Is it always this expensive to fly out of YYC?!
 

My niece is spending the year as a nanny in Calgary. We've already initiated plans for her parents (as well as Mrs. Swede's parents) to fly to DEN over Christmas and New Year's. I figured, YYC is not too far, airfares shouldn't be too expensive.

$800-900 round-trip?! Are you (bleepin') kidding me?!

Are fares ex-YYC to the US always this expensive? I realize this is over a very popular time of the year, but I could have never fathomed tickets being this expensive. I started looking in early September, and fares have only decreased to the low $700 range just recently.

Transborder US/CA flights always seem to be horrifically expensive, but YYC-DEN is around 1000 miles (3hrs), so a decent haul and there doesn't appear to be any competition on the (small) nonstop flights, either!

You didn't mention what were prices like when you started looking in Sept.?

Yes fares are always expensive out of YYC.

However, I could expect fares of about $270-$300 one way including tax per person for that route around Christmas (excluding baggage fees).

You may have missed your window for pricing though. For Christmas and New Year travel I find your last chance for lowest fares is around Canadian Thanksgiving (mid October).

If you are able to adjust your dates you'll get more palatable fares.

Non-stops were in the $900-range.

airfares from YYC
 

I don't think YYC is any more expensive than other Canadian airports.

Having said that, I found YYC-PHX in mid-January on US for $384 CAD i.e. it pays to shop around!

I think your issue is you are looking over the holidays, when demand exceeds supply!

Your issue is that you are flying from a UA hub to a spoke....you will always be screwed on this route unless you can find a deal on a cnx flight or buy a tkt to Las Vegas and another one to YYC.

Yes, certainly the timing is bad, and the #1 reason for such high airfares.

I've done searches on multi-city itineraries, and prices are similar, if not higher.

Tickets have been booked, and the holiday plans continue. :)

And ditch the DEN LAS segment!!!!!
(I was explaining hidden city to someone, but they forgot to get off at the desired city despite me telling them and reminding them to do that)
Also DO NOT take any VDBs as you might get rerouted via SFO/YVR.
For the return I would do a one way car rental and fly out from LAS.
Also buy 2 different tickets to avoid GST on return.
It can't be easy doing domestic work up there though when there are many immigrants willing to do it for less when paid in cash.