My daughter will be starting school at Acadia university this sept. She'll be going to Halifax in late August, returning to Vancouver at Christmas, going back in the new year, returning in May and then it starts all over again for the next school year. Any advice about best times to buy tickets for students and also should she buy one way or return tix and risk paying to change flights?

Pretty sure air canada has student flight passes

I've only ever paid return to from Kelowna to Halifax but, just for a reference point, those trips at Christmas cost around $1000 (normally a very good price) return and goes up from there. Occasionally it will be $900 or so if you watch a couple of months ahead of time. The best price I have found for the same trip at other times of the year has been a whoppingly low price of $650 return, although $750 or so is still a good price for this flight. I'm sorry I can't be of help re: Vancouver to Halifax but maybe this is a starting point? Good luck!

For some reason, flights to Halifax from the West Coast are really expensive. I would say if you can find for under $1000 RTN you are doing pretty good.

Get this app for your phone https://www.hopper.com/

The hard part is that you can't book the flight home at Christmas until the exam schedule is released.

I've got the same question but for a student going to and from Kingston (Queen's). I looked at Ari Canada's student flight passes and they looked a) expensive and b) not straight forward on pricing, ie: they said there would be extra charges for Christmas break flights but didn't specify. What's the cheapest way to do Vancouver-Kingston?

Bussing to Toronto/Ottawa and flying from there will cut some costs. Queen's offers (or used to) a shuttle around popular times that is quite inexpensive (TriColour Express, I believe) and then there's an airport shuttle that used to pick you up outside of J.D. Hall.

They have flight passes for students on sale at aircanada.com check it out.

The flight passes are pricey and you have to buy a pack of 6 - which is 2 more flights than she needs in a year.

Sales on air canada are Wednesday every 5 weeks and westjet will have one day sales on Tuesday or Thursday that air canada price match. As to Grand sales . Sept second week and late October for xtmas. Then around January 17 for winter and spring and another sale around valentine in Feb. Summer sales will be in April . Whatever air canada doesn't sell for August they do price adjustmejuly mid July that changes to availability. As to student pass.. that's for wealthy parents that offers their kids a open tickets . The pass comes in either unlimited and minimum 6 prepaid trips with no pre-schedule. As to Acadia. You won't see her till next Summer. Once she makes friends in the world's most friendliest place she'll probably never come back. Keep that in mind that u have to let them go

Thanks for your comprehensive and very informative reply!!! I laughed when I read your comment about Acadia -- we had heard that as well. Glad she will be in a kind and supportive community (if we have to lose her!).
thanks again! I'll look out for fares during the dates you suggested.

Cost return seat sale run around $590 to $720 but typically $690 even for xtmas time. Lowest $400 for Moncton and Halifax return out of YVR. that ticket was selling about 3 weeks before xtmas on a Friday after 11pm for xtmas eve or xtmas day and return new years eve