YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[240glt]

I'm booking a flight to Maui in Febuary... anyone have any suggestions on the best way to get there from here ?

Both AC and Westjet route me through YVR @ +/- $400 each way which is fine, just wondering if there is a better way

[Bigtime]

Will I get shot if I tell you to either connect through YVR or YYC with the AC direct flights?

We're heading to Maui just after Christmas, going through YVR on the way there and taking the OGG-YYC direct flight back.

I prefer the AC flights versus the WJ flights simply due to the fact I'm travelling with an infant and being able to easily get up and find some space for her to hang out is much easier in a 767 than a 737. Plus if AC is operating the XM'd aircraft the entertainment system can't be beat.

Is AC operating any YEG-OGG direct flights this winter season?

Edit: Just answered my own question and checked the AC website, there does not appear to by any direct flights available from YEG.

Double Edit: It goes without saying that connecting through LAX sucks, that airport is such a dump.

[240glt]

Likely I'll go though YVR, I'm not driving to Calgary simply because both times I have come back from a tropical destination to YYC in the middle of winter the drive back to Edmonton has been a horror show... I want to land, go home, and sleep. (Plus I'm trying to kick my Calgary habit ) If I take either AC or Westjet it'll probably be Westjet, for the simple fact that at least WJ offers decent direct flights to Edmonton. AC, although I prefer the airline, ain't doing us any favors.


I was thinking of SeaTac maybe, & seeing if I can get a cheaper domestic flight there. I concur re: LAX... nasty.

Was hoping that maybe someone would offer a direct flight over the winter... guess not.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by 240glt

I'm booking a flight to Maui in Febuary... anyone have any suggestions on the best way to get there from here ?

Both AC and Westjet route me through YVR @ +/- $400 each way which is fine, just wondering if there is a better way

Westjet does have a weekly service non-stop to OGG from YEG every Tuesday in Feb.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Westjet does have a weekly service non-stop to OGG from YEG every Tuesday in Feb.

And they don't put anyone in the middle seats, isn't Westjet super? (a great marketing ploy, since the flights from YYC and YEG are heavily weight restricted to make the flights to OGG)

Cold, you would drive to YYC instead of just connecting (kicking the YYC habit aside)? Although I get the point of at least connecting through YVR, that way you are at least heading in the right direction on your way there and back.

[DAVEinEDMONTON]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

And they don't put anyone in the middle seats, isn't Westjet super? (a great marketing ploy, since the flights from YYC and YEG are heavily weight restricted to make the flights to OGG)

Cold, you would drive to YYC instead of just connecting (kicking the YYC habit aside)? Although I get the point of at least connecting through YVR, that way you are at least heading in the right direction on your way there and back.

You could also consider connecting through Seattle on Alaskan airlines but you may need to overnight on one leg of the trip.

I use Alaskan often since I have one of their air miles credit cards. The Alaskan Mastercard is way better then the gold CIBC Aeroplan card. The annual fee is $75 verus $120 and each year you get a voucher for a companion ticket for $99. And it doesn't matter what price you paid for the first ticket i.e. if you get a sales deal on the first ticket, you can always book the second for $99 plus taxes. Also, if you like to fly to sun destinations on points, you can at least get somewhere easily like Hawaii and Mexico on Alaskan. Booking on Aeroplan is next to impossible to fly to places such as P.V .on points and not get hosed on the number of points you need to use and the cost of the booking fees to boot. I highly recommend getting the Alaskan mastercard if you can make use of the companion ticket. For example, flew two years ago to P.V. for $240 per person all taxes in using that deal from Vancouver.

[dansk]

Do you know what is being built in the south Airlinks park along QE2?

[tuffyy]

^Logistics and cargo handling facility...Hush, hush according to EAA...

[hilman]

There are nonstop Westjet flights from YEG to OGG on February 15th (Tues), 20th (Sunday), 22nd (Tues), 27th (Sun), Mar 1st (Tues), etc.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

And they don't put anyone in the middle seats, isn't Westjet super? (a great marketing ploy, since the flights from YYC and YEG are heavily weight restricted to make the flights to OGG)

Cold, you would drive to YYC instead of just connecting (kicking the YYC habit aside)? Although I get the point of at least connecting through YVR, that way you are at least heading in the right direction on your way there and back.

