Canadian Travel Hacking

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  • WOW Air: $99 between Toronto or Montreal and Iceland

    Cheap transatlantic flights are finally here for us Canadians!

    wow-air

    WOW air, Iceland’s only ultra low-cost airline, announced today that it will begin service to Europe viaIceland from Toronto and Montréal beginning in May 2016 from just CAD $99 one way including taxes¹. Flights to Europe will departToronto’s Pearson (YYZ) and Montréal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) via Reykjavik, offering travellers the cheapest connection betweenEurope and Canada.

    After spending about an hour in Reykjavik, it’s just CAD $149 one way, including taxes, to the following European destinations: London,Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Dublin, to name a few. Service from Montréal will begin on May 12, 2016 and Toronto services will begin May 20, 2016. Both services will operate year-round, with departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

    “WOW air prides itself on offering the lowest fares possible as well as the biggest smile and the friendliest service. When we announced our U.S. routes last year, we promised that it was just the beginning of our growth into North America,” said Skúli Mogensen, sole owner and CEO of WOW air. “I’m thrilled to now announce our new routes to Canada, especially as I lived in Montréal for nearly a decade and also because the Icelandic people feel a special affinity for Canada.  ”

    The airline’s entry into the Canadian market is expected to create an estimated 100 jobs in the travel sector and represents an investment of CAD $60 million for the two routes to both Toronto and Montréal airports.

    Originally launched in November 2011, WOW air now connects travellers from twenty destinations across the U.S. and Europe with the Icelandic capital. Total passenger numbers for June to August 2015 were up a massive 45 per cent on the previous year with 295,000 passengers transported on business and holidays. Passenger loads across all services averaged 95 per cent in July.

    WOW air’s expansion into the Canadian market follows the successful launch of transatlantic services from Boston and Washington, DC in early 2015. Both services now operate with consistent carrier loads of more than 90 per cent.

    “We have just had our best summer ever and, with these new routes launching in May 2016, next summer is another chance to break records. These great Canadian cities will become our newest destinations but I look forward to announcing even more in the not-too-distant future!” said Mogensen.

    The flights between Reykjavik and Canada will be operated using WOW air’s fleet of new Airbus A321 Extended Range aircraft. The airline’s Airbus A320 family aircraft will carry passengers between Reykjavik and other European destinations.

    Tickets for the Canada flights will go on sale starting 9:00 a.m. EST on October 1, 2015 via www.wowair.ca.

  • WestJet Rewards Status Match – Get Gold Status with one flight with other North American programs

    Great move on Westjet’s part.

    westjet-boeing-767-300-March5

    This isn’t an instant status match however as you need to complete one flight on WestJet by the end of the year. Any North American airline includes those based in Canada, U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

    Gold Elite with WestJet provides:
    • Two free checked bags
    • Ten airport lounge passes
    • Priority security screening (at select airports)
    • Advance boarding
    • And more

    To take advantage of this offer:

    1. First, submit a request to participate including:
      1. Your first and last name.
      2. Your 9-digit WestJet Rewards ID (provided to you upon joining WestJet Rewards). If you’re not already a member you can join now.
      3. A photo or scanned copy of your membership card in another North American airline’s frequent flyer program showing your name, top-tier status and valid dates.
    2. Then, fly a minimum of one eligible WestJet-marketed flight with your WestJet Rewards ID on the booking between September 24 and December 31, 2015.

    Here is a link to the promotion.

    Source: Rewards Canada

  • 2015 Aeroplan Devaluation – Effective December 15, 2015

    Well it was inevitable that Aeroplan would increase the Aeroplan miles required for some of the sweet spots of their chart.

    aeroplan-changes

    Major changes:

    1. Canada to Europe 1 Business Class has gone from 90,000 Aeroplan Miles to 110,000 miles.
    2. Business class awards within Asia 1 (increasing from 30,000 miles to 80,000 miles round-trip)
    3. Between Europe 1 and Asia 2 (increasing from 105,000 miles to 150,000 miles.)
    4. Previously there was a separate one-way award chart that only applied to travel departing Canada and the continental U.S. That’s now being scrapped and replaced with a general rule that any award can be booked one-way for 50% of the round-trip price.

    I am not happy with the changes but it had to happen (the other major programs recently made changes).

    Here is a link to a great summary by Reward Canada.

  • Orbitz – $50 USD off on hotel of $100+ USD when pay with MasterPass (by Sept. 30)

    Orbitz is offering $50 USD off on select hotel stays of $100 USD or more when you pay with MasterPass.

    masterpasscoupon

    Available only while supplies last, travel by September 30, 2015.
    Enter promo code: MASTERPASS.
    Pleasw note that MasterPass allows you to pay with Visa, Mastercard & American Express

    Here is a link to the promo.

  • Fly WestJet to London for as little as $199

    WestJet today announced it will launch new non-stop service next spring toLondon (Gatwick) a total of four times daily from six Canadian cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and St. John’s. These new routes represent WestJet’s first non-stop service to London, and the only non-stop service from Winnipeg to the United Kingdom.

    westjet-boeing-767-300-March5

    “Canadians have been paying far too much to fly to Europe for far too long and today, as we have throughout our history, we’re going to fix that,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. “We are offering non-stop flights at very low prices and we’re proud to once again lower airfares and make travel more affordable.”

