Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Yup, there's more people wanting to travel than there are flights. I was in Europe last month and booked back in March. It wasn't cheap, but it was okay. Closer to the time, I considered adjusting my flights and there basically was nothing back from Europe (any of the main airports, any date in July) that wasn't at least business class.

I agree. I’m going to Europe next week. Prices are way up now from when I booked a few months ago.

[undercoverbrother]

I'm in the initial stages of planning a family trip to the UK mid-Aug 2023.

Suggestions on the best time to buy tickets? Is there a window where they are cheaper?

I'm not to concerned which airport we fly into, as we are gonna be all over the map.

[Northendzone]

the wife and i are going to cabo in early november. it has been quite a while since we were someplace tropical.

initial plans are to just try to enjoy some downtime; however, i am sure that will change after a day of laying about the pool

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I'm in the initial stages of planning a family trip to the UK mid-Aug 2023.

Suggestions on the best time to buy tickets? Is there a window where they are cheaper?

I'm not to concerned which airport we fly into, as we are gonna be all over the map.

WestJet would definitely be the one to keep an eye on . They now have nonstop flights from YYC to both London Gatwick (LGW) and London Heathrow (LHR). They are also about the only airline that has had meaningful price drops from YYC to Europe in the last few years.

On flights to Europe it's not entirely out of the ordinary for WestJet to drop their prices as far as 10 months ahead of time. In May 2022 they dropped prices to London on dates as far away as March of 2023. Typically though, it's more in the range of up to about 2 seasons ahead (6 months). So I wouldn't be overly afraid to watch prices until at least late winter.

What is unusual though is for *any* airline to offer a significant price drop on July and August flights to Europe. Anything can happen, but July/August price drops are a lot less likely than the surrounding months of May, June, September, or October. They know full well that that's when the kids are out of school, demand is sky high, and they can bump their prices up.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

What does Calgary becoming a WestJet Global Hub actually mean?

https://www.calgaryeconomicdevelopme...onnecting-hub/

[timun]

Literally explained in the first sentence, dude:

The WestJet Group is making Calgary its home base and exclusive global connecting hub with all its 787 Dreamliners flying through YYC Calgary International Airport

That's all it means: longer-range international flights w/ B787s will be through Calgary.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by timun

Literally explained in the first sentence, dude:

The WestJet Group is making Calgary its home base and exclusive global connecting hub with all its 787 Dreamliners flying through YYC Calgary International Airport

That's all it means: longer-range international flights w/ B787s will be through Calgary.

Which is super interesting. I have to think that means they'll be flying to Asia from here? Unless all the Dreamliners flying through here means a bunch of Calgary-Toronto-London type stuff (in which case this isn't a real announcement imo) I can't see there being enough demand for Europe to keep them all busy, especially in the winter. I know they use them for sun destinations as well in the winter...

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Which is super interesting. I have to think that means they'll be flying to Asia from here? Unless all the Dreamliners flying through here means a bunch of Calgary-Toronto-London type stuff (in which case this isn't a real announcement imo) I can't see there being enough demand for Europe to keep them all busy, especially in the winter. I know they use them for sun destinations as well in the winter...

That's what I was getting at. Which routes, how often, will this also result in an increase in other connections (like Calgary-La Guardia) or more flights between other Canadian cities, etc.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

That's what I was getting at. Which routes, how often, will this also result in an increase in other connections (like Calgary-La Guardia) or more flights between other Canadian cities, etc.

Exciting times for sure. Westjet just started code share with Korean Air - I'd love to see a westjet nonstop to Seoul on the 787 connecting to their Asian network. Hopefully this locks in their US flying (eg Portland) that we already have and maybe adds some more cities as well.

Although Calgary-La Guardia can't happen as Calgary is outside the distance limit for flights to that airport. There are a couple or historical exceptions but we won't be getting one.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Exciting times for sure. Westjet just started code share with Korean Air - I'd love to see a westjet nonstop to Seoul on the 787 connecting to their Asian network. Hopefully this locks in their US flying (eg Portland) that we already have and maybe adds some more cities as well.

Although Calgary-La Guardia can't happen as Calgary is outside the distance limit for flights to that airport. There are a couple or historical exceptions but we won't be getting one.

That doesn't sound right, the 787-9 can go 7,635nm, the Max 10 can go 3,300nm, and the distance is only 1,766nm.

[surferguy]

Bizaro86 wants to take the long way around Fuzz

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

That doesn't sound right, the 787-9 can go 7,635nm, the Max 10 can go 3,300nm, and the distance is only 1,766nm.

Port Authority of New York (who runs the airport) limits flights to 1500nm to/from LaGuardia. Calgary falls outside that perimeter and therefore non stop flights are not allowed.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

Port Authority of New York (who runs the airport) limits flights to 1500nm to/from LaGuardia. Calgary falls outside that perimeter and therefore non stop flights are not allowed.

Oh, so it's a made up limitation then, not a technical one!

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Oh, so it's a made up limitation then, not a technical one!

Correct, but I believe there are some exceptions allowed on weekends too (outside of the already approved distance exceptions for weekdays).

Also there is nothing better than getting an aerial tour of Manhattan as your pretty much circle around the island to land on runway 04.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

That doesn't sound right, the 787-9 can go 7,635nm, the Max 10 can go 3,300nm, and the distance is only 1,766nm.

As covered, it's a NIMBY rule, not a technical one.

There have been a few powerful senators who have gotten exemptions added to these rules (DCA in Washington is similar) for their home town airlines, but realistically Westjet/Calgary isn't likely to have the political heft in the US to get that done.

And while the perimeter doesn't apply on Saturdays I can't see them adding a 1/week flight either.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

As covered, it's a NIMBY rule, not a technical one.

There have been a few powerful senators who have gotten exemptions added to these rules (DCA in Washington is similar) for their home town airlines, but realistically Westjet/Calgary isn't likely to have the political heft in the US to get that done.

And while the perimeter doesn't apply on Saturdays I can't see them adding a 1/week flight either.

Jason Kenney could have done it.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I did a whole run through of every destination I could find with a direct flight from Calgary to the Carribean trying to find somewhere where the hotels weren't priced higher than I would have usually expected and came up empty. Bit of a brutal time to try to book a trip right now.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I did a whole run through of every destination I could find with a direct flight from Calgary to the Carribean trying to find somewhere where the hotels weren't priced higher than I would have usually expected and came up empty. Bit of a brutal time to try to book a trip right now.

People are dying to travel after being unable to do so for a long time and many are prepared to spend a lot more money than before, if necessary to do so.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I did a whole run through of every destination I could find with a direct flight from Calgary to the Carribean trying to find somewhere where the hotels weren't priced higher than I would have usually expected and came up empty. Bit of a brutal time to try to book a trip right now.

I've been going through the same exercise for Christmas and it is brutal. I finally decided to just cash in some Bonvoy points on the new Marriott hotel in Mazatlan. Everything seemed ridiculously priced. We are also going to Vancouver next weekend and I don't know if there some big event happening but the availability is really weak and the prices are sky high. Marriott Pinnacle Downtown is $3,500 per night while the JW is $5,500.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I've been going through the same exercise for Christmas and it is brutal. I finally decided to just cash in some Bonvoy points on the new Marriott hotel in Mazatlan. Everything seemed ridiculously priced. We are also going to Vancouver next weekend and I don't know if there some big event happening but the availability is really weak and the prices are sky high. Marriott Pinnacle Downtown is $3,500 per night while the JW is $5,500.

Wow. There's definitely something happened. Marriott Pinnacle is normally $350 ish and where I stay when I need a hotel in Vancouver.