We will be returning from Europe via Vancouver next September, with an overnight there before continuing to our home (SEA). The fare is $163 each. That seems high ( like double the cost of a flight between SEA and PDX) so I checked other dates to see if it is related to cruise ship season. But the $163 fare starts on 9 February, well before cruise season, and continues every day I checked to the last day on the schedule---which is $301 ( but will come down tomorrow).

Is it always like this? Or is it likely to come down or go on sale? The fact that right now the fare is the same whether booked 2 months from now or 11 months from now suggests it won't change. So what is it about this route that drives the price up?