How to get cheap last minute flights to Canada?

[kc247 22]

Sorry if this was posted before, I'm sure it must of been asked.

I am having serious home sickness, I've been here almost 5 months and it hasn't gotten any easier. I miss my family and my dog like crazy! My husband thinks I need a trip home, I'm not working yet so I could go home for a week or so but I wouldn't be able to plan it any further than a few weeks from now, he starts school the end of August and I really need a job by then. I've been applying places but haven't had much luck except volunteering at a vet clinic with the hopes employment hours will open up. Anything I look at now is about $800. I really couldn't go unless I got something under $600, which I can't find unless I go the end of August. Isn't there such thing as seat sales anymore? Don't flights try and sell seats that they haven't sold last minute? I could seriously go anytime. I probably won't be able to find anything, but it's worth a try if anyone knows of any secret ways I don't know about other than searching on flight websites? I don't like the idea of flying standby and being stuck at an airport. We are planning to go home around Christmas time, because that's the only time my husband will have time off school, but that seems so far away. (I'd be traveling from Salt Lake to Halifax..so no possibility of driving!)

[jfgk1987 303]

It depends, what city are you trying to fly into??

[kc247 22]

It depends, what city are you trying to fly into??

Trying to fly into Halifax

[kehills 217]

Let's see-quick look on Kayak for a July 30 departure and an August 6th return puts the cheapest fair at $690; that's not too bad and I'm not sure you're going to get less than that. I think my last flight to Halifax (from Philly) was around $650 for a last-minute purchase.

Your best bet is to make sure you look at prices midweek, and that you're traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/travel/crunching-the-numbers-to-find-the-best-airfare.html?_r=0

You may also want to look into Hopper for some more information on how to get cheaper prices. (For example, it might be worth it to find out what city has the cheapest flight to Halifax, and see if you can save money by booking each leg of the trip separately.) That said, right now Hopper is saying your best time to travel would be September (which is right - about 57 days out, which is when you can find the best prices).

http://www.hopper.com/flights/from-SLC/to-YHZ/guide

Edited July 14, 2014 by kehills

[chiggins82 88]

Pretty rare for real flight deals for Canada, unfortunately. If you can hang in there, maybe look 2-4 weeks out and see if they are any better.

Look for mid-week instead of weekend flights. Sometimes it is cheaper than flying in and out on the weekends.

Also, have you looked into flying to Maine and driving across? Might be able to get a cheaper ticket this way, even with an added cost of a rental car. My family does this and flies in an out of Bangor instead of New Brunswick. I know it would be even farther to get to Halifax though..

I use Google flights to look for deals. They have a nice feature where you can see the flight prices on a graph over time.

Sorry you are are having trouble. I hope you can figure something out!

[kc247 22]

Let's see-quick look on Kayak for a July 30 departure and an August 6th return puts the cheapest fair at $690; that's not too bad and I'm not sure you're going to get less than that. I think my last flight to Halifax (from Philly) was around $650 for a last-minute purchase.

Your best bet is to make sure you look at prices midweek, and that you're traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/travel/crunching-the-numbers-to-find-the-best-airfare.html?_r=0

You may also want to look into Hopper for some more information on how to get cheaper prices. (For example, it might be worth it to find out what city has the cheapest flight to Halifax, and see if you can save money by booking each leg of the trip separately.) That said, right now Hopper is saying your best time to travel would be September (which is right - about 57 days out, which is when you can find the best prices).

http://www.hopper.com/flights/from-SLC/to-YHZ/guide

Thankyou for looking for me! I have never been on that hopper site, and it is very interesting how it shows the flights so cheap for September, thankyou for posting it. $690 really isn't that bad.

Pretty rare for real flight deals for Canada, unfortunately. If you can hang in there, maybe look 2-4 weeks out and see if they are any better.

Look for mid-week instead of weekend flights. Sometimes it is cheaper than flying in and out on the weekends.

Also, have you looked into flying to Maine and driving across? Might be able to get a cheaper ticket this way, even with an added cost of a rental car. My family does this and flies in an out of Bangor instead of New Brunswick. I know it would be even farther to get to Halifax though..

I use Google flights to look for deals. They have a nice feature where you can see the flight prices on a graph over time.

Sorry you are are having trouble. I hope you can figure something out!

That is actually a really good idea, my parents are possibly driving down to visit my brother in NY the end of this month, it would be cheaper to fly into NY while they are there, and buy a one way, and then buy a one way from Halifax to SLC. Hmm something to look into Thanks for the suggestion.

