Air Canada vs West Jet advice

[ozliz]

I am looking at two flight options for Halloween to travel from Quebec City to Orlando (one way only, part of a longer trip). The prices and travel time for the two options is similar enough so I would like some advice based on airlines. I’ve flown Air Canada before but never Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Rouge or West Jet/West Jet Encore. Two options below, I would appreciate your local resident thoughts.

1. Quebec City to Toronto on West Jet Encore then Toronto to Orlando on West Jet (all booked through West Jet)

2. Quebec City to Montreal on Air Canada Jazz then Montreal to Orlando on Air Canada Rouge (all booked through Air Canada).

Also, while I’ve got your attention, I see that the cheapest options of these flights don’t include checked baggage but when I look at booking details I don’t see anywhere to prepay for my checked baggage - is this correct, you always pay at the airport? I’m not used to the budget airline options much as I’m in Australia and they don’t fly to my home city however we always get a better deal paying for baggage at time of booking rather than at the airport.

Any other tips on booking flights from Canada to USA would be welcome.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Not sure about West Jet, but when you do the online sign in on Air Canada, it asks how many bags you will bring. You then will pay with a credit card, if you are charged.

I don't think either of these are like the U.S. budget airlines, where you pay for your carry-ons, including purses. I know West Jet has a super low price that has restrictions, but I think their lowest just doesn't allow you to seat select, even for a price. You take what you get.
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/fares/our-fares/compare

 

[ebharris]

I am looking at two flight options for Halloween to travel from Quebec City to Orlando (one way only, part of a longer trip). The prices and travel time for the two options is similar enough so I would like some advice based on airlines. I’ve flown Air Canada before but never Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Rouge or West Jet/West Jet Encore. Two options below, I would appreciate your local resident thoughts.

1. Quebec City to Toronto on West Jet Encore then Toronto to Orlando on West Jet (all booked through West Jet)

2. Quebec City to Montreal on Air Canada Jazz then Montreal to Orlando on Air Canada Rouge (all booked through Air Canada).

Also, while I’ve got your attention, I see that the cheapest options of these flights don’t include checked baggage but when I look at booking details I don’t see anywhere to prepay for my checked baggage - is this correct, you always pay at the airport? I’m not used to the budget airline options much as I’m in Australia and they don’t fly to my home city however we always get a better deal paying for baggage at time of booking rather than at the airport.

Any other tips on booking flights from Canada to USA would be welcome.

Consider signing up for a WJ MasterCard, usually you can get a deal where you pay no fee the first year. Then you get a free checked bag for everybody who travels on the booking. Edited to add that I misread... you won’t likely be able to do that if you aren’t from Canada.

I prefer WestJet. We had one terrible AC experience and I switched to WJ and haven’t looked back!

Good luck

 

[ozliz]

Consider signing up for a WJ MasterCard, usually you can get a deal where you pay no fee the first year. Then you get a free checked bag for everybody who travels on the booking. Edited to add that I misread... you won’t likely be able to do that if you aren’t from Canada.

I prefer WestJet. We had one terrible AC experience and I switched to WJ and haven’t looked back!

Good luck

Thanks but I’m Australian so most of those credit cards are not something I’m eligible for. I did live in Canada briefly 10 years ago while on student exchange - was surprised that I did get given a credit card once but that’s another story and pre-GFC.

 

[ebharris]

Thanks but I’m Australian so most of those credit cards are not something I’m eligible for. I did live in Canada briefly 10 years ago while on student exchange - was surprised that I did get given a credit card once but that’s another story and pre-GFC.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy your trip! I’m not sure if you’ve been to Quebec City before or where else you’re going in Canada but Quebec is beautiful!

 

[Etch]

Honestly, either flight is probably fine in my opinion. You will get people who are pro Air Canada, or pro Westjet, but they are the two largest (and essentially only) airlines in Canada with not a whole lot of difference between them when flying in North America. Either flight from Quebec City will be on a smaller propeller plane (Q400 or Dash 8).

we always get a better deal paying for baggage at time of booking rather than at the airport.

You can pay for checked luggage on both airlines when you do online check in.

 

[mjhtvchick]

I am looking at two flight options for Halloween to travel from Quebec City to Orlando (one way only, part of a longer trip). The prices and travel time for the two options is similar enough so I would like some advice based on airlines. I’ve flown Air Canada before but never Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Rouge or West Jet/West Jet Encore. Two options below, I would appreciate your local resident thoughts.

1. Quebec City to Toronto on West Jet Encore then Toronto to Orlando on West Jet (all booked through West Jet)

2. Quebec City to Montreal on Air Canada Jazz then Montreal to Orlando on Air Canada Rouge (all booked through Air Canada).

Also, while I’ve got your attention, I see that the cheapest options of these flights don’t include checked baggage but when I look at booking details I don’t see anywhere to prepay for my checked baggage - is this correct, you always pay at the airport? I’m not used to the budget airline options much as I’m in Australia and they don’t fly to my home city however we always get a better deal paying for baggage at time of booking rather than at the airport.

Any other tips on booking flights from Canada to USA would be welcome.

Personally, I would be 50/50 on this decision - I prefer WestJet but I also try to avoid Toronto if at all possible. Make sure you have a decent connection time - sometimes the lines at security and customs can be brutal.