Watch out for WestJet for Hawaii flights - you'll end up with PPV movies only as most of the flight would be out of Bell's footprint.

[Rocket252]

^We take a netbook wth preloaded movies on our flights.


Small and light. Put it in the center seat food tray.

[Rocket252]

I took YVR to OGG with Westjet before the nonstop flight from yeg and it was not too bad.
If they are not putting someone in the middle seat then it helps.
Plus we need people to support these flights if we want to keep them so give them a try.

[Bigtime]

I'm guessing since WS is going for the YYC/YEG-OGG flights again this season they must have done well with them before.

Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer a twin aisle aircraft on those flights, heck I even hated being on a United 757 from OGG-LAX a couple of years ago. In the 767's you can get up, walk over to the mid-cabin or rear galley and there is enough room to get a nice stretch in (and let Littletime play around) without being in the way of someone.

[MalcolmTucker]

^ I've heard rumors that WestJet at least went to kick the tires of some of the possibly surplus Delta widebody metal that is on offer (according to the source, a flight attendant, some 767s), so might come quicker than you think. Even if WestJet doesn't dive in right away, if it is true, they are at least exploring their options and might try if the price is right.

[Bigtime]

Ah, the good ol' aviation rumour mill. I'll believe it when I see it in their livery parked at the hangar!

Remember Embraer stopped by the YYC HQ with their 170 or 190 a few years back also.

[LO 044]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I'm guessing since WS is going for the YYC/YEG-OGG flights again this season they must have done well with them before.

Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer a twin aisle aircraft on those flights, heck I even hated being on a United 757 from OGG-LAX a couple of years ago. In the 767's you can get up, walk over to the mid-cabin or rear galley and there is enough room to get a nice stretch in (and let Littletime play around) without being in the way of someone.

You're not old fashioned. I much prefer AC's aircraft over WestJet's. I'll take the 767 any day over any 737. I flew to Cancun twice last year, once with WestJet and once with Air Canada. I was really annoyed with WestJet's PPV and crappy TV channel selection. I was a bit naive i guess to think movies would be free after flying AC many times. Saying that, WestJet serves Edmonton well so i'll choose whichever airline works the best in each situation.

[Rocket252]

Westjet is at least giving us the opportunity for nonstops to some of these locations. Sure the planes are not widebodies but its all we have compared to the dismal nonservice provided by AC.

In fact according to one travel agent I talked to the Westjet trial flights to Maui last year were below expectations but Westjet is continuing to provide that route.

[hilman]

Originally Posted by 240glt

I'm booking a flight to Maui in Febuary... anyone have any suggestions on the best way to get there from here ?

Both AC and Westjet route me through YVR @ +/- $400 each way which is fine, just wondering if there is a better way

Looks like the majority obviously go through YVR which adds at least 2-3 hours in each direction at 9-10 hours+ versus the nonstop flights of 7 hours 19 min and 6 hours 30 min from YEG. There is an Alaska flight (YEG-SEA-OGG) which is 10 hours 25 minutes (2 hr 32 min layover) or 10 hours 32 minutes depending on the day. As for coming back there is the return Alaska flight which is 10 hours and 39 minutes (3 hr 30 min layover) and a United flight (OGG-SFO-YEG) which is 9 hours 58 min (2 hr 20 min layover) or 10 hours and 48 minutes (3 hr 3 min layover) depending on the day. Most other flights start becoming too long at 12 hours+ in each direction which wastes too much time and is usually the same price.

What days are you thinking of going 240glt? There are a few choices in there plus the nonstop Westjet flights on February 15th (Tues), 20th (Sunday), 22nd (Tues), 27th (Sun) and Mar 1st (Tues), the only choices I think you should avoid involve the letters Y, Y and C.

Sometimes you can get a good packaged deal on http://www.westjetvacations.com/.

[240glt]

^ Family has a timeshare condo and we've got it for a month, I'm only going for 7-10 days & the nice thing is my schedule is flexible, so I will be taking the Westjet direct flight

[hilman]

Great to hear you are supporting the nonstop flight to OGG, let us know how it goes