Anyone ever fly out of Rochester?

[KerriMc]

We are looking for flights for our March Break trip (the 13th to the 21st) and right now South West isn't open until October. We have looked at Air Tran and it would be 3500 from Buffalo for the 7 of us but it would be 2500 from Rochester. We wondered what the Rochester airport was like? Is it somewhere we can park or are there hotels in the area? How far from Buffalo?

Anyone have any input we'd appreciate it

Thanks
Kerri

[greenclan67]

Hi Kerri,
We actually flew from Rochester last year, and Buffalo the previous year. The airport in Rochester is nice, it is probably less busy then Buffalo, and is very clean. It isn't as big as Buffalo, (and buf isn't that big) It is probably about 1 hour and 15 mins from Buffalo. We were coming from Niagara falls, so it was about 1 hour 40 mins from Niagara. The only problem we had at all, was they were digging up all the parking areas last year, and we kind of got mixed up were to park, and ended up on the roof top and it still cost us $180 for 7 nights of parking. It was nuts. To do it again, I would probably do a park & fly at one of the hotels there, with the shuttle to the airport. I would do it to save $1000. I did it last year to save $250 and we had already drove 8 hours to get to Niagara Falls. But Toronto is 6.5 hours for us to, so the difference in flight prices makes all the difference in if we get to go or not that year! Any questions feel free to ask!
Carrie

[BitsnBearsMom]

We like Rochester - it's not as busy of an airport. We always stay in the hotel that is right at the airport so no shuttle to worry about in the morning - you just walk across the street and you are in the terminal.

I'm sure if you wait a bit though you will find better pricing - $360pp is expensive for flying out of the states.

[KerriMc]

Thank you! I think we are going to book. My parents and brother are going with my family and my dad wants me to get it booked. Considering Toronto would cost just over $8300 to fly out with West Jet, I think $2500 US is a pretty good deal. I want a direct flight too as I'm not sitting around another airport for two hours, especially with my busy six year old ... she is already a bit of a nervous flyer after our nasty flight in March'08 during that brutal snowstorm Buffalo had and then we hit thunderstorms on our way. She doesn't want to fly at all!!!

Thank you ... I think you guys must have stayed at the Fairfield on site? I am going to give them a call to check the rates as we will go down and spend the night.

Thanks again

Kerri

[greenclan67]

Try the park, sleep and fly website. We actually stayed at Great Wolf Lodge the night before, and drove down the next morning for our afternoon flight. Only because we got a great rate, on rates to go!

[Josh Hendy]

We flew out of Rochester in August. ROC-MCO cost only around C$180/person return booked through expedia, and the shuttle parking lot (an open-air lot located right across the street from the airport entrance) was easy and cheap at only US$5.50 per day. The shuttle bus literally rolls up before you've taken the bags out of your trunk. The lot seems to have good security, fences/gates/guards.

The airport was clean and quiet and checkin and security were a breeze, no waiting.

The only downside of doing it this way is that it's a bit of a drive to get to ROC, and the cheaper flights that you get this way can have odd hours and/or stopovers so it could make for a long day of travel.

One more thing, when we missed the on ramp to the highway going home we drove a couple of blocks east of the airport and ended up stopping for gas at a place that looked a bit scary - the attendant was behind bulletproof gas and the neighborhood looked dodgy. I wouldn't go there after dark but would get right on the highway and get gas elsewhere.

Have fun!

[Questforthemouse]

We normally fly out of Buffalo but flew out of Rochester last March break. We left Burlington at 3:15pm on Friday and arrived at Applebee's (about 2 miles west of the airport) for dinner at 5:50pm. Took only 10mins at the border. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn at the airport. Pulled up and checked in. Put bags in room and went and parked car in onsite parking and shuttle brought us back to hotel. Nice hotel with friendly staff. Paid the stay/park/fly rate. Had an 8am Sat flight. Caught the shuttle at 5:50am (although we could have walked), at the airport by 5:55am and through security by 6:20am. Nice small airport. Had McDonald's (in the airport) for breafkast (although the hotel serves a continental breakfast). When we arrived back in Rochester (without one of our bags...grrrrr) we headed west out of the airport and ate at the Perkins across from Applebee's. Then headed home. Everything went perfectly smooth. Would do this again in a heartbeat!

[cey]

Where is the best and cheapest place to part at the airport?

[Questforthemouse]

Originally Posted by cey

Where is the best and cheapest place to part at the airport?

Here's the airport website. Should have all the parking info you need.

http://www.monroecounty.gov/airport-index.php

I also google mapped the airport and used the "Street View" to get a look around...

[cey]

Thanks Questforthe mouse! I also got a great lead on a ROC hotel with a great park n fly rate. Much better that SYR. Park n fly rates have gotten so expensive there!

[siobhan1997]

Originally Posted by cey

Thanks Questforthe mouse! I also got a great lead on a ROC hotel with a great park n fly rate. Much better that SYR. Park n fly rates have gotten so expensive there!

Hey Cey, care to share your lead we are flying out of Rochester in March for the first time, usually go Syracuse. I booked the Fairfield Inn Airport park n fly for $124 plus $1/day to park. Anything better??