How far ahead you should book flights to get the best deals to Canadian cities
As Canadians, we often travel within our own country.
From Nova Scotia to British Columbia, there’s so much to do and see, which is why we were voted the number one place in the world to visit this year. But often times, we have family and friends we want to see or we simply need to travel somewhere for work.
And as we know, flights can be tricky within Canada. Often, you can fly south of the border for cheaper prices than flights within Canada.
But, it’s all about timing.
Travel website Cheapflights studied travel data to look into the best times to book flights within Canada for the best value.
Some of their findings included:
- The best time to purchase a flight for a big city (think Toronto or Vancouver) is often 4-5 months in advance.
- Trying a smaller airport will probably result in cheaper flights (think Abbotsford over Vancouver and Hamilton over Toronto).
- Off-season vacations are more affordable.
- The week before Labour Day is the most affordable to fly in the summer.
Based on averages from departure points across Canada, here are Cheapflight‘s average recommended planning times to ensure the best flight deals.
Destination | How far in advance to book, on average |
Vancouver, British Columbia | 143 days (4.75 months) |
Montreal, Quebec | 140 days (4.5 months) |
Toronto, Ontario | 138 (4.5 months) |
Edmonton, Alberta | 121 days (4 months) |
Calgary, Alberta | 118 days (4 months) |
Ottawa, Ontario | 118 days (4 months) |
Whitehorse, Yukon | 109 days (3.75 months) |
Victoria, British Columbia | 103 days (3.5 months) |
Halifax, Nova Scotia | 98 days (3.25 months) |
Winnipeg, Manitoba | 92 days (3 months) |
Kelowna, British Columbia | 90 days (3 months) |
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | 89 days (3 months) |
St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador | 88 days (3 months) |
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories | 84 days (2.75 months) |
London, Ontario | 81 days (2.75 months) |
Regina, Saskatchewan | 75 days (2.5 months) |
Quebec City, Quebec | 72 days (2.5 months) |
Abbotsford, British Columbia | 72 days (2.5 months) |
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 67 days (2.25 months) |
Moncton, New Brunswick | 66 days (2.25 months) |
Thunder Bay, Ontario | 61 days (2 months) |
Fort McMurray, Alberta | 59 days (2 months) |
Windsor, Ontario | 56 days (1.75 months) |
Fredericton, New Brunswick | 54 days (1.75 months) |
Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador | 53 days (1.75 months) |