Just got the web seat sale email from AC a few minutes ago. The fares to the US are quite astounding when all the taxes and surcharges are factored in. For example:

Toronto - San Jose 259.00 112.01 371.01 GP-4FWQ9V—43%
Toronto - Seattle 265.00 112.43 377.43 GP-4FWQC6—42%
Toronto - St. Louis 199.00 107.81 306.81 GP-4FWQCG—54%
Toronto - Washington(DCA) 179.00 106.41 285.41 GP-4FWQBR—59%
Vancouver - Portland OR 125.00 102.63 227.63 GP-4FWQB6—81%
Vancouver - Seattle 119.00 102.21 221.21 GP-4FWQB3—86%

These must include GST, US customs fee, fuel surcharge, US airport fees, etc. But 86% on top of the ticket price is a bit hard to swallow, even on such heavily discounted fares like these.

By comparison, domestic fares and taxes, airport fees, etc. range from a high of 62% to the av erage of 32%:

Calgary - Edmonton 68.00 42.21 110.21 GP-4FWQ8T—62%
Calgary - Saskatoon 130.00 41.20 171.20 GP-4FWQ8Q—32%
Calgary - Vancouver 115.00 34.80 149.80 GP-4FWQ8P—31%
Calgary - Winnipeg 151.00 48.02 199.02 GP-4FWQ8V—32%

I must go into Calgary next weekend and was thinking of flying. But the very idea of paying 62% on top of the fare (I know that $15 of this is for airport fees at YEG and YYC) makes me prefer renting a car and driving down. I'll get the same 500-points/miles (albeit not Q-miles), and have the use of a car for the weekend for about $60 plus gas. The drive is about 3-hours and as long as there is no blizzard...

This weekend, it will be a trip to Portland on a previously-purchased AS ticket at $297 all taxes included, about $50 more than the above trip out of YVR. That fare included $74 in taxes, customs fees, fuel surcharges, etc. or a more acceptable 33%.