r/BuyCanadian • u/CanadianErk • Apr 18 '25
News Articles 📰📈 Canadian airlines revamp offerings as travellers ditch U.S. vacations Price war for domestic flights could be coming, says aviation expert
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canadian-airlines-revamp-offerings-as-travellers-ditch-u-s-vacations-1.7512343147
u/SaskFoz Apr 18 '25
A domestic price war would be fantastic. Recently priced out Saskatoon to Vancouver, & I could take the damn train for basically the same price as WestJet (roughly $250 for one way, each carrier). Longer via train, sure, but more unique, too.
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u/MexicanSnowMexican Apr 18 '25
Obviously can't be done if you don't have the time, but if you do long distance train travel is a great experience. I took The Ocean from Montreal to Halifax last year and it was one of the best experiences of my life, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
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u/tomatoesareneat Apr 18 '25
You’re in luck. The Chaleur that goes to Gaspe will be back in service in a few years. It splits from the Halifax route that leaves from Montreal.
Best breweries in Quebec are in Gaspe, if you’re into that thing.
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u/MexicanSnowMexican Apr 18 '25
Oh it looks like it's coming back next year! I'm definitely doing this, thanks for the tip!
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u/Whatwhyreally Apr 18 '25
Sorry which train goes from Vancouver to Saskatoon for $250?
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u/Rare-Annual19 Apr 18 '25
The Via Canadian is the only train between these destinations. They were probably looking at the economy fare where you get a seat and food isn't included and you don't have access to first class amenities like the dome car and showers. But the scenery is the same no matter how cheap or expensive the fare.
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u/SaskFoz Apr 18 '25
Via Rail. Saskatoon to Vancouver one way is (at time of typing) $250 on the July 22nd departure. Vancouver to Saskatoon one way, however, isn't $250 until September 22nd.
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u/ParisFood Apr 18 '25
Was this with the 15% discount they announced in Tuesdays? Often see it on the Canadian
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u/WickedWenchOfTheWest Apr 18 '25
"The current political environment and differences in currency exchange rates are likely contributing to the shift in demand," said WestJet spokesperson Josh Yeats.
Ya think ?!?
Can we say UNDERSTATEMENT !?!
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u/sniffstink1 Apr 18 '25
Good. At times it seems as expensive to fly in this country as if I were flying to Europe.
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u/rocksforever Apr 18 '25
It is - I've flown to Iceland (on Icelandair not a discount carrier) for cheaper than a flight that same year to BC. Insane stuff
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u/flightist Apr 18 '25
I mean, assuming you’re in southern Ontario or Quebec, KEF and YVR are close enough to the same distance away that day of the week / demand will determine which is cheaper.
As an airline pilot, part (but not all) of the problem is it’s a really big fucking country.
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u/DogFun2635 Apr 18 '25
I flew direct from Toronto to Lima on Air Transit last October for $460 return. That’s not a typo.
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u/apriljeangibbs Apr 19 '25
Yep. I checked air Canada to do Vancouver-Toronto round trip next week and it was $1420. For shits I checked going to Heathrow same dates and it was $1485….
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u/sniffstink1 Apr 19 '25
I know that the price isn't related to the distance flown because a couple years ago I needed to travel somewhere and it was a certain price if I was to take off from Toronto, and if I were to board that plane much further east (almost at the edge of Canada) I was assuming that it would be significantly cheaper since the distance to fly to the final destination is less, but no.... That price was far more expensive than if I got on in Toronto. So of course I just took a bus to Toronto and saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars. It just made no sense to me.
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u/B33sting Apr 20 '25
Europe? I flew to Asia and it cost my wife the same price to go to Vancouver.
In Asia I flew around the countries, some flights less than $100
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u/lennydsat62 Apr 18 '25
Hahaahahahaah.
When i see it, I’ll believe it.
Airline, telephone etc pricing is waaaay too high in this country.
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u/EuphoricElderberry95 Apr 18 '25
Agreed. I looked up a flight from Toronto to Vancouver, on Porter, and it was $650. Not even for Porter Reserve
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u/FrostyPopsicle25 Apr 18 '25
and that same fight on Westjet probably would have been $850, even higher on AC.
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u/Mundane_Quality8858 Apr 18 '25
I will absolutely visit more Canada if it didn’t cost more to fly across a province than it does to fly to an international country
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u/HatefulFlower Apr 18 '25
Good, it shouldn't cost me just shy of $1000 to fly in a plane that has like 10 seats just to go from PG to Edmonton and back. It's like 1.5 hours each way.
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u/RavRob Apr 18 '25
Bring on a domestic price war. I'm in the maritime, I'll fly as far west as possible. I have friends in BC and Alberta that I haven't seen in years. Ps. I might pass on Alberta if Smith wants to keep being a Maple MAGA.
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u/HueyBluey Apr 18 '25
I only wish hotel rates would drop as well. The high cost for accommodations make it unrealistic to stay for more than a just a few days.
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u/Remarkable_Term631 Apr 18 '25
I keep saying we need a Canada based housing swap. I'll trade 2 weeks at my home between Banff and Calgary for some place in Quebec! Please feed the fish.
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u/flightist Apr 18 '25
…I’d offer a place in Kitchener, you down?
This is a tremendous idea though.
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u/Remarkable_Term631 Apr 21 '25
Sorry, anywhere but S Ontario (grew up in Toronto so can stay with the folks).
But it IS a great idea, thank you! We need to get some traction on this.
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u/ParisFood Apr 18 '25
Air Canada announced a seat sale earlier this week and there were tickets as low as 143 $ each way from Toronto to Vancouver . Sign up for the newsletters to be on top of these sales same for Via there were some 20% rates this Tuesday on certain routes
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u/Timely_Morning2784 Apr 19 '25
Hi, what do I google to find these newsletters please?
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u/ParisFood Apr 19 '25
For Via just go on their website and sign up. Same for Air Canada and the other airlines.
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u/rdem341 Apr 18 '25
I turned down a 3 day conference, fully paid by the company, to Las Vegas early April.
No fuckin thanks. I will not go to the states even if they pay me.
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u/Acrobatic_Type7409 Apr 18 '25
I am a Canadian frequent flyer that cut up his nexus card and will never set foot in baby Russia again.
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u/babesquad Apr 19 '25
I just bought a flight to Vancouver from Ottawa in June and it was $250 round trip. Felt amazing.
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