they are both (now) not about to collapse, one has a government that lets them do as they please while the other charges massive airport 'rents', one has imposed all sorts of taxes and the other.... well, less so.

Canadian airlines, while expensive, do tend to have newer aircraft, nicer and better trained staff and (with a few notable exceptions) operate out of far nicer and cleaner airports.


One big change IMO will be when SouthWest and WestJet really start linking up as they plan. It should really push down fares and open up new route options I think....


Claeren.

Good answer. Specifically the bold part. If find it hilarious when people overlook such obvious reasons when complaining.

Canada has what, 10 cities with populations around or over half a million people? And they're pretty much all in a straight line across a 5000km expanse... The US has probably 100 cities like that, dotted all over the country. Of course there'll be more room for competition. Of course it'll be cheaper to fly the same distance in the states when there are 15 airlines to choose from.

[Flaming Choy]

Originally Posted by fotze

What did you get it for?

$409.89 CDN

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Do airlines hedge their fuel purchases, or are they obligated to "fill up at the pumps" at each airport? I know the railways hedge fuel purchasing really aggressively, and it helps them tremendously to manage their operating costs.

I always wondered about this

Generally a % of their fuel is bought forward.

[ping]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but Air Canada has removed their fuel surcharge fees within North America and second bag fees for economy fares.

[Fobby]

Sweet.

Using my Aeroplan, i got 2 flights to NYC this wednesday for 25000 each, and tax is only 120 dollars! woo hoo!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Fobby

Sweet.

Using my Aeroplan, i got 2 flights to NYC this wednesday for 25000 each, and tax is only 120 dollars! woo hoo!

The tax on 25 grand is only $120? Woo hoo indeed!

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by 4X4

The tax on 25 grand is only $120? Woo hoo indeed!

that would be 25,000 Aeroplan points, generally what you need to go anywhere in N America.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by fotze

Don't tell me you got those as direct flights? Whenever I look for a flight for the marketed amount of aeroplan miles it requires a ridiculous itinerary of stopovers.

Edit: 25000 is what they tell you it will take to go anywhere in North America, although it is exceedingly difficult to find a flight for that amount of airmiles, you can however pay 50000 and get one for your added convenience.

Look daily they pop up like a whack a mole then go away. Especially YYC to EWR.

[Fobby]

it's not direct but it's 1 stop over in ohare.

I am surprised, this is pretty last minute since i booked yesterday for next wednesday. Yay for aeroplan.