Edited July 14, 2014 by kc247

[chiggins82 88]

You're welcome. I wish I had that option, but Edmonton is too far from the border!

Hang in there, I think sometimes we forget that even though Canada is so close to the US in many ways, we are still immigrating to a new country and life and that is extremely tough and very stressful. Hopefully a visit with the family (and your dog!) will help. If it just doesn't work, maybe you can convince someone to visit you?

[kehills 217]

Keep on eye on discount airlines, if you decide to do the flight to NYC and a one-way back from Halifax (I'm seeing about $420 for that right now, departing midweek, first week of August), you might be able to find last minute specials. That said, a quick look at Kayak suggests you can get a one-way ticket to EWR (Newark) the last week of July for about $180. (And adding the two together gets you to that $600 price point you were looking for.)

Do you need to go back to Halifax right now, or is it "enough" to meet up with your family in NY for a few days? That might be the better/cheaper option right now. Unfortunately, the minute you start with international flights, customs and border fees/taxes crop up, and those are going to jack up the cost of any flight. :/

Edited July 14, 2014 by kehills

[Udella&Wiz 325]

No such thing as cheap flights to Canada anymore in my opinion. Last time we flew to Buffalo and crossed into ON - what's the closest US city to Halifax you can fly to and then drive from there.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Flights have gone up in prices the past few years. back in 2011/12, I could fly from Managua Nicaragua to Saskatoon for around $650.....Last few times in 2013 and this past Feb, was around $1000. Didn't matter if I booked 1 month out, or the very next day, same price!! They used to say check around Tuesdays in the late evenings for the best price,lol not sure if there is any truth in that.

[kc247 22]

Thanks for all the input! They are (hopefully) going to NY the weekend of August 2 so I could fly in Saturday or Sunday. Pretty flexible on when I come back, but probably not anymore than 10 days, I feel bad leaving my husband, I know he would love to come but he is working and it is really too expensive to buy 2 tickets. I would just visit NY, if the ticket was cheap enough, from what I see you'd only save maybe $100, so I would pay the extra to be able to see my friends & dog!

I will check tomorrow night for prices & test out that Tuesday night tip They aren't 100% sure if they are going to NY (my Dad HATES leaving my dog.. this is a dog I bought myself when I graduated high school and my Dad didn't even want it!) but if I say I will meet them there I imagine they would make it official haha. I don't want to get my hopes up though.

[kc247 22]

Also, I have my EAD/AP card, as long as I have that should I have any problems getting back in the US? I know as always it is up to the officer, but would I be any less likely to enter with my AP than my Green Card?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

you shouldn't - you're going for a short visit and you'll have your Canadian passport and your AP

Also, I have my EAD/AP card, as long as I have that should I have any problems getting back in the US? I know as always it is up to the officer, but would I be any less likely to enter with my AP than my Green Card?

[NikLR 13,232]

Make sure you're checking the dates, Friday and Saturday are more expensive to book and fly on, while Tues or Wed are generally cheaper. 90 days out is prime booking time. Check different cities as well. I've noticed up to a $300 difference between Denver and Edmonton or Calgary and even checking Colorado Springs vs Denver. Heck hubs and I just saved $300+ per person by flying to Atlanta vs Birmingham when we booked late for a funeral.

Kayak lets you check the most dates and airlines. After that I tend to go to the airline website and book directly for the least issues. Just because a ticket looks cheaper doesn't mean it is either. Make sure you're looking at the full price with all taxes and fees.

[Sweetmelissa 82]

Let's see-quick look on Kayak for a July 30 departure and an August 6th return puts the cheapest fair at $690; that's not too bad and I'm not sure you're going to get less than that. I think my last flight to Halifax (from Philly) was around $650 for a last-minute purchase.

Your best bet is to make sure you look at prices midweek, and that you're traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/travel/crunching-the-numbers-to-find-the-best-airfare.html?_r=0

You may also want to look into Hopper for some more information on how to get cheaper prices. (For example, it might be worth it to find out what city has the cheapest flight to Halifax, and see if you can save money by booking each leg of the trip separately.) That said, right now Hopper is saying your best time to travel would be September (which is right - about 57 days out, which is when you can find the best prices).

http://www.hopper.com/flights/from-SLC/to-YHZ/guide

That hopper site is really cool, ty for the link!

Melissa