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Flight cancelled ideas on new destination

Just received an email today from Westjet that they are ending flights to Europe at the end of October instead of November. I was scheduled to fly to Toronto on November 13. Now I have a few options on what to do. I will need a new flight home from Europe. I will be getting a full refund for my flight so this is already taken care of.

I am strating my trip in Italy where I am spending about 7 weeks including two tours. This is all booked
I have an additional two weeks or so in Portugal including a Rick Steves tour that is ending Nov 6 this is all booked
I was planning on travelling on to London for 7 days. I have been to London many times and am thinking of going again in Spring. If i do this I will need to book a new flight home.

Trying to figure out my options.

Option A- continue on to London as planned I was planning on Nov 6-13. Could extend this and book a new flight home.

Option B-Spain Thinking of Madrid and Barcelona around 4 or 5 days each. I love art, churches and museums. I am looking at no more than two bases. This is the end of about 9 weeks of travel. So looking to spend time in one place. I have been to Spain before but it was 10 years ago. How would you break the time between the two cities.

Option C-Paris just because its Paris. Not sure about this because I was thinking of France in the spring with time in Paris and other parts of France.

I would be leaving Porto Novembe 6 or 7.

Any other ideas that I am not thinking of.

Posted by
8913 posts

The practical side of me is asking what the difference is in airfare home on those 3 options? Does it cost about the same for each option or is there a clear winner?

Posted by
351 posts

Just started looking of course they are all more than I paid when I booked in March.

London is the cheapest but Barcelona is not much more.

Paris seems to $500 more. On the Air Canada site (not that I want to fly them they are the rate number 1 for cancelled flights and delays at the moment) it is almost $800 more. This is taking Paris out of the mix.

Posted by
274 posts

Have you priced flights on Iceland air? Not direct, but they have service to Toronto, and generally good fares.

Posted by
28247 posts

With respect to the time in Spain, could you manage more than nine days? I think with your interests, you'd end up happy with additional time. It would be more relaxing not to have to rush your sightseeing.

If you cannot extend that time, I'd go for close to an even split between Madrid and Barcelona. I much prefer Barcelona, but Madrid's art museums cannot be denied. If extra time is available, I'd throw more than half to Barcelona.

It's possible to run into elevated hotel rates in either or both of those cities, so I'd go ahead and check on that via booking.com or some other hotel website.

Posted by
4297 posts

Hi Wendy. I would go to Spain and save London and Paris for the spring. It’s a similar vibe in Portugal and Spain, from my research, and the Eurostar train from London to Paris should be a different experience. (We’re going to Spain in October and London/Paris in April.)
I know you have been planning this trip has been a long time, and you will figure out this hiccup.

Posted by
351 posts

Thanks everyone. Think Spain it is.

Barbara I am just looking at this as an opportunity to do something different. I have spent probably six months in London over the last 20 years so while I enjoy it and it is a safe and easy choice. Spain may be a better choice for the fall.

Posted by
2809 posts

When it comes to weather, Spain is a much better bet than London in November.