I am planning a 2 week trip to Italy with my aunt in June (she is 70). I am from the states and it is way cheaper for me to fly out of YVR but I don't know much about Canadian Airlines.
The cheapest flight I found is on air transat, I assume this is a discount no frills airline? Should I pay the extra to fly on air canada? Any quick reviews or advice for finding a deal would be helpful. THANK YOU!
(dates are very flexible but thinking May 24-June 10)
Also, she wants to stay in a monastary guest house (I guess it's a thing) for some nights, has anyone ever heard of or done this?

air canada is alright. But I prefer to fly with United. I wouldn't fly a long flight like that on a budget airline. I flew with air canada to Germany, and it was OK.

Thanks! I usually fly United too but the price difference is crazy. I'll keep watching maybe they will have a deal

Really? Are you taking into account how much the US dollar is worth in Canadian Dollars?

Or does that not effect flight prices?

I stayed in a convent in Florence.it was great, price reasonable although not cheap. You have to check their curfue time (in some convents is 10 pm in some 11 pm).

There is a book about travelling in Europę while staying in convents.

air transat is fine. Last time from Glasgow to Vancouver, I paid an extra $60 or so for their plus service. Priority boarding, priority luggage, a pillow and blanket, a small bottle of sparkling white and seat selection included. Meals served first. Enough of room.... If you choose air canada though, make sure it is not AC rouge. My 5 foot, 95 pound friend said it was cramped with very uncomfortable seats.

I agree with Patty and found the air canada rouge seats too cramped. However, AC does co-share flights with lufthansa and they are pretty awesome. Always on time and very efficient.

Check with klm once in awhile for great rates. We flew from Vancouver to Venice R/T spring of last year and both tix costs under $1.5K CAD. With your US currency that was a steal IMO.

Over the past two years I've flown both air canada and air transat from Vancouver to London and they're both fine. You're right in that air transat is a more budget airline, but not so far as the ryanair/easyjet types. I've had good and bad experience with both airlines. If there's a big difference in price, go with what's cheaper.

Agreed. air transat is a "budget" airline. But not a discount one. Im french living in Vancouver and to go to europe i always choose air transat over air canada. Nor only price but also service/people more friendly. In advance air transat can be really cheap. So book as soon as you can

Monasterystays.com. Check out this website. We just went to Italy for 3 weeks in May and stayed in monasteries for 15 nights. Excellent value for your money. Many to choose from. Gives you a great sense of culture. Would recommend highly.
With your US$ I would recommend flying klm or british airways for transatlantic flights. Enjoy!

Another thing to consider is where you might have to change planes. I avoid Heathrow, therefore do not fly British Airlines. Frankfurt isn't one of my favourites airports either.....

air transat is a charter and usually non/stop. A bit less room but fine for the lesser cost. Avoid ryanair if at all possible. I am sure you know this but taxes at Heathrow are big so if you can, avoid Heathrow.

Following, thanks
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Avoid air canada if you can (every Canadian I know does!)
air transat is just fine + preferable if you ask me!

We booked Transat many moons ago and ended on a Thomas Cook plane. It was the worst flying experience of my life (and I have had 2 kinds since). If you do, I would without a doubt spring for the extra leg room. We just flew delta in Sept to Europe and it was incredible, so much room and amazing service. If you want to save money look at flying into a larger hub and then taking a discount airline into Italy. It may or may not be worth it. And while I would do anything to NOT fly air canada locally, they were actually very good at long-haul.

I second that AC on trans-Atlantic/ trans-Pacific flights is waaaay better than within Canada.

Just flew air transat to the UK ...new plane ...great flight bought the upgrades and would recommend wholeheartedly. Best deal in June Vancouver to Rome June 3 to 17 air transat $1025 Canadian dollars

On a long flight and with an older person I would go AC for a bit more room and more comfortable seats. Flights to UK have been reasonable prices if you get a sale. Take a cheaper European airline in Europe. Those ones are very cheap. But don't fly ryan air. They are pure evil.

I flew from YVR to Europe once on Airtrans*fat* and I'll never fly with them again(hence the nickname). Yes, you will save a few $ but it's not worth it. Very unprofessional staff, poor service/food plus many families with infants. Not a bad thing but babies do cry, sometimes all at once! Go with AC(or other) as AC has proven to be an international player in excellent service and professionalism.

18 hours overnight in airport waiting for airplane part for overseas transat flight

Not true do your research...4 hr wait on flight to Rome in Toronto with air transat and go with Option plus...lots of leg room, champagne and extras

air transat is fine, just as good as air canada in my opinion. The food choices have declined in the last couple of years so I would bring something with you. My last 2 Europe trips were with air transat and had no problems at all

If you fly with air canada, just know that when you are booking your flights that the flights that say 'rouge' instead of AC are the planes that are tighter with less space. Those are the what I call the 'squeeze planes' there is more room in a seat on the AC flights.
Also, if you have the choice to go though either Montreal or Toronto as a connecting flight, I have chosen Montreal because it seems like a much shorter distance to get to my connecting flight.

I flew air transat last time I went to Europe and the flight was fine. I wouldn't fly air canada at any cost-- I've had too many really bad experiences.

If you fly air transit book the exit seats for an extra 75 bucks and its awesome.Tons of leg room

A/C motto in my opinion "We're not satisfied until you're not satisfied". I've flown Transat to Amsterdam and they were good.

I've flown air transat to Europe and it was great. We paid a bit more to be at the front of the row for extra legroom since the flight is so long. It was our honeymoon and the flight attendants gave us a bunch of free goodies to celebrate. Great experience here!

I should add I won't fly on air canada if I'm being paid. They are HORRID.

I would say though that we recently flew to the UK with AC and had their new Dreamline aircrafts both ways. They are nice. Even in economy: more space, more natural lighting and better screens etc. We had two kids with us and were comfortable. Staff were great with my kids.
At the end of the day, cost is what is important for most people but as someone who flew a long haul with kids and needed extra comforts it was a good experience.

Thank you everyone for the feedback!!

of course, having said that... I'm not really a fan of air canada and my experience with air transat was fine when I flew to Europe

If you watch, you could get a good price on air transat in business class, well worth the extra $

Hi Nicole don't fly air canada it is the worst airline for service. They just 400 passengers stranded in the Airport without any alternatives.

Fly with westjet to London and look at connector flights to Italy. Just a thought... air canada is a nightmare of rudeness to fly with.

air transat is a Montreal based tour operation and an international airline. It does offer the best deal - a whopping $600 difference in price when comparing to air canada. air transat charges $25 for your first bag and first checked bag with air canada is free. I know for a fact that AC offers better entertainment onboard but other than that everything else should be quite similar. You still have time to book, watch out for a seat sale.

easyjet from London saved me $500 compared to flying the whole way through AC or westjet