Originally Posted by
plgplg
My kid is starting at UBC in Sept... paying for YYZ-YVR and YVR-YYZ flights are in in my future... is the student flight pass a good idea? I remember pre-pandemic occasionally I bought a flight pass for my work travel (which was mostly YYZ-LGA, LGA-YYZ at the time) and it was v. nice to be able to book, cancel, change, flights at will without worrying about cost and restrictions etc. Is the student pass a good idea or overkill? I would likely be buying between 4 and 8 segments in a calendar year depending on whether thanksgiving, spring break, etc, involve travel or not. Thanks!
A warm welcome to your UBC kid, I have one that just finished first year there, returning late August.
I can tell you that the student travel dates are NOT very predictable.
Uni's give an exam period well ahead of time but it is up to each prof as to when the exams are, and some prof's do not post until only a month or less out.
Our kid there is also heavily involved in a varsity sport team which adds another dimension of unpredictability.
She uses Aeroplan to fly back and forth and can typically find an option with lowish point redemption that works and knows to book asap which is typically on 3-14 day notice.
We live YKA & YLW, so short haul redemption.
If you have the affordability to do it, I would do the flight pass so that you can take the guess work out of them coming home or not.
You should have a pass as well, as UBC and Vancouver area are pretty spectacular and you will want to visit and use your kid as the excuse!