As airfares surge, here’s how Canadians can find cheaper flights
Global News
Flexibility is helpful when looking to save cash, since the times you choose to book and travel – and which airport you take off from – can play a key role in the cost.
For those who remain undeterred by the daunting lines and flight delays at Canadian airports, questions remain about how to save money on air travel amid mounting fuel costs and inflation.
Airfares _ often the biggest line item on a vacation _ jumped 11.6 per cent year over year in May, according to Statistics Canada. Tickets are now above pre-pandemic levels, up 15 per cent from 2019 to $960 on average for international flights from Canada, says Montreal-based Hopper Inc., with no sign of a dip in the coming months.
“Airlines are raising ticket prices to cover higher fuel and labour costs,” said Helane Becker, an airline analyst for investment firm Cowen.
Flexibility is helpful when looking to save cash, since the times you choose to book and travel _ and which airport you take off from _ can play a key role in the cost.
Weekends are often pricier, and flights scheduled early in the morning and late at night are frequently cheaper, as fewer folks want to fly then, said Duncan Dee, former chief operating officer at Air Canada.
“Don’t plan to leave on the first few days after the school year ends … and also don’t return home on the weekend before Labour Day, because that’s going to be a huge demand weekend,” he said.
Dee also recommends travelling in the off-season rather than peak summer months, or to consider less sought-after spots. “Latin America, for example _ our summer is their winter, and a Southern Hemisphere winter … is very pleasant,” he said.
“Paris in the summer or London in the summer _ that equals high airfares, high hotel prices and fully booked restaurants.”