That being said, you can score decently priced flights in certain booking windows, days, and months of the year, and we’re going to show you exactly how and when in this article! You’ll learn everything from the cheapest times to fly to Canada to common booking mistakes people make that you can avoid to save money.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer
The off-season months of January to March and late October and November are the cheapest times to fly to Canada due to low demand and unfavorable weather. One thing you can do to secure the best-priced fares during these months is flying midweek days like Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Try to book 30 to 60 days before departure, which often offers the best options.
What Makes Flight Prices to Canada Rise and Fall?
Ski Season
Canada is a big skiing destination, with both North Americans and Europeans often flocking in to hit the slopes of Banff once November comes along. You will notice an increase in flight prices to airports near the main skiing destinations from November to April. Tickets to the likes of Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport are noticeably higher throughout this period, even though it’s considered the off-season.
Summer Tourism
When it gets to summertime (June to August), Canadian tourism sees a jump, with cities like Toronto and outdoor locations such as the Rocky Mountains getting plenty of attention. Because schools are on holidays, more people are traveling then as well, so airlines raise their prices accordingly.
Holiday Travel
There are specific dates on the Canadian calendar where the cost of flight tickets increases, no matter what year it is. December 25th (Christmas) and July 1st (Canada Day) are two that come to mind. In the lead-up to these dates, fares on domestic and international flights can rise, so you’ll want to get in there ahead of the competition.
Regional Events
Like anywhere, Canada hosts a number of events across the country during different periods. People from the LGBTQ+ community fly in specifically for Pride Toronto come June. The Calgary Stampede takes over the calendar for 10 days every July. Even though you might think it’s safe to come at a certain time, always check the calendar to see what’s on.
Weather
Canada’s climate is incredibly diverse. It’s one of the biggest countries in the world after all, so, as you’d expect, different places have different weather patterns. Cities like Winnipeg and Toronto can get harsh winters, as can other tourist destinations like Newfoundland. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) see lower visitor numbers and milder conditions, making them the cheapest times to go to Canada. Summer (June to August) is very busy, as people come for the hot weather.
Weekly and Daily Pricing Patterns
In Canada, midweek departures tend to be the cheapest. People are already settled in big cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary, with their weekly commutes finished. This leaves a nice window of opportunity to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, while the skies are relatively quiet.
Move forward to the weekend and things change. Regional Air Canada flights fill up, everyone is heading home to see family, and weekend trippers are making the most of their free time. If money is a concern, avoid Fridays, Saturdays, and long weekends with holiday Mondays, as there is more competition for tickets.
A real example for you: if you were flying Flair Airlines on a Tuesday in mid-August, the fare from Toronto to Winnipeg comes in at €91. Move forward to the following Saturday, and that fare rises to €175. This pattern can be seen when searching for cheap flights to the USA as well.
A little tip: the best day to book flights to Canada is usually Sunday. Get yourself into buying mode then, but always check other days as well just in case there are some bargains.
Best Time to Book Flights to Canada
A lot of people rush to buy their plane tickets the moment they finalize their travel plans. For this type of trip, that would be a mistake, as the best time to book flights to Canada is 30 to 60 days beforehand.
This nice little period provides some great cheap flight deals , because it’s usually when prices level out. Carriers have a good idea of how the seats are selling. The travelers who wanted to get in early have already done so. The last-minute people, well… they will always be willing to fork out hundreds on inflated seats anyway because they don’t have any other option.
Of course, there are some exceptions, as certain seasons and destinations will always be expensive, like Vancouver in winter. But you can easily monitor fare changes by activating a flight price alert with Kiwi, so you always know when the flight you’re watching has dropped in price. More savings for you.
Last-Minute & Shoulder-Season Travel Opportunities
Think of Canada’s travel seasons in one way and one way only. Summer is expensive, and winter is cheap unless you can ski nearby. Late spring and fall are when you should travel to keep costs down, as they are the cheapest times to fly to Canada.
The thing about spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) is that, since there’s no scorching sun or snow-covered mountains, they’re not as attractive to a lot of people. Fewer passengers mean more empty seats and better deals.
With that in mind, it’s still possible to bag cheap last-minute flights to Canada in the high season. Suppose a WestJet flight from Toronto has fewer seats filled for whatever reason; they may be tempted to slash their prices to fill them rather than leave them empty.
