The Easter long weekend is fast approaching, but travellers can still take advantage of cheap flights out of Vancouver.
Last-minute trips across the country are often the quickest and cheapest alternatives to popular U.S. destinations. However, a few sun-soaked spots in Mexico may also prove viable choices, provided the longer trip isn't inconvenient for a shorter travel time.
Some cities are significantly cheaper to visit from Vancouver over the fast-approaching travel period.
Good Friday, April 18, is a statutory holiday in B.C. However, many employers also give people Easter Monday off work.
Have a look at some of the cheapest return flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) over the holiday long weekend.
Edmonton
A Flair Airlines flight departing from Vancouver on Friday, April 18, and returning from Edmonton on Monday, April 21, costs $268.41; both flights are direct.
Currently, you won't get a better deal booking through a third party than directly with the airline (see slides two and three).
Winnipeg
Folks who have taken road trips or short flights to Alberta may want to travel to another province this spring. However, some return trips back east from Vancouver cost a pretty penny over the long weekend.
But trips to Winnipeg cost almost less than any other flights in Canada, including nearly all of the interprovincial ones in B.C. from YVR.
A WestJet flight departing on Friday, April 18, from Vancouver and returning from Winnipeg on Monday, April 21, costs $386 when booked through BudgetAir. Travellers who book directly through the airline will pay significantly more at $1,088 (see slide four).
Puerto Vallarta
Travellers looking to visit somewhere warm and sunny won't have to break the bank, even if they want to avoid the U.S.
Puerto Vallarta offers a low-cost option with convenient flights from Vancouver. Although it is better to spend several days there, it is possible to fly down for a few nights and soak in at least a couple of days of sunshine. If you can spend an extra day or two, the price is relatively the same.
A non-stop Flair Airlines flight that departs from Vancouver on Friday, April 18, and returns from Puerto Vallarta early in the morning on Tuesday, April 22 costs $460 when booked through Flair Airlines and lucky2go (tickets must be booked separately to achieve the low-cost deal). The return trip involves two flights: one from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City and a short stopover before a flight to Vancouver; both are with Aeromexico (see side five).
This price is considered "low" for economy or $196 cheaper than usual, according to Google Flights. Despite being a last-minute option over the long weekend, this option is a steal at any time of the year (see slide six).
Campbell River
Travellers who prefer to stay local but want to avoid long ferry waits over the long can enjoy direct, affordable flights to Campbell River via Central Mountain Air.
A flight that departs from Vancouver on Friday, April 18, and returns from Campbell River on Monday, April 21, costs $264 when booked through BudgetAir (see slides seven and eight).
Yellowknife
If you don't want a sunny escape and want to check somewhere new, tickets to Yellowknife cost under $500 with direct flights over the busy long weekend.
An Air Canada flight departing from Vancouver on Friday, April 18, and returning from Yellowknife on Monday, April 21, costs $431 directly through the airline (see slide nine).
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