Canadian Railroads > VIA considers November to be summer for "Canadian" fares

For many years it has been my custom to travel with up to six others on  the Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto in the month of November.  The summer fares used to end on the 22nd of October and more recently on the 31st of October.  When Preference coupons were of significant value, the discounts applied from November to April which is why early November became our regular choice.

I was surprised to see summer fares for next November.  For example a cabin for 1 at the discounted sleeper fare is $2884 and single use of a cabin for 2 is $4326. This is approximately double what we paid this past November.  Since I first saw these fares they have dropped a bit for the first few departures in November, but the next two are still at the higher level.  From the middle of November the fares have dropped to about the same as they are for the current winter season.

I wrote to VIA asking if this was an error.  A reply said that was not an error and I was given an explanation of "dynamic fares."  It was also suggested that I might not be comparing the same class of accommodation.  Of course I was.

I also noticed that Reservia's diagrams were showing only three Manor sleepers as opposed to five which are being operated this winter. There was also no Skyline car adjacent to the diner in the diagram.  This doesn't concern me because it is a long way off.  For the current winter season the fourth and fifth Manor sleeper wasn't in the booking system too far in advance, nor was the mid-train Skyline showing.

I've been planning travel for next fall in Canada and the U.S.. Like you, we prefer to travel in late fall when crowds are smaller, prices are lower, and the heat has abated.

It's been shocking to see, as of now, really high pricesare across the board for overnight accmodations and transportation at a time when you can usually find some good deals.

DrawingroomA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wrote to VIA asking if this was an error.  A
> reply said that was not an error and I was given
> an explanation of "dynamic fares."


Perhaps the software analytics have noticed higher demand (versus normal winter travel times) for what used to be the start of the winter season, and kept prices higher to try to maximize revenue? As bookings drop off due to the higher fares, I'd expect such a system to adjust prices downward as the scheduled departure gets closer.

Is a similar thing happening at the spring end of the winter fare season? Squeezing the "shoulder season" where people are trying to balance weather versus cost?

Posted from Android

Darren Boes
Lethbridge, AB
Southern Alberta Railfan

sarailfan Wrote:
...
>
> Is a similar thing happening at the spring end of
> the winter fare season? Squeezing the "shoulder
> season" where people are trying to balance weather
> versus cost?
>
> Posted from Android

I don't remember exactly when, but not too long ago VIA started the summer fares on the 1st of May instead of the 1st of June.  May had been a good bargain: winter fares, mild weather, longer hours of daylight.  The summer-length trains were always full.  With dynamic pricing there is no longer anything approaching set fares except for Prestige which has two seasonal fares and is never discounted.  I hope there will be some flash sales for the winter season.

One recent change in the fare structure is the difference between discounted and regular sleeper fares is relatively small.  I now book only the higher fare because bookings can be changed  or cancelled at no charge.     On my last booking I paid about $100 more for what I will call full fare.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/25 11:39 by DrawingroomA.

VIA must have been consulting with Amtrak.  GOUGE.........