Canada’s two largest airlines have settled into a comfortable oligarchy, achieving total domination on certain routes. This is good news for airline shareholders, but bad news for customers stuck paying expensive fares, checked bag fees, and other semi-hidden costs.
Here are a few ways you can get those costs down.
Alternate routes
A few months ago, I needed to go from Calgary to Toronto. Instead of just searching for flights to Pearson International, I also checked out other airports close by.
I found that if I flew Calgary to Hamilton and then back through Toronto, I saved $50, or about 10% of the cost of the round-trip flight. Since the person picking me up lived closer to Hamilton than Toronto, it worked out well.
Fly mid-week
The skies are extra busy on Friday and Saturday, as business travelers jostle to get home and anxious vacationers try to squeeze every minute out of their precious vacation time.
If you have the flexibility, fly mid-week instead. You’ll save money and maybe even get a little extra stretching room.
Book smartly
Taking advantage of airline sales is a no-brainer. So is avoiding last-minute flights. They cost a bundle.
I’ve had good success with booking hotels and flights at the same time, through the same website. If you can’t save on the flight, getting a cheaper hotel is a decent consolation prize.
