How come we never seem to have the air flight specials we find in the U.S.? Advertised specials are not ----?

Q:

A: The first responder is partially correct - lack of competition in that Canada has only two airlines. The other half of the equation is the number of travelers (compared to the distances being traveled). For instance, the population of the entire country (less Quebec) is the same as the state of Texas. There are more flights booked through Texas airports than through all of Canada in a calendar year. If the airline can't fill the flight (not enough people traveling), they still have to pay the cost of travel ... therefore it's spread over a smaller paying clientele. Hence higher prices. Finally - there's usually a LOT of restrictions on those cheap flight deals. Like you have to go on Tuesday and return on Thursday, or stay over the weekend, or can only purchase a one-way ticket (but the return airfare would be full price, since you can't book it in advance), etc. Or you're simply on a "standby" ticket ... which means you'd be bumped off if there's enough full-fare passengers.

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