Are you planning a vacation in Canada or abroad? Don't delay booking your plane tickets: prices are currently unusually low. We take stock with experts.
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Prices from 20 years ago
Canadians are currently benefiting from a “price war” caused by the arrival of low-cost airlines in the country in recent years, including Lynx Air and Flair Airlines.
“They want to attract travelers who are used to choosing an Air Canada or WestJet flight to boost air traffic in the middle of the off-season,” said John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University who specializes in supply chain and aviation.
“For the winter and spring seasons, these are prices we saw 20 years ago,” continues the man, who was also an Air Canada executive.
Before the pandemic, only Air Canada Rouge and Swoop (now owned by WestJet) offered low-cost flights.
Here is the basic price for a one-way ticket Montreal-Vancouver for the week of May 6, 2024*:
- Lynx Air: $118.74
- Flair Airlines: $124.76
- Normal wear and tear: $243.89
- WestJet**: $243.89
- Air Canada**: $249.64
*As of February 6, 2024
**Carry-on baggage fees are included in the price of these airlines.
On the way to a price increase
But be careful: don't take these prices for granted. In fact, prices are likely to rise the closer we get to summer, warns the expert.
“We have to take advantage of this now, because these discounts will no longer be available in the summer,” he emphasizes.
“During the summer season, when airports are busy, airlines do not need to boost ticket sales because the demand is there,” says Gradek.
Courtesy of Flair
Cheap flights, but at what price?
By offering such low prices, airlines like Lynx Air and Flair Airlines are often not profitable, emphasizes John Gradek. He wouldn't be surprised to see one of these companies disappear from our airports next year, which could also have a positive impact on prices.
In his opinion, to be truly profitable, these companies should, for example, increase their tickets from $150 to $250. But do $250 tickets attract as many customers? Probably not, emphasizes the aviation expert.
Air Canada and WestJet can offer tickets as low as $150 as they offer other services that help pad their coffers.
The time to book is…
Knowing all this, how can you make sure you pay for your airline tickets at the best possible price?
The key word is flexibility, especially when it comes to departure and arrival dates, emphasizes Andrew D'Amours, co-founder of discount travel website Flytrippers.
“I would like to tell you that you only need to book five months before your departure, but that depends on several factors,” he explains. Every travel destination is different. But you can usually wait up to a month before your scheduled appointment.”
It's best to shop two to four months in advance and check the offers regularly.