Credit -Riverwatcher09 on Flickr

Naturally, things are more expensive in Canada. Very little of the things we own are manufactured within our own country, with most of our belongings coming from countries like China, United States, Thailand, and Mexico. All of this importing is probably one of the more prominent reasons of why things cost more in Canada. Strangely enough, flying is also more expensive in Canada, even though it’s not an import.

After some research on travel websites such as Orbitz, Expedia, and Kayak, I’ve noticed that flights from to and from certain destinations over the border can vary in price depending on whether you use a Canadian airline over an American airline. Here’s an example.

A nonstop flight from YVR (Vancouver) to LAX (Los Angeles) costs about $42 less if you choose to fly with Alaska Airlines over WestJet. And no, this isn’t all because there are more taxes and fees in Canada. The base cost is $141 with Alaska Airlines and $172 with WestJet — a $30 difference.

Another example would be a one-stop flight from Toronto to Miami. US Airways charges $122 as a base cost, while Air Canada charges $331. This is a whopping $209 difference. It should also be added, that according to Orbitz, these are the two cheapest flights as of July 18, 2010.

Concerning? I think so. Canadians are really being manhandled by our local airlines, making using American based airlines the preferred alternative when flying cross-border. When you’re seeing Canadian companies charge upwards of $200 more than an American one, why should we be even bothered to consider using WestJet or Air Canada?

All of this price gouging doesn’t stop there though. Regional flights have also increased — especially in provinces where the HST has been implemented. A prime example of this would be a flight from Prince George to Vancouver. This hour flights costs an astonishing $253 with WestJet, and $339 with Air Canada. This is a quick hour flight people! These kinds of prices are what really puts a dent in customer’s pocket books, and unfortunately, these are the only available airlines to these regions.

Another example is a flight from Edmonton to Grande Prairie, Alberta. This flight is even shorter than the previous, but it still costs upwards of $173 on both WestJet and Air Canada.

Now someone may assume the argument of stating that you don’t have to use the airlines, there are other modes of transportation. Sure this may be a valid argument, but why should customers have to pay more just because they live in Canada? Additionally, a 1-hour flight is much better than a 10-hour bus ride.

The difference between Canadian and American airlines in terms of price is quite substantial. My guess of why is simply because there’s not as much competition in Canada. The only major airlines are Air Canada and WestJet  – they have no reason to lower their prices.

So definitely, if you’re travelling to the United States, consider using an American Airline over a Canadian one. The price will be significantly less if you do. However, if you’re taking a flight to a Canadian destination, you’re unfortunately going to have to live with this problem for as long as there’s no competition. So if there are any rich guys out there who have some cash to spend, it would be nice to see another airline in Canada.

This isn’t to say, however, that Canadian airlines haven’t made any effort to decrease their pricing. Last month WestJet took a chunk off their prices on their regular routes, also getting rid of their seat sales. Instead, they’re selling tickets priced incrementally, decreasing the fares as the date of the flight comes nearer. For example, if you fly between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, you’ll be charged $29 if you buy 21 days in advance. Afterwards the price will be $59 after 14 days, and $89 after 7. Unfortunately, however, this type of pricing doesn’t apply to western provinces.

I suppose that the next couple of years will really show what these airlines are made of. People right now don’t travel as much because of the economic difficulties we’ve been facing, however, you can be sure that it will increase as time passes.

All price comparisons are based on the date of July 18, 2010.