    One-way fares between Canadian cities and London (Gatwick) are available starting at:

    Departing Arriving Air transportation
    charges (ATC)    		 Taxes, fees
    and charges    		 Total one-way price from
    Base
    fare
    from    		 Other
    ATC
    Toronto London $187 $7.50 $54.50 $249.00*CAD
    Vancouver London $244 $7.50 $47.50 $299.00*CAD
    Calgary London $234 $7.50 $57.50 $299.00*CAD
    Edmonton London $234 $7.50 $57.50 $299.00*CAD
    Winnipeg London $219 $7.50 $52.50 $279.00*CAD
    St John’s London $131 $7.50 $60.50 $199.00*CAD

    *Some restrictions apply. Please see westjet.com/londongatwick for details. Advertised taxes and fees for European destinations may fluctuate based on exchange rate.

    WestJet will also be offering introductory pricing that adds only an additional $20 one way to connect from select airports into the six cities serving London (Gatwick). Guests are encouraged to look for these introductory prices from these communities on westjet.com or contact their travel agent.

    During peak periods from early May to early October, Vancouver service will operate six times weekly, Edmonton will operate twice weekly, Calgary five times weekly and Winnipeg once weekly. Flights from Toronto and St. John’s will operate once daily. For details, please visit westjet.com/londongatwick

    WestJet’s non-stop flights from Canada to London all operate as overnight flights leaving late afternoon or evening, which is ideal for travellers connecting to all six airports from other regions in Canada. Some 45 airlines operate fromGatwick airport, offering WestJet guests low fares and easy connections to and from approximately 200 destinations in 90 countries, more destinations than from any other airport in the UK. Located just 30 minutes from all of Central London’s many attractions, Gatwick is also one of the easiest London airports to navigate, with a monorail connecting its two terminals.

    “Non-stop service between Canadian cities and London is a natural next step in the evolution of WestJet and for our transatlantic service in particular,” said Bob Cummings. “With the addition of our 767 aircraft, we will now bring our low fares and fun, friendly, people-driven service to England where we know many Canadians have relatives. This new service will also help connect family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic.”

    With the exception of flights from St. John’s, which will operate on one of the airline’s Boeing Next-Generation 737s, allLondon flights will be operated by one of WestJet’s four 767-300ERW extended range aircraft. Featuring a new teal and blue maple leaf-themed logo, which will eventually appear on all WestJet aircraft, each 767 seats 262 guests and has a range of approximately 11 hours. The aircraft will include a Plus cabin with 24 premium seats in a two-by-two configuration, hot meals and all other amenities associated with Plus. The main cabin has 238 seats, with two seats on either side of the aircraft and three in the middle. By next spring all four 767s will be equipped with WestJet Connect, the airline’s new inflight entertainment and wireless connectivity system.

  • Strange Things You Can Take on an Airplane

    I found this interesting infographic that shows interesting yet strange items you can bring on a plane!

    things-you-might-not-know-you-can-take-on-an-airpl-01

    Who is bringing these things (like a Seinfeld joke), like martial arts equipment, and why can’t I bring a snow globe?

    Source

  • Air Transat To Charge $25 for First Checked Bag for US Travel

    Starting Sept. 8, travellers purchasing Air Transat’s Economy Class fare for travel to the United States as of Nov. 1 will be charged $25 for a first checked bag.

    Air-Transat-Landing-April4

    The maximum weight of the baggage will increase from 20 kg to 23 kg. Transat’s no-fee policy for checked bags for all other destinations in the South and Europe remains unchanged.

    Travellers who book a cruise departing from the US will continue to be able to take advantage of the 25 kg luggage allowance, free of charge. Clients who purchase Option Plus for extra privileges in Economy Class are entitled to one piece of luggage with a total weight of 28kg when travelling to the US. Option Plus also includes seat selection, as well as priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling and other special perks onboard. Club Class passengers can take advantage of a baggage allowance of two pieces of luggage with a total weight of 40 kg when travelling to the US, as well as complimentary seat selection, wider leather seats and more.

    The new first checked bag rates will apply to all of Air Transat’s destinations in the United States, including Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in Florida and Las Vegas in Nevada.

  • Shop.ca – 15x Aeroplan Miles September 4-7, 2015

    We found a nice promo with Shop.ca (where we bought our 2 vanities and earned a whopping 18000 Aeroplan miles).

    aeroplan-shop-ca

    They have a 15x Aeroplan Miles promo where you will earn 15 Aeroplan miles for every $1 purchase!

    Here is a link to Shop.ca.

  • The Travellers Guide to Airline Pet Policies

    Many travellers would love to travel with their pets but don’t know many of the regulations and fees.

    I found a very well-written guide in-cabin pet policies from every North American airline and a few popular international airlines. All fees provided are one-way.

    pet-policy

    Check out the full guide to find out if your pet will be allowed in-cabin, what the fees are, and if you can take your pet internationally.

    Here is a link to the guide by Map Happy.

  • CanJet Suspends Operations

    Halifax-based CanJet Airlines has suspended operations. The move takes effect immediately according to its president, Stephen Rowe, who confirmed the decision in multiple media reports currently circulating.

    Canjet-plane-Aug15

    Rowe indicated in those reports that the company suspended its operations after failing to find the opportunities it needed to maintain a profitable business.

    However, he also said in those reports that the company would continue to lease and supervise the maintenance of its fleet while at the same time continuing to review flight opportunities as they arise.