Flying out of Canada is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that expensive. The people who consistently pay less aren’t using a secret website. They’re flexible, they track prices, they know the true cost of a “cheap” fare, and they’re ready to book when a real deal or an error fare shows up.
1. Be flexible on dates
This is the single biggest lever. Moving a trip by a day or two, or flying midweek instead of on a Friday or Sunday, can change the fare dramatically. Google Flights’ date grid and price graph show the cheapest days around your dates at a glance.
If you have no fixed dates at all, search a whole month, or use the “Explore” map to see where you can fly cheaply from your home airport.
2. Be flexible on airports
Check nearby airports, including the ones across the border:
- Toronto: Pearson, Billy Bishop and Hamilton, plus Buffalo across the border
- Vancouver: Vancouver and Abbotsford, plus Bellingham and Seattle
- Montreal: Trudeau, plus Plattsburgh and Burlington, Vermont
U.S. airports can be much cheaper, especially for flights within the U.S. Before you book, add up the drive, the parking, the border crossing and the exchange rate.
3. Set price alerts and let the deals come to you
Fares change constantly. Instead of checking every day:
- Turn on Track prices in Google Flights for your route and dates (or “any dates” if you’re flexible). You’ll get an email when the price moves.
- Follow our Flight Deals, filtered to your home airport. We post round-trip fares from Canadian cities, with taxes included, when they drop well below normal.
- Set up Deal Alerts with your departure city and we’ll email you when a flight deal from that city goes live.
4. Compare the real price, not the headline fare
The cheapest fare is often a “basic” fare with strict limits. Air Canada, WestJet and Porter all sell basic fares, and Flair keeps its base fares low by charging separately for almost everything. Depending on the airline and route, a basic fare can mean:
- only a small personal item that fits under the seat, with a carry-on bag costing extra
- no checked bag
- no seat selection, so families and couples may be split up unless they pay
- no changes or refunds
The rules change often, so check the fare details on the airline’s site for your exact flight. Before you book, add up the fare, bags, seat selection (if you’re travelling together) and getting to the airport. A $40 cheaper fare can easily cost $100 more once you need a bag.
5. Know when to book
There’s no magic day to buy tickets, but some patterns hold:
- Peak dates sell out first. Christmas, March Break and summer long weekends rarely get cheaper as they approach. Book early.
- Sun destinations in winter are popular with Canadians. Watch for seat sales in the fall for travel in January to March.
- Seat sales are real. Airlines run sales several times a year, and new routes often launch with low introductory fares.
6. Use points and travel credits
Airline and credit card points can cover a big part of the cost, especially on expensive peak dates when cash fares are highest. Even if you don’t collect points seriously, check whether you have an expiring travel credit or voucher before paying cash.
Error fares: what they are and how to book them
Every so often an airline or booking site publishes a fare that’s clearly a mistake: a currency mix-up, a missing fuel surcharge, or a business class seat at economy prices. These error fares are among the best deals in travel, and among the riskiest.
- Book fast. Error fares are usually fixed within hours.
- Don’t call the airline to ask whether the fare is real. That’s the quickest way to get it pulled.
- Wait before booking anything else. Airlines sometimes cancel error fares and refund the ticket. Hold off on non-refundable hotels and tours for a few days after you’re ticketed.
- Book with a credit card so a cancellation is a simple refund.
When we spot a genuine error fare, we post it in Flight Deals as soon as we can. Our guide to price errors in Canada covers how stores and sellers handle pricing mistakes.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled
Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations entitle you to compensation when a delay or cancellation is within the airline’s control and not required for safety, and you’re told 14 days or less before departure. Under the current rules, compensation is based on how late you arrive:
| Arrival delay | Large airline | Small airline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 6 hours | $400 | $125 |
| 6 to 9 hours | $700 | $250 |
| 9 hours or more | $1,000 | $500 |
You have one year from the date of the flight to claim from the airline. The federal government has announced plans to overhaul these rules, so check the Canadian Transportation Agency for the latest before you file.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest airline in Canada?
It depends on the route and whether you need bags. Flair and the basic fares on the bigger airlines usually have the lowest headline prices. Compare the total with bags and seats before deciding.
Is it cheaper to fly from the U.S.?
Sometimes, especially for flights within the U.S. Compare the total cost, including getting to the airport, parking and the exchange rate.
Do airlines honour error fares?
Sometimes. Some airlines honour them and some cancel and refund. Book quickly, then wait a few days before booking non-refundable extras.
How do I get alerts for cheap flights from my city?
Set up Deal Alerts with your departure city, and turn on price tracking in Google Flights for specific routes.
Last checked October 2026. Airline fare rules and passenger protection rules change, so confirm the details with the airline before you book.
