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rfmcdonaldCBC's report, delivered by Pete Evans, certainly caught my attention.
The extra fees are emphasized by the Toronto Star.
Even so. I, one day, would like to fly.
Discount airline WOW Air has unveiled a plan to fly from Montreal or Toronto to Iceland for $99 one way and travel to numerous destinations in Europe for $149.
Those figures represent the base price of a one-way ticket, with all applicable airport charges and taxes in effect. But there are charges for other optional services, including up to $106 to change a ticket, up to $82 for a seat with extra leg room, and up to $246 to check three heavy bags. (Special items like skis, bikes, golf clubs and musical instruments also come with a $76 charge, the website says.)
The Icelandic carrier says the service via Reykjavik will begin out of Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport on May 12, 2016, and out of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson airport on May 20, 2016.
Launched in 2011, the airline has grown quickly and has offered deeply discounted flights with few amenities to European travellers for several years. But the move announced Thursday is part of the airline's plan to do the same in the opposite direction, and luring North American travellers eastbound.
The extra fees are emphasized by the Toronto Star.
[T]hose $99 prices are for one-way flights. While Iceland is a beautiful country, it’s safe to assume most travellers will be interested in a return flight.
The cheapest seats are also limited in number. By Friday, many WOW flights appeared to be sold out of the least expensive fares. On the other hand, those that remained are still relatively inexpensive, with return fares of about $475 for a week’s visit to Reykjavik.
But that’s before you start counting the cost of WOW’s add-on prices. Carry-on luggage is restricted to five kilograms, in contrast with the 10 kilos allowed by both Air Canada and Air Transat. Buying an additional seven kilos will cost you at least $24 for a flight under four hours, and $47 minimum for a journey over four hours, according to the airline’s website.
Checked luggage costs more, too. When you choose its least expensive fares, Air Canada charges $28 for a checked bag of up to 23 kilos on international flights. At WOW, it’s at least $59 for a 20 kg bag.
Overweight baggage is priced around $85 for Air Canada and $100 for Air Transat. Flying with WOW, you pay $24 per kilo over that limit, up to a maximum of 32 kilos; hit that limit, and you’ll add $288 to the cost of your flight.
Even so. I, one day, would like to fly.
