Locals can take advantage of low-cost airfare out of the Lower Mainland to several cities across Canada and a pair of ones in Mexico right now.
While their pink planes will get a blue makeover this fall, WestJet has committed to providing low-cost airfare through its budget brand Swoop through the summer.
On June 9, WestJet said it will be winding down Swoop's operations, citing fierce market competition. Existing Swoop flights and packages won't be affected by the announcement and customers may continue to book tickets. Swoop does not have any bookable flights beyond October 28, as the carrier hasn't published a schedule beyond that date.
Swoop is offering 30 per cent base fares for travel between Sept. 6 and Oct. 28 for trips across Canada, to the U.S., to Mexico, or to the Caribbean for its birthday sale.
From Abbotsford International Airport (YXX), travellers can enjoy reduced prices on flights to Edmonton and Winnipeg as well as Toronto, London, and Hamilton in Ontario. They can also enjoy lower prices on flights to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.
To take advantage of the sale, simply enter the promotional code "FIVEYRS" before you purchase the ticket.
A flight that departs Abbotsford for Edmonton on Sept. 12 only costs $18.98 so the base fare of the flight is just $7.02. Thirty per cent of the base fare is $2.11, which means that the new price of the flight works out to $16.87 including all taxes and fees.
Travellers hoping to fly across the country can already enjoy fares as low as $69 with Swoop. However, the base fare on this flight is a significantly higher percentage of the total amount.
The base fare is $54.64 and 30 per cent of that is $16.39, which means the final ticket price is $52.61 including all taxes and fees.
Travellers looking for discounted airfare to Mexico can also enjoy low-cost options to two of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations: Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.
Both cities cost $139 and have base fares of $57.99. Thirty per cent of that figure is $17.40, which means that the final cost of the ticket works out to $121.60.
Important considerations with the Mexico travel advisory
The United States is warning travellers to completely avoid travel to six Mexican states due to increasing violent crime and kidnapping; Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta are not located within any of them.
While the Canadian government hasn't instated a "do not travel" warning, it advises tourists to avoid "all non-essential travel" to 13 areas across the country due to violence and organized crime.
Find out more information about the Mexico travel advisory.