You pay for your baggage when you check-in for your flight on both airlines. You can do this online up to 24 hours before the flight and can pay for the baggage then. You can take a personal item and a carry-on bag on-board with you for no cost. This will be detailed in your confirmation once you are booked.

 

[isabellea]

Another option would be to take the train (VIA Rail) from Qc city to Montreal and then fly to Orlando. I personally love the train station in Quebec city since it's in a historic building. Also check if they have Quebec to Dorval (city where the Montreal airport is located).

 

[ottawamom]

I have to agree, avoid Toronto at all costs. Quebec City - Montreal will be a quick hop. Montreal or Toronto - Orlando are about the same length of time. The only thing you may want to consider (if it applies) is the amount of legroom each of these flights offers. I have tall people in my house and there is no way we could fly on A/C Rouge without a seat upgrade. Check out https://www.seatguru.com/ to see what the legroom is like if this could be an issue for you.

Other than that I have flown both airlines over the years and they both have their good and bad points.

 

[Aladora]

I personally prefer WestJet because I have had really good luck paying to upgrade to Plus seats when I check in 24 hours before my flight. But like many have said, there are pros and cons to both and I typically pick the one that has better flight times.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Personally, I would be 50/50 on this decision - I prefer WestJet but I also try to avoid Toronto if at all possible. Make sure you have a decent connection time - sometimes the lines at security and customs can be brutal.

You pay for your baggage when you check-in for your flight on both airlines. You can do this online up to 24 hours before the flight and can pay for the baggage then. You can take a personal item and a carry-on bag on-board with you for no cost. This will be detailed in your confirmation once you are booked.

We just flew out of Toronto domestically a few days ago. While waiting in line to go through security, the security agent brought a couple up and asked that they cut the line, as their flight was already boarding. No problem and nice that they did that. Further on the story was that they were catching a connecting flight. I don't know how they ended up outside security and now had to go through again, but they did. It's possible that it's very easy to exit the secured area. The other possibility - and one to watch out for - is that they had to change terminals to catch their connecting flight.

OP - if you are flying through YYZ (Toronto), make sure you are not changing airlines for your next connection. If you are, make sure they fly out of the same terminal. For example, don't take Air Canada on one leg, then change to a West Jet flight in Toronto for the next. You would be stuck changing terminals.

 

[Gigi22]

I recently travelled on Air Canada from Florida. Have to say, I prefer transferring from a domestic Canadian flight to a US-bound flight in Toronto rather than Montreal. You are on a lengthy forced march between gates in Montreal, nothing near as bad in Toronto.

 

[ottawamom]

Coming back to Canada from Orlando last fall we had to exit the secure area and go back through security in order to access or domestic connection. With WestJet there was no way to stay in the secured area and make a connecting flight. Hence my avoid Toronto comment.

 

[mab2012]

All else equal, I would choose WestJet every single time. It's a matter of opinion, of course, but I think their customer service and overall passenger experience is better, especially compared to Air Canada Rouge. That said, either option would be fine. Choose the itinerary that works better for you.

Personally, I don't notice much difference travelling through Montreal or Toronto. Both are large, busy airports. Both can have lengthy distances between gates and long waits at security and customs (or not, depending on the day). As others have said, you'll likely be on a small commuter aircraft out of Quebec City either way, and then a larger plane to Orlando. In either case you can pay for your baggage at the airport or by credit card when (if) you check in online.

Both airlines have gone to the use of a mobile phone app to deliver entertainment options inflight. There are no seat-back entertainment systems, so if you're interested in that (movies, live TV, flight info) you'll want to make sure you have the latest version of the app before boarding. You should be able to find them easily in Google Play or the Apple Store by searching for the airline. The entertainment system will probably not be available at all on the short hop, but should be useable on the longer flight to Orlando.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[mab2012]

Coming back to Canada from Orlando last fall we had to exit the secure area and go back through security in order to access or domestic connection. With WestJet there was no way to stay in the secured area and make a connecting flight. Hence my avoid Toronto comment.

Likewise (jut last week). But I've had to do the same in the (recent) past coming off an international flight in Montreal (on Air Canada).

We also changed terminals, via a tunnel under the runway. Neither the terminal change or the security clearance was a big deal for us, but then we don't have any mobility issues and security was quiet that day, so that helped. We also had plenty of time. I'm not one who likes a lot of extra time at airports, but I don't think I'd want an international (or US) connection time of less than an hour in Toronto. It can probably be done in 45 if everything goes right, but you'd have to really move.

 

[xlxo]

Also, while I’ve got your attention, I see that the cheapest options of these flights don’t include checked baggage but when I look at booking details I don’t see anywhere to prepay for my checked baggage - is this correct, you always pay at the airport?

 

[ozliz]

Ok, aside from a rather amusing and slightly worrying video it sounds like it’s much the same. Neither of us are tall so I’m not too worried about leg room. I’ve accepted that in flight entertainment would be limited (especially as sometimes those country specific apps aren’t available on the Australian App Store). The Air Canada rouge option has slightly earlier arrival time and slightly higher fees so I might just toss a coin!

 

[osully]

Coming back to Canada from Orlando last fall we had to exit the secure area and go back through security in order to access or domestic connection. With WestJet there was no way to stay in the secured area and make a connecting flight. Hence my avoid Toronto comment.

YES. We had to do that in February. It was the WORST.

 

[xlxo]

WestJet just announced a new service.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I LOVE the WJ April Fool's commercials, my fav has to be the child-free flights!!!