Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Hi Cheevers,

Air Transat or Thomas Cook to London (or Manchester) is about your only chance of finding something cheap to Europe from Calgary.

Have a look on AirTransat.ca (use the flexible dates grid) and see if there's anything cheap, or at CanadianAffair.ca for Thomas Cook flights.

The best time to buy November flights probably would have been around mid October when some came out for $529 roundtrip after tax on Thomas Cook.

Damn dude, $529 roundtrip?! Would there be similar deals in the summer time. You might have mentioned it already (as I asked earler), but if I want to go in May, I should start looking in like March or April? Those months would give me the best deals more or less?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Damn dude, $529 roundtrip?! Would there be similar deals in the summer time. You might have mentioned it already (as I asked earler), but if I want to go in May, I should start looking in like March or April? Those months would give me the best deals more or less?

Yep, see post #1375 of this thread.

Some November flights to London, UK have dropped to $529 roundtrip after tax

Thomas Cook has dropped their late October to mid November flights to London Gatwick down to $529 roundtrip after tax.


Departures: Oct 23, 28, 30 Nov 03
Coming back: Nov 3, 10, 17

All that can be said for certain is that Air Transat seems to like to drop the price of their flights about 4 to 8 weeks months ahead of time, sometimes even as close as a few weeks before departure.

There's no guarantee they'll do that, or that it will be in that timeframe, that's just based on what they've done in the past.

I'd be on the lookout all the time, but the best chance is likely in March/April for something to come out.


Actually let's take a look at the history of Air Transat's significant price drops to the UK..

Oct 13 - I posted price drops for flights departing around Oct 23 to 30. 10 to 17 days ahead of departure.

Sep 23 - for December 15 departure, about 2.5 months ahead. This one was Thomas Cook though.

Sep 16 - for October 16 departure. One month ahead.

Aug 28 - for September 15 departure. Just over 2 weeks ahead.

Aug 16 - for August 27 departure. 11 days ahead.

July 11 - for August 6 departure. About a month ahead.


So I think we can narrow that 'likely to drop' range down to 2-4 weeks ahead. It should be noted that this is for Air Transat flights only, flights on major carriers don't exhibit this same type of behavior.

cM

[cmyden]

And Sunwing drops another flight to Cabo down to $365 roundtrip after tax

Similar to what they did near the end of October, they've just dropped the price of their November 15-22 flight to Los Cabos down to $365 roundtrip after tax.



cM

[FFR]

I'm sure this has been mentioned before in this thread but 72 pages is too many to sort through.

Does anyone have any suggestions for discount airlines to use while travelling around China/Thailand? I've found some decent prices on some airlines but specifically I'm having trouble finding cheap flights out of Thailand (i.e. to Shanghai or Beijing). Thanks for any help!

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by FFR

I'm sure this has been mentioned before in this thread but 72 pages is too many to sort through.

Does anyone have any suggestions for discount airlines to use while travelling around China/Thailand? I've found some decent prices on some airlines but specifically I'm having trouble finding cheap flights out of Thailand (i.e. to Shanghai or Beijing). Thanks for any help!

Try China Southern or SriLankan Airlines, depending on when you're going you should be able to get away with around $300 after tax, one way from BKK to Shanghai or Beijing.

Into Guangzhou (near Hong Kong) Thai AirAsia has flights for as cheap as $80 from Bangkok.

[cmyden]

Calgary to Mazatlan, Mexico - $395 roundtrip after tax

Sunwing seems to like to do this a lot, dropping the price at the last minute for their flights to Mexico.

In this case it's for their November 12-19 flight.



cM

[calgaryrocks]

hi cm
I would like to get down to the salt lake city area around christmas time, wondering if you have insight into the best deals for it. its just for one person travelling. I need to be in calgary the evening of the 18th and all day on the 28th, but would like to go in between, otherwise after that.
thanks
cr

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by calgaryrocks

hi cm
I would like to get down to the salt lake city area around christmas time, wondering if you have insight into the best deals for it. its just for one person travelling. I need to be in calgary the evening of the 18th and all day on the 28th, but would like to go in between, otherwise after that.
thanks
cr

Hi Cr,

Even during non-Christmas times of the year, Salt Lake *rarely* ever has good fares.

I hate to say it but there was one that would have been perfect for you that I posted back in mid October...



It's highly unusual for a fare to go that low to Salt Lake, *especially* at Christmas.

The cheapest look to be around $640 at the moment, such as Dec 19-27 on Delta.

[toonmaster]

We are looking at going to Cuba in March/April. I'm curious about the split vacations (Havana for 3 days & Varadero for 4 days). So far the only option we have found is through Transat Holidays.

Are there any other operators that offer this type of a split?

Should we be talking with a travel agent rather than looking online?

Anyone done this type of split before? Should we book Varadero and do day trips to Havana?

Just looking for some comparables before booking our vacation. Thanks.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Hi Cr,

Even during non-Christmas times of the year, Salt Lake *rarely* ever has good fares.

I hate to say it but there was one that would have been perfect for you that I posted back in mid October...



It's highly unusual for a fare to go that low to Salt Lake, *especially* at Christmas.

The cheapest look to be around $640 at the moment, such as Dec 19-27 on Delta.

that would have been perfect, ugh. thanks cm, looks like i'll be booking one for about $550 after taxes.
its annoying that the only airline that flies from Calgary to Salt Lake is Delta (Delta sucks) and it only has one flight left on the sunday, none on the monday.

