This post is relevant for Canadian travelers looking for the cheapest airfares.
This January my girlfriend and I are heading to Australia and Asia to spend some time relaxing, soaking up the culture, and learning some obscure slang. Being the thrifty guy that I am I spent quite a lot of time searching around for the best prices.
Here are the prices I found for a round trip from Ottawa to Sydney in January and coming back in June (incl taxes + fees):
- TravelCuts (walk-in agency) – $2,250
- Expedia – $2,200
- Kayak.com – $2,050
- Air Canada – $2,830
- United Airlines – Canada (united.ca)- $2,300
- United Airlines – USA (united.com) - $1,640
For one reason or another United Airlines gives significantly cheaper rates to people in the States compared to people in Canada. Also interesting – the “discount travel sites” fail to find the cheapest rate.
Naturally I went with the cheapest one. I entered all my information for the ticket but I got stuck at the final step – payment. The website wouldn’t accept my Canadian credit card so I couldn’t go any further (not to mention it required a state & zip code).
I figured I’d give the airline a call and see what they could do for me.
I got through to a really nice lady, gave her the dates and prices I found on the computer and she was able to process the purchase with my credit card.
So, that’s the loophole! If you live in Canada, the airline wants to charge you their Canadian rates. But you just have to find the cheaper fare on their American website and book it over the phone.
It seems a bit odd that you have to go through the American portal to get a cheaper fare for the same flights on the same days. Either way, that’s the workaround.
Let me know your experience and share any other ways to get the best value for your travel dollars – leave a comment or email me.
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