![\"Destination](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4aafb6d62e5b17861e4bb3b4656adc0f.jpeg\")
Destination dupes <\/p>\n Destination dupes <\/p>\n
If you\u2019re making summer travel plans, you\u2019re probably also looking for a deal. With airfares rising across the board, there\u2019s one straightforward way to cut your trip costs by as much as 30%: be flexible about where you land.<\/p>\n
Travellers who have no single must-visit destination are increasingly making their booking decision based on wherever they can reach for the fewest points or the lowest fare \u2014 and the savings can be substantial. Instead of booking the trip first and hunting for a deal second, they\u2019re letting the deal lead.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a strategy that won\u2019t suit every traveller. For instance, if you have a dream destination locked in, flexibility isn\u2019t really an option. But if you just want to get away \u2014 somewhere European, somewhere new \u2014 this approach could put serious money back in your pocket.<\/p>\n
Michelle Sutton\u2019s experience is one such example. She told Bloomberg (1) she and her wife scrapped their plan to visit Croatia after they noticed one-way business class fares departing at US$6,000 (C$8,200) each \u2014 roughly 100,000 points. The couple decided to book whatever destination offered the lowest points redemption instead, with Germany and Portugal on the shortlist.<\/p>\n
Fares are going up \u2014 and more than only the ticket price <\/p>\n
The surge in airfare isn\u2019t a Canadian-only problem, but it\u2019s hitting Canadians hard. Higher jet fuel prices tied to instability in the Middle East have prompted Canada\u2019s major airlines to raise fares and tack on surcharges.<\/p>\n
According to the KAYAK Canada Airfare Trends Dashboard (2), average domestic flight costs in Canada were up between 11% and over 26% through April 2026 compared to the same month in 2025 (2). International flights from Canada have also climbed \u2014 from an average of $1,052 in January to $1,173 in April, a 12% jump.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just the base fare that\u2019s gone up. Daily Hive National reports that Air Canada updated its checked baggage fees (3) for Economy Basic and Standard fares purchased on or after April 13, 2026: The first checked bag now costs $45 to $54, up from $35 to $42. WestJet also added a $10 increase to first and second checked bags at airport check-in (3). Travellers should price out the full trip \u2014 base fare, fuel surcharges and bags \u2014 before assuming they\u2019ve found a deal.<\/p>\n
Ready to turn your everyday spending into a dream vacation? Browse our expert picks<\/a> for the best travel programs and start earning today.<\/p>\n Being flexible could mean big savings <\/p>\n If you have your heart set on one European country, you can still save by choosing a city with lower-cost accommodation \u2014 or by crossing into a neighbouring country.<\/p>\n According to Expedia (4), travellers are increasingly searching for what the company calls \u201cdestination dupes\u201d \u2014 cities that offer experiences comparable to famous hotspots, but at a meaningfully lower cost.<\/p>\n Travellers are also leaning on points to manage costs. But that strategy has become more expensive, too \u2014 Air Canada updated its Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (5) effective June 1, 2026. Most partner award redemptions increased by just over 7% to 20%, with some long-haul premium cabin routes rising by up to 30%. Practically speaking, the points you\u2019ve been saving won\u2019t stretch as far as they did last year.<\/p>\n For finding the best fare, flight-tracking apps and websites \u2014 including KAYAK, Google Flights and Hopper \u2014 let you monitor price changes over time and set alerts when fares drop on a specific route. It\u2019s also worth checking whether booking directly on an airline\u2019s website saves you anything versus a third-party platform.<\/p>\n Read more: 3 essential money moves to make once you\u2019ve saved $50,000<\/a><\/p>\n Consider traveling outside peak season <\/p>\n If summer dates aren\u2019t locked in, there\u2019s an even simpler solution: Travel during the shoulder season. The window between the peak summer rush and the winter holiday period tends to bring lower fares and less crowded destinations.<\/p>\n According to Expedia\u2019s Fall Travel Outlook (6), booking international travel around October 26 and November 24 tends to yield the best deals on airfare.<\/p>\n Smart travel moves for Canadians <\/p>\n Compare total trip cost, not just the base fare. Fuel surcharges, seat-selection fees and new baggage fees from Air Canada and WestJet can significantly change which deal is actually cheapest.<\/p>\n Check your reward balances sooner than later. With the June 2026 chart update now in effect, most Aeroplan partner redemption rates have risen 10% to 25%. Lock in bookings before additional devaluations occur.<\/p>\n Use Canadian flight-tracking tools. KAYAK\u2019s Canada Airfare Trends Dashboard (ca.kayak.com (7)) tracks domestic and international fares from Canadian origins on a week-over-week basis \u2014 useful for spotting the right moment to book.<\/p>\n Try a \u201cdestination dupe\u201d mindset. Rome, Paris and Barcelona aren\u2019t the only options. Naples, Brussels and Porto offer comparable experiences at significantly lower accommodation costs.<\/p>\n Consider shoulder season. Based on Expedia data, the window around late October to late November offers international travellers some of the year\u2019s best airfare deals \u2014 and far fewer crowds.<\/p>\n Bundle when possible. Expedia data shows that combining flights and hotels into a package can save hundreds of dollars compared to booking each separately.<\/p>\n -With files from Melanie Huddart<\/p>\n What To Read Next <\/p>\n Join 19,000+ readers and get Money.ca\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/p>\n Article Sources <\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bloomberg (1<\/a>); Kayak (2<\/a>), (7<\/a>); Daily Hive (3<\/a>); Expedia (4<\/a>), (6<\/a>); Air Canada (5<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Money.ca<\/a> under the title: European airfares from Canada are up 26% \u2014 but you can save by being flexible and opting for these travel tips instead<\/a><\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Destination dupes If you\u2019re making summer travel plans, you\u2019re probably also looking for a deal. 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