How Canada’s Weather Affects Airfare
Between intense winter storms on the Atlantic Coast, the scorching summer heat of Ontario, and the fall foliage of Québec, these are all things that airlines take into account when pricing flights to and from Canada.
It’s a tricky one to get your head around when trying to figure out the best time to fly to Canada if you come from a small country. Canada is so big, with various regional climate differences. In the west, in cities like Vancouver, the climate is generally mild (though snowfall does happen), so most of the year is open season. Whereas in Winnipeg, the winters are harsh - I mean so harsh that some people barely go outside because it’s -20°C.
Regional Price Differences Across Canada
Whenever you want to go somewhere across the Great White North, you usually need to take a flight, which can add up. This is even the case during the cheapest times to fly to Canada. Popular routes include west-to-central connections between Vancouver and Toronto, as well as flights east to places like Montreal and Halifax.
There are a handful of carriers that offer domestic airfares, like Air Canada, WestJet, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines, and Air Transat, so this competition can bring down ticket costs. However, only certain airlines serve specific routes, which is something to be mindful of.
To give you an idea, here are some regional average flight costs.
Toronto → Vancouver
- Flair Airlines: From €119 (low season) / from €178 (high season)
- Porter Airlines: From €148 (low season) / from €172 (high season)
- WestJet: From €171 (low season) / from €171 (high season)
- Air Canada: From €168 (low season) / from €192 (high season)
Toronto → Halifax
- Flair Airlines: From €82 (low season) / from €90 (high season)
- Porter Airlines: From €106 (low season) / from €160 (high season)
- WestJet: From €119 (low season) / from €163 (high season)
- Air Canada: From €121 (low season) / from €174 (high season)
Toronto → Montreal
- Porter Airlines: From €84 (low season) / from €108 (high season)
- WestJet: From €112 (low season) / from €113 (high season)
- Air Canada: From €152 (low season) / from €168 (high season)
- Air Transat: From €100 / from €114 (high season
Vancouver → Montreal
- Flair Airlines: From €103 (low season) / from €90 (high season)
- Porter Airlines: From €116 (low season) / from €160 (high season)
- Air Canada: From €177 (low season) / from €174 (high season)
How Holidays & Major Events Affect Flight Prices to Canada
During specific holidays, airports around the country are very busy, as Canadians will tell you. This demand can be felt across all routes, especially around Christmas, New Year’s, and national holidays like Canadian Thanksgiving. The same also goes for school breaks and festivals such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival. So if you’re thinking to yourself, ‘when is it the cheapest time to fly to Canada?’ it’s certainly not on these dates.
A great way to get around high airfares during holidays is to opt for alternative airports. Since everyone will be flying into the big-name airports like Toronto Pearson, fewer people will be going to Hamilton, which is only an hour away. Sure, you have the extra commute, but you’ll be able to save yourself a few CAD.
Cheapest Time to Fly to Canada from Major Regions
Many airports around the US, Europe, Asia, and South America have routes to Canada. The best time to fly to Canada for the lowest prices from these regions is during the off-season (January–March and late October–November).
Below are some comparisons to show typical price differences.
US
- New York → Toronto: From €90
- Miami → Vancouver: From €249
- Washington DC → Montreal: From €132
Europe
- Dublin → Toronto: From €316
- Frankfurt → Montreal: From €352
- Paris → Ottawa: From €357
Asia
- Tokyo → Toronto: From €426
- Bangkok → Vancouver: From €391
- Seoul → Calgary: From €389
South America
- Sao Paulo → Toronto: From €342
- Santiago → Montreal: From €246
- Buenos Aires → Ottawa: From €423
Using Flexible Dates to Find Low Canada Fares
Low-cost fares to Canada are easy to find when you use Kiwi’s flexible ±3-day tool. It allows you to compare prices up to three days before or after your preferred departure date to see if cheaper fares are available.
You can also take advantage of month-view calendars on our website, which show you the best-priced fare for each date of the month so you can narrow down your options.
When people ask us ‘when is the cheapest time to fly to Canada?’ we have always found that being flexible with your travel dates is the secret weapon for getting the best flights. Most people flying are strict with dates because they can only get off work for a certain period of time. However, if you have some flexibility and can shift your dates by a few days, you could see significant savings.