[cmyden]

[PROMO CODE] WestJet: 10% off from anywhere to anywhere - [expires: November 10]

WestJet just put out this code to celebrate the re-design of their new site. It's only valid for one day, until midnight tonight.

link

Both the Promo code WEB13 and Coupon code X1EIKQ3 are required at time of booking on the first page of the booking process. Bookings must be made by November 10th 2010 (11:59pm CT) and travel must occur before January 31st, 2011. Blackout dates apply between December 17, 2010 and January 4, 2011.

All Inclusive: Royal Decameron Puerto Vallarta, 7 nights, $686/person after tax

Yep, the Decameron loves to drop their last minute prices. Leaves November 20.

direct link to this package


[PROMO CODE] Air Canada: 10% off from Canadian cities to most places that WestJet flys - [expires: November 10]

This is Air Canada's match of the code that WestJet just put out...

link

Save up to 20% off Tango and Tango Plus fares to select North American destinations.
Book by November 10.
10% Discount

To get your exclusive discount, simply enter this promotion code when booking right here at aircanada.com:
Promotion code
QX4HMMN1

Last minute flight to Cabo, Mexico - $335 roundtrip after tax

Sunwing just dropped their November 15-22 flight to Los Cabos down to $335 roundtrip after tax. Can see it on Sunwing.ca


cM

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by toonmaster

We are looking at going to Cuba in March/April. I'm curious about the split vacations (Havana for 3 days & Varadero for 4 days). So far the only option we have found is through Transat Holidays.

Are there any other operators that offer this type of a split?

Should we be talking with a travel agent rather than looking online?

Anyone done this type of split before? Should we book Varadero and do day trips to Havana?

Just looking for some comparables before booking our vacation. Thanks.

Hi Toonmaster,

I believe Air Canada Vacations also has split packages, and I think Signature used to, and Sunwing might as well.

I think for 2 in 1 packages you might need to talk to deal directly with the tour operator, I believe they might not be bookable online from most Canadian travel sites.

Take a look at Signature's for example:

http://www.signaturevacations.com/sv...ons&langCode=1

They don't offer any way of booking them online.

Somehow I'm betting it might be a lot cheaper to find a good deal for Varadero alone, and Havana separately.

[cmyden]

Delta's flights to Reno are pretty cheap again - $315 roundtrip after tax

Similar to what we saw back in mid October, Delta has dropped the price of their flights to Reno down to $315 roundtrip after tax. Normally the cheapest are around $500-$600.

It's throughout their schedule from now until about mid-February. Unfortunately this time though, Christmas seems to be blacked out. There is a December 30 to Jan 6 flight though for anyone that wants to go for New Years.



Update: Someone messaged me to tell me about a great deal for 2 nights of free accommodation in Reno:

I got in on the flights the first time around, and noticed another useful deal too. If you're heading down before Dec 23, you can get 2 free nights at the Grand Sierra Resort (the biggest resort in Reno). Some dates may be sold out, but the deal still works.

cM

[cmyden]

The December 5 departure to the Gran Bahia Principe has dropped to $777/person after tax

Last week I posted about the Nov 17 departure to the Gran Bahia Principe Coba on the Mayan side of Mexico dropping to $777/person after tax.

Well, the December 5th departure just did too. 7 nights, all inclusive, flight, hotel, food, drinks, etc.

It's one of the nicest resorts on the Mayan side of Mexico and gets amazing reviews on TripAdvisor, with 88% of people recommending it.

direct link to this departure



cM

[cmyden]

Last minute flight to Cancun: $345 roundtrip after tax

Sunwing's November 19-27 flight to Cancun, Mexico just dropped to $347 roundtrip after tax.




and

There's a Christmas flight to Costa Rica for $687 roundtrip after tax

There's a direct flight from Calgary to Liberia, Costa Rica from December 18-26 for $687 roundtrip after tax.

It's notable because around $650-$700 is about as cheap as flights get to Costa Rica from Calgary, and the fact that it's over Christmas makes it even more noteworthy.

I find that flights over Christmas are usually about 1.5X as much as the rest of the year.



direct link to this flight.

cM

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by cmyden

The December 5 departure to the Gran Bahia Principe has dropped to $777/person after tax

Last week I posted about the Nov 17 departure to the Gran Bahia Principe Coba on the Mayan side of Mexico dropping to $777/person after tax.

Well, the December 5th departure just did too. 7 nights, all inclusive, flight, hotel, food, drinks, etc.

It's one of the nicest resorts on the Mayan side of Mexico and gets amazing reviews on TripAdvisor, with 88% of people recommending it.

direct link to this departure



cM

What would the weather be like there at this time?

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

What would the weather be like there at this time?

High of about 28/29C, low of about 23C.

Mayan Riviera...


cM

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by cmyden

There's a Christmas flight to Costa Rica for $687 roundtrip after tax

cM

Oh man. If I didn't have any family I would be all over that Costa Rica flight. Stupid family wanting to spend time together.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Oh man. If I didn't have any family I would be all over that Costa Rica flight. Stupid family wanting to spend time together.

Just to let you know, the December 25 to Jan 2 departure has fallen to the same price, if you're able to spend a quick visit with the family on Christmas Day and then get out of there!

[cmyden]

The November 24 departure to the Gran Bahia Principe has dropped to $687/person after tax

You've seen me mention this resort a lot lately. One of the nicest resorts in Mexico, amazing price, blah, blah.

Some of the last minute departures for this resort have dropped like a rock. I'm tempted myself to get away from this first snowfall!

Nov 24 departure

And if you can leave *really* soon, the Nov 19 departure has dropped to $657/person after tax. That's just ridiculous for a resort of this quality.

Yep, flight, hotel, food, drinks, etc.

Nov 19 departure

Definitely the best all inclusive deal out there at the moment.

cM