Affordable Travel Airfares - Flight Passes

Every time I receive in my email inbox a notification about a special on flight passes, I hope that this time they really will be an affordable travel option. And with each opening of the email my hopes fade.

I just don't get the value of these things. Yes, it is true that they do offer some flexibility that a regular airfare ticket does not however each time I do the math ($10500/30 flights or 15 return flights = $700 for say a ticket to Boston or NYC) This does not seem to offer any value. I can buy a ticket for under $400 to NYC or Boston.

This morning Air Canada sent an email offering 8 free flight passes for the purchase of a business flight pass, however even at $10500 (for the US commuter) these additional passes are not awarded. You have to buy a more expensive pass. Not great value.

For affordable travel airfares, you are still better to watch for the weekly specials and book those.

Happy Affordable Travel!

Affordable Airfare Decreasing?

Skyservice has just announced that it will be ceasing business. Does this mean affordable travel in Canada is getting more difficult? Canada suffers from limited competition already. Loosing another airline option makes it less competitive. One one hand, Canada is a small market and cannot sustain too much competition. On the other hand limited competition keeps rates higher than our US neighbours. I regularly hear of people driving across the border to get flights at 1/3 of the price in Canada. Shame!

If you are interested in reading the full article on Skyservice, you can find it here. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100331/business/skyservice_1