Shortcut to Charlottetown

Back in March when I booked us on an Aeroplan flight for the return leg of our complex Copenhagen — Dublin — Boston — Charlottetown trip, I didn’t give much thought to the inconvenient Halifax overnight imposed by Aeroplan’s anemic availability. Overnight in Halifax was just another delightful part of the journey.

From this end up the trip, however — so close to our own beds, yet so far — spending the night in Halifax seems like spending the night in jail.

So a quick rearrangement and we’re flying to Halifax and then renting a car for a drive over to the Island tonight. We’ll sleep in our own beds, avoid an early departure tomorrow morning, and it’s actually cheaper because the cost of a one-way rental to PEI ($143) is less than the cost of an airport hotel room ($163).

We’ll spend the day rambling around the scorching heat of Boston (temperature at 11:00 a.m. as I write: 30 degrees C), head to the airport around supper time, and be back on the Island by midnight if all goes according to plan.

Of course, Air Canada might interfere with this excellent plan. And we do have to get through customs with our 6 weeks of ephemera. With luck, we’ll see you at Timothy’s in the morning.

Comments

Jevon's picture
Jevon on June 19, 2006 - 17:24 Permalink

On an Aeroplan ticket, you do have the right to do same-day standby — you can even do other routings to the same destination.

ie. Rather than spending 16 hours on a “layover” in Toronto going to SFO last year, I went to the MLL concierge and got on a direct flight 45 minutes later. So I saved 15 hours and 2 legs off the journey (no PHL and PHX connections on USAIR flights)

So rather than a typical Aeroplan YUL-YHZ-overnight-YYG flight, you may just grab an earlier YUL-YYG flight and save the world of hassle.

marian's picture
marian on June 19, 2006 - 20:06 Permalink

We’ve been looking into Ryan Air flights lately (from Hungary where we live, to someplace else). They’re cheap, but seem to involve a lot of juggling of factors (routes is one of them). For one thing, Ryan air only flies to London (and nowhere else) from Balaton (in Hungary). This would mean another leg or two of flying if we wanted to go somewhere else. I’m thinking that a drive down to Croatia might be cheaper and easier. Anyway, bon voyage.

Dan James's picture
Dan James on June 19, 2006 - 21:18 Permalink

I used the same method as Jevon mentions above to grab a redeye back from Calgary once. It was actually a helpful Aeroplan agent that tipped me off about this. As long as you’re headed in the same general direction to the same destination you can swap to any flight you’d like. This is a quick and dirty way around Aeroplan’s limited availability or short notice flights. For my flight from Calgary the Agent booked me on a flight from Calgary to Regina, to Thunderbay, to Toronto, to Charlottetown. The flight was due to leave at 7am and take 20 hours. He told me to go to the airport and get on the 12:05am (technically the same day) redeye — there was tons of room. And so I did and so there was.

Judy Libman's picture
Judy Libman on June 20, 2006 - 13:26 Permalink

Hey Peter! My daughter and I are in Halifax right now! Any chance we can see each other for a cup of tea? We’re at the Cambridge Suites Hotel. If you can, email us at the “hidden” email address above, or call the hotel. I have my cell with me and I can send you the # from Dena’s blackberry — not sure of your email address.

Judy

marian's picture
marian on June 20, 2006 - 15:26 Permalink

Thanks for the tip Daniel.