Canadian airline WestJet is offering a deal from Dublin to Canada, starting at just €249 to Halifax. The cheapest price only includes carry-on luggage. However, if you require checked baggage for your trip, you can book directly with WestJet starting from €368. To do so, you should choose the Basic fare first and add the baggage during the further booking process. If you want additional supplementary services in the package, you may also choose to book one of the higher-tier fares directly. Departures are available between May and October, depending on the destination.
If you hold a frequent flyer status with Delta SkyMiles, you also benefit from additional checked baggage allowance even with the Basic fare. For instance, as a Silver Medallion member, you will see a baggage allowance of 1 piece weighing up to 23 kg directly during the booking process.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to WestJet with your selected flight dates. You can also check what OTAs on Skyscanner have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €40 cheaper:
The flights to Calgary and Toronto are operated with WestJet’s Boeing 737 MAX with a 3-3 configuration, and the flights to Calgary are operated with their Boeing 787 with a 3-3-3 configuration.
Search & Book
Unfortunately, the fare rules do not disclose how long the discounted tickets will be available. Depending on your destination, you will find availability on the following dates:
- Halifax: June and between the end of August to the beginning of October.
- Toronto: May, June, and between August and September
- Calgary: May
You can find suitable dates using our calendar above or with the help of Google Flights. We recommend booking directly on WestJet’s website, but you can find cheaper prices with Skyscanner. However, booking on OTAs has its downsides.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
The tickets are issued in booking class E. However, no mileage credit is possible in the cheapest fare (Basic) in this case.
Destination
Information & Tips for Canada
The North American country of Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of surface area. In Canada, English and French are the official languages. Tourists visit Canada because of its many natural attractions and large cities, and the flight prices vary between the east and west coasts. Flights to the east coast e.g. to Toronto or Montreal regularly cost less than 400€. For flights to the west coast, e.g. to Vancouver or Calgary, prices are closer to 400€ – 600€. Other destinations are mostly only reachable with an additional domestic flight. Just like in the USA, most airlines now only offer cheap fares that do not include checked baggage. For checked baggage you should budget an additional 50€ per direction.
Best Time to Travel
Canada is a huge country with many varying climate conditions, but it is safe to say that the winters (November to March) are very cold and snowy in most regions. Summers are relatively mild and partly rainy.
Immigration & Visa Requirements
Most EU citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 6 months. However, an electronic travel waiver (eTA) must be applied for, similar to the ESTA required for entry into the USA. This costs CA$7 (~€5) and is valid for up to 5 years.
Currency
Canada’s national currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). One euro is approximately CA$1.48. Many credit cards may charge a foreign currency fee of up to 2% to pay in CAD.
Transfer from Canada to the USA
Canada is located north of the USA and is the only other country apart from Mexico that shares a border with it (2 borders, actually: Alaska borders Canada in the southeast!) At many airports in Canada US immigration is already done before departure, so you arrive in the USA as a “domestic” passenger in the domestic terminal which can potentially save you lots of time since you do not have to stand in line at customs upon arriving. By land the same entry formalities take place as at the airport or by train at the station in Canada. Most EU citizens don’t need a visa and can instead make use of the digital ESTA procedure.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Airalo and Maya Mobile. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for Canada 🇨🇦 Compared
→ All Dealz for Canada
Cover Picture: © Henryk Sadura - stock.adobe.com