Flying to France for less than $600? Here's how

CTV News

4 days ago

If you're thinking of travelling to France this fall, you may be relieved to know that your plane tickets may not cost as much as you think.
Why? Airlines generally consider the fall months the 'off season' and, as such, tend to reduce prices slightly.
Plus, according to data from Les Vols d'Alexi provided to Noovo Info, the arrival of low-cost airlines has also increased competition when it comes to offering the best prices.
These include French Bee and TAP Air Portugal, which have already seen floor prices reduced by 35 per cent in Montreal – from $600 to $400 for a two-way ticket – since the beginning of 2025.
The data show there is also a high level of enthusiasm for travel to France – a 15 per cent increase in interest compared to 2024.
Air Transat also confirmed to Noovo Info that France remains one of its most popular destinations, with a 'growing interest' in off-season travel as fares are often more advantageous, the climate is usually milder, and there are fewer tourists.
As of Aug. 1, return flights from Montreal to Paris were available for $434 for planes departing between Oct. 19 to 24, according to Momondo, which compares flight prices.
But by the week of Aug. 4, the average price for return flights from Montreal to Paris had already increased slightly.
For instance, on the Skyscanner travel search engine, round-trip tickets from Montreal to Paris were closer to $560 for November, while Montreal-Lyon flights were available for $578.
Overall, the average price for a return flight available for fall 2025 is $600.
Anyone looking for flights for the beginning of December should also consider looking at prices now.
Return flights to Nice are available for $511, while tickets to Paris are available for $560, according to Skyscanner.
The busiest and most expensive time to travel to France is from May to August, when the tourist season is in full swing, and prices can go up to over $1,000 for a two-way ticket.
According to the French government, the country welcomed a record 100 million international tourists in 2024 as its capital hosted the Summer Olympics.
The government notes that 2023 also broke a record, with approximately 98 million visitors.
Finding cheap flights
In an interview with Noovo Info in January, Andrew D'Amours, a co-founder of Flytrippers, which lists cheap flight deals, recommends being flexible when it comes to departure dates, as prices can vary by a few hundred dollars.
'I've seen a ticket for $200 on Friday and then $500 on Saturday,' he said. 'It's literally the same thing, just a day's difference.'
D'Amours insists the best way to find cheap airline tickets is not to buy them as soon as you start looking.
He recommends browsing well in advance, and until you have an idea of how much you could be paying.
A $900 ticket from Montreal to Paris, for example, may seem like a bargain, but he points out that similar flights can easily drop to $500.
Keep an eye on certain tools, like Skyscanner and Google Flights, which also allow you to set alerts for price drops.