Information on Flair Airlines Flights

If you're looking to jet off without breaking the bank, Flair Airlines, one of Canada's ultra-low-cost carriers, offers a great option that’s been turning heads and stretching dollars. As the country's third-largest airline, Flair has mastered the art of no-frills flying, offering flexible travelers a chance to soar through the skies without depleting their savings.

Whether you're dreaming of a sun-soaked beach in Mexico or a glittering night out in Las Vegas, Flair's offers some of the most affordable options for domestic and international flights in Canada. But those keen to discover how Flair is redefining affordable air travel will want to pack light and embrace the à la carte lifestyle.

Why travel on Flair Airlines?

If, like me, you prefer to keep travel costs low and only pay for the amenities you'll use Flair's pay-as-you-go model is fantastic. It's like building your own travel sandwich, starting with the basics, and then adding the toppings you want. If you need extra legroom, simply add it to your order. Travel light and you’ll skip the baggage fees. Its simple framework puts you in control of your travel budget.

Seating and fare classes

All seats are in economy class, but if you’d like some extra legroom, you can pay a fee to stretch out, be in the first row, or be by an emergency exit. When I’m traveling with others and want to sit beside them on the flight, I simply select the back of the aircraft seating section to ensure we’re all together. Priority boarding is also possible – for a fee, of course.

Flair’s pricing model

Flair's mantra is to keep fares as low as possible. They accomplish this by offering optional fees for things like different sizes of checked or carry-on baggage. All charges are explicitly laid out, and I've never been surprised with hidden fees. I suspect if they could figure out a way to charge for the bathroom facilities, they would. Fortunately, they haven't gone this far yet.

When you see the basic fare price online, you can rest assured that the flight price includes government taxes and airport improvement fees. However, if you’d like to book through their call center, there’s a fee, whereas online booking is free.

Flair routinely offers flash sales and promotional fares, lowering the cost of travel even more. You can find these on the Deals section of their website. They also offer travel bundles. If you want to check a bag and pick your seat, a bundle can be a more cost-effective way to get what you need. Sign up for their email newsletter, Flair Flyers Club, for advance notice on sales and offers.

Baggage size and weight

Because Flair makes their money from charging for carry-on bags and checked luggage, your baggage will be sized no matter where it’s going. If any bags are over their measurements and weight limits, they’ll be subject to additional fees. Suppose you know or suspect you’ll be over the limit. In that case, you’ll find adding a bag to your online reservation cheaper than paying the fee at the airport.

The maximum size for your carry-on item is 9” x 15” x 21”. Checked bags can weigh up to 50 pounds and have 62 inches of total linear dimensions (19” x 27” x 15”). At the airport, you can drop your bags at Flair’s check-in counter, where they will be sized. But don’t check in here; do that online unless you want to pay an additional fee for airport check-in.

Book now, pay later

Flair offers budget-friendly loan options, so you can book your flight without paying everything upfront. Instead of using a credit card, travelers select Uplift as their form of payment. Loan offers are extended quickly, and from there, you can set up AutoPay, so a portion of the trip cost is automatically deducted each month. The bonus is there are no prepayment penalties or late fees.

Where does Flair Fly?

Currently, Flair services over 35 North American and Canadian destinations, but it’s continually expanding. As the company is headquartered in Edmonton, it offers quite a few direct flights out of this Northern Alberta city and to and from other major Canadian hubs such as Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax. Smaller Canadian cities such as London, Waterloo, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Deer Lake, and Kelowna are also serviced.

Flair’s ever-growing list of international destinations for the budget-conscious traveler focuses on warm weather and sunny destinations. Popular vacation spots in the U.S. include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Nashville, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, New York, Phoenix and San Fransisco. In Mexico, Flair flies to Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Kingston, Jamaica and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, round out its seasonal snowbird services.

In-air services and entertainment

With Flair’s low-cost model, the basic fare typically only includes a seat and a personal item. Other amenities will cost extra. Yes, you will be charged for water (bottled), but their menu prices aren’t outrageous. To get the most bang for your buck, opt for a Canadian combo with your choice of food and beverage. I’m partial to their wine and cheese salami plate.

There is no WiFi nor in-flight entertainment screens on the aircraft Flair flies. But if you download the Flair: Inflight App before your trip, you can access games and watch Super Channel and movies from the National Film Board of Canada. Be sure to charge your devices prior to take off! There are no outlets on board. Only Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted on board for payments.

What happens if your flight is canceled?

Flair has a solid rep for being a reliable airline. Still, there's more of a risk when flying smaller airlines simply because they have fewer planes at their disposal. If your flight gets canceled, hopping on another one isn't a given. You can't expect to be automatically rebooked on another flight with this airline. Anticipate you'll have to channel your inner travel agent and do this yourself.

Traveling with children

What I most appreciated when traveling with our tot under two years old was bringing more items free of charge. We were able to add a diaper bag (it needs to fit within the size and weight of a personal item) plus each parent’s free personal item. Flair also throws in two complimentary checked items for your little jet-setter. We went for the car seat, but playpens and strollers also fit the bill.

Flair doesn’t allow unaccompanied minors unless they’re over 12 years old. Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are permitted to travel unaccompanied but only on direct (non-stop) flights. Suppose kids fly with a ticketed passenger 18 years or older for the entire trip. In that case, the child’s ticket will be at the applicable child’s fare. But if they’re unaccompanied minors between 12 and 17, they’ll be charged as adults.

Traveling with pets

For a fee, small dogs or cats secured in a soft-sided, airline-approved ventilated pet carrier are welcome in the cabin. Only six animals are allowed per flight (except for Mexico, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic flights), so you’ll want to purchase this quickly. At a minimum, the pet fee must be purchased 48 hours before departure. One pet carrier is allowed per passenger, but not in front or emergency exit rows.