Common Booking Mistakes That Increase Canada Flight Costs
Booking too early
I get it, you want to get the flights out of the way to give yourself some room to plan everything else for your trip. But if you wait until 30 to 60 days before departure, you’re likely to save on airfare, as this is one of the best times to book flights to Canada. Get too far ahead of yourself, and you’ll spend more.
Not considering alternative airports
Consider Hamilton Airport over Toronto Pearson Airport or Québec City Jean Lesage Airport over Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport. Always look into alternative airports. You never know what deals you might stumble upon.
Ignoring shoulder seasons
If you’re not too fussed about the heat or the snow, Canada’s shoulder seasons are the perfect time to travel. These are the months of April, May, September, and October. Everyone always wants to come at the same times, like summer, but flying throughout the shoulder months can cost you less.
Traveling on peak travel days
Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays should be avoided. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays should be embraced. Peak travel days are almost always more expensive.
Cheapest Airport Alternatives to Major Canadian Hubs
Flying into a major hub like Toronto may seem like a no-brainer for most, but it doesn’t mean it’s the most affordable option. Hamilton instead of Toronto or Abbotsford instead of Vancouver can sometimes be friendlier to your wallet.
If you were to log on to Kiwi’s flight search app and compare a route from London to Toronto for November, it comes in at €337. Change the arrival location to Hamilton, and it drops to €257. Then all you would need to do is take a bus to Toronto, and you would have saved some money.
Always compare both options, though, as during the cheapest times to fly to Canada, using the hub can sometimes be the more cost-effective choice.
Off-Peak Canada Travel Tips
Take advantage of free outdoor activities
The great outdoors remains one of life’s few free pleasures. You won’t have to spend anything to stroll around beautiful parks like Mount Royal Park in Montreal and take on the walking and biking trails of Parc côtier Kiskotuk in Québec.
Utilize museum discount days
At various times of the year (including the cheapest times to visit Canada), it’s common for museums and galleries to offer free or reduced admission to all visitors. Between June 19th and September 7th, many of the country’s national museums, as well as territorial and provincial galleries, have discounted or free entry options.
Be sure to purchase transit passes
On the ground in Canada’s biggest cities, it’s better to purchase a transit pass instead of taking Ubers everywhere. For instance, in Vancouver, you can purchase an adult DayPass for CAD $12.55 (€7.75), which allows you to ride as much as you want on the city’s public transport for one day. When you compare that to a $3.50 (€2.16) one-zone charge per ride, the savings can be great if you’re moving around a lot
Weekday dining deals are your friend
On midweek days, you can pick up some great dining deals across Canada if you know where to look. From all-you-can-eat pasta Mondays at East Side Mario’s to half-price wings on Mondays at Montana’s BBQ & Bar, keep an eye out for some offers on grub.
Find cheap flights to the USA from Canada today with Kiwi!
Using Kiwi.com to Unlock Hidden Savings on Canada Flights
Kiwi is the best tool for identifying the cheapest times to fly to Canada. Helping our customers save on airfare is what we’re good at. We do it in all sorts of ways, including through virtual interlining fares with itineraries that combine various airlines. This gives you the best prices rather than inflated fares from a single airline. Instead of going with Air Canada direct from London for €408, throw in a layover with Ryanair and TAP Portugal for €300.
And that’s only the start. Our flexible date search on our website is where you can see the best fares on every day of the month, taking the guesswork out of flight searching. Once you’ve found a route you like, you can use fare alerts to keep track of any changes in airfare. Activate it for your preferred route and watch the notifications pop up in your inbox every time the price changes.
Ready to plan your cheapest trip to Canada?
Every season in Canada has its own positives and negatives. Summer’s heat, winter’s frost, and the shoulder season’s quietness all appeal to certain types of tourists. The best time to fly to Canada depends largely on the weather you prefer and the type of experience you want to have.
No matter when you decide to come, cheap flight deals can still be found by using Kiwi’s hacking tricks and tools. Follow the rules religiously. Leave some flexibility in your schedule. Give the off-season a chance. Always compare virtual interlining fares with multiple carriers instead of limiting yourself to one airline, and you may uncover routes you never knew existed.
