Originally Posted by
Mordac
You can drive from Vancouver to Calgary in two days fairly comfortably (or in one day with minimal breaks and an early start). it's a really nice drive too. Worth considering.
Unfortunately, I'm quite limited on time so would be looking for the best price/time ratio.
Originally Posted by
YYCCL3
What time of year is your proposed flight ?
In my experience, having done both options a few times, YVR flight gets in too late to self connect to YYC same day, so an overnight is required. Self connecting in YYZ with checked baggage could take forever, so you might have to build in an overnight there, too.
Agreed, so on the way I've planned an overnight stay, it's on the way back that I might have an issue....see proposed itinerary below in option 1:
Originally Posted by
ermis177
Did you check the option via Franfurt? Air Canada flights from Franfurt direct. You can book the whole trip on LH website
I did - sadly still a fortune. Best price at the moment is WestJet at £2k a ticket.
The current plan I had in mind was the following
OPTION 1
Outbound
BA 16:55 LHR -> 20:00 YYZ (Avios Redemption)
*Overnight stay in an airport hotel*
WS 09:00 YYZ
-> 14:13 YYC
Inbound
WS 07:15
YYC -> 13:05 YYZ
BA 18:35 YYZ -> (+1) 06:40 LHR
The cost of the redemption for two people is 100,000 Avios + (£1,336.92 taxes + £460 WestJet flights + £250 overnight hotel).
Which equates to 100,000 Avios + £2,046.92
OPTION 2
BA 16:55 LHR -> 20:00 YYZ (Avios Redemption)
*Overnight stay in an airport hotel*
WS 09:00 YYZ
-> 14:13 YYC (£280)
Direct flight with WestJet
WS 19:50 YYC -> 11:20 LGW £2,100 (for two tickets)
This works out as 50,000 Avios + £883 tax + (£280 + £2100) flights + £250 hotel room
= 50,000 Avios + £3,513
OPTION 3
Fly with WestJet
WS 11:10 LGW -> 14:20 YYZ
WS 15:35 YYZ -> 18:01 YYC
Works out £4,148 for both tickets.
Using the baseline of option 3, Option 1 works out 2.09p of value, Option 2 works out 1.32p of value.
The real issue with option 1, given current climate, can you really self connect in Toronto airport with 5h 30mins? That sounds to me like it's enough and I know there's always a risk, but how safe is this? Are there many checks going on there?
The benefit of using Avios is, should any of these flights get cancelled, I would choose not go to Canada at all rather than reschedule. With BA, I would get the Avios back. WestJet offer travel credit, but I would never use it so it's as good as lost.