Cheap flights from Vancouver across Canada aren't few and far between anymore. Thanks to the arrival of low-cost carriers, airlines battle for ticket sales by dropping their prices.
But not all cities in the Great White North are affordable to fly to from B.C.'s biggest airport.
Canada is the second-largest country worldwide by total area, and many of its less-frequently travelled areas cost a pretty penny to reach, even from within the country.
Flights to northern cities cost thousands of dollars to reach, particularly the further northeast you travel. For the average Vancouverite, these trips aren't exactly affordable.
On the other end of the spectrum, trips to Albertan cities, despite being in another province, often cost less than the price of a meal at a nice restaurant. In fact, even flights all the way to Mexico start for under $350 round-trip from Vancouver.
Have a look at the most expensive cities to fly to from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) this spring.
Arctic Bay, Nunavut
Flights to the frosty Arctic Bay Airport (YAB) on Baffin Island in Canada's largest territory, Nunavut, cost significantly more than flights to cities located other the other side of the country (flying east to west). Flights to St. Johns in Newfoundland and Labrador start at $598 round-trip.
In contrast, a flight departing from Vancouver on June 7 and returning from Arctic Bay on June 11 costs an eye-watering $5,614 when booked with Air Canada (although the ticket includes components with Canadian North).
While this price seems steep, it is cheaper than other tickets on the same route, despite including two stops in each direction. The outbound journey also includes an overnight in the capital, 1Iqaluit, after a 10-hour stop in Ottawa. The trip back home also includes a couple of stops, but neither of them approaches the 24-hour territory (see slide two for details).
Travellers looking to save on this trip can try to pair the trip from Ottawa to Arctic Bay with a cheaper ticket from Vancouver to Ottawa (WestJet may offer a slightly cheaper price). However, the flight must line up properly with the one headed up north, so some flexibility is required with your itinerary building.
Another city in Nunavut, Igloolik, also costs a pretty penny, with flights starting at over $4,000. In fact, all of the most expensive trips from YVR are located in the northernmost territory, including other Inuit hamlets, including Clyde River ($4,480), Pangnirtung ($3,151), and Kinngait ($3,431).
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Heading out of Nunavut, flights from Vancouver to the Northwest Territories are comparatively affordable, although they cost significantly more than ones to other major Canadian cities in provinces.
For instance, a round-trip flight from Vancouver to Inuvik costs $1,088 departing on June 7 and returning on June 11 (see slide three).
Kuujjuarapik, Quebec
Flights from YVR to Kuujjuaraapik Airport (YGW) in Quebec can cost a pretty penny, even when an itinerary includes multiple stops, with trips starting at over $2,500.
For instance, a flight departing Vancouver on June 7 and returning from Kuujjuaraapik on June 11 costs $2,614 when booked through Air Canada. However, the outbound trip includes seven stops on the way to Kuujjuaraapik, and four on the return (see slide four).
Of course, this itinerary can be less painful by flying directly to Montreal, but flights need to line up properly to arrive in Kuujjuaraapik (and that part can get trickier).
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