1st time going through Buffalo Airport

[palmickey2005]

We're considering driving to Buffalo staying at a hotel one night and flying out to Orlando (most likely with Southwest) the next morning. We will be leaving our car either at the hotel or park & fly. I just have some questions on what to expect as this is will be our first time not flying out of Toronto.

What lines do you go through at the airport ? Luggage / Security / Customs ? Sorry we are not frequent travellers and although we have passports do we go through all that from Buffalo to Orlando and back ?

Kind of nervous as I wonder if they ask why Canadians are going though the US (Buffalo) instead of Canada.
Would love to hear from any experiences with this...oh and also anyone that's been on the Disney Wonder cruise. I read a little about going through on the last day?

 

[Disney5Mom]

We have been through Buffalo airport several times and prefer it to Toronto. You still need to go through the security and luggage lines but customs is at the border when you drive through(usually a much shorter easier process). We have left our car at the airport before but this time we too are going to stay overnight at a hotel and leave our car in their lot. You will not have questions at the airpot because many Canadians seem to go this route. We love SW service.Do allow time for security as they don't pull people out of lines as they do at Pearson if they are about to miss their planes. Have a great trip!!

 

[Claud26]

we flew out of Buffalo last year in December on our 1st wdw trip and it was a great experience.
our flight was at 6:30am on Saturday so we left Toronto on Friday after lunch, it took us about 2hrs to get to Buffalo, because of Friday Traffic leaving the city !! the border crosing was quick and they where not surprised to hear that we were flying out of buffalo.
Checked in at the holiday Inn Express which is across the street for the airport and was very convienent.
we left out car in the Hotel Lot and took their shuttle over to the airport at 4am and checked our bags, no questions asked at the check in counter, then headed to security, very quick, no questions asked. then grabed a coffee and waited for our flight... it was so much easier and less stress full then flying out of Toronto. Not to mention it was no hassel at all.

My Dh how is such a freak and was very concered and worried about flying out of Buffalo is now recomending it to his friends.
We had our 2yr old DS and 5 yr old DD and it was a pice of cake.

 

[Scratch42]

It's Easy Peasy!

We just flew out of Buffalo. This was the first time that we checked luggage and it was so convenient!

Allow 2 hours for travelling time and get to the Airport at least 1 1/2 hours before your flight.

There is also a SunPark across from the Airport where you can park your car. They will pick you up right at your car and drop you off at the Airport!

We checked our luggage inside, since the curb side was busy. You will need your confirmation # or your SW Rapid Rewards Card. They tag your luggage and off you go thru Security. Last time there was nobody but this time there was a bit of a line up. Be prepared to take your shoes off. Once thru, head over to your gate and wait close to your Letter! A, B or C.

Enjoy your flight!

j

 

[aGoofyMom]

Love it! And with Southwest they had curbside check in - print off those boarding pass at home, and check your luggage right at curbside so you aren't lugging it through the airport at all!
I had forgotten to mention that to DH tho so he was a little freaked out that someone was taking our luggage til I jumped in with all our info. When he realized the big bags went from the back of the hotel shuttle into the hands of the airline - that made his whole trip

AND - our SW flight home arrived 15 min EARLY!!!

 

[afehrman]

Flying from Buffalo is way easier then from Toronto, and takes less time too! We are flying from Buffalo this Tuesday morning on the 7:10am flight so will leave here areound 4am for the drive over.

 

[ont/ohana]

We are taking our third trip in 24 days out of Buffalo. We go through customs at the boarder but still show our passports while going through security. It is a small and very convient airport and has a coffee shop once you get through security open. It was open at 5:30am and we ate muffins/bagels and juice and tea. I brought the kids more snacks as we had a conn and did not arrive till 11am last year.
We brought cards and books for all of us and had a wonderful time!!
The duty free on the way home is just before the boarder and we got some incredible deals.
We never have stayed in the hotel because I work night before but our friends say there is a great mall very close to airport and they usually pick up some florida clothes before heading out!!
Have fun and good luck!

 

[Camilo]

How much are we expected to pay for parking there for a week? Is it really worth the cost, against flying from Toronto?

 

[dbmarie]

On their website you can print a coupon. Preferred Long Term $48 weekly max or Long Term A $38 weekly max.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Flying out of Buffalo next month for the first time. Spending Friday night and leaving on SW on Saturday morning.

 

[momto1disneyfan]

We flew out of Buffalo in August and never had a problem. We flew with US airlines and thought it was great. Our flight was at 8.50am so we actually just left home at 3:00 in the morning and parked our car at sunpark. It is very safe. They pick you up and drop you off right at your car. I would do it again.

 

[Donald - my hero]

How much are we expected to pay for parking there for a week? Is it really worth the cost, against flying from Toronto?

Hey there to the boards come on in and join the

It is worth it??? Good grief YES!! FOUR (yes 4) of us are flying for $542 RETURN! You can not touch that outta Pearson. You would be lucky to get one person return for that rate. That price includes all taxes etc.

We are staying at the new-ish SLEEP-INN for a rate of 109 since we need a big-ish room. That includes parking, breakast that starts @ 4:30 and SHUTTLE to and from the airport! I have great directions if you want to get to all the hotels and airport that keep you off the toll highway in New York.

HAVE FUN!

 

[dsneygirl]

We just flew out of Buffalo again on Fri morning (we're in Seattle now) and it was probably our 15th maybe 20th trip. You check in at the counter, check your luggage and then proceed to security. At both airline check in and security you need to show photo ID. A drivers license in sufficient.

When you drive over the border tell the agent you are going to the airport and then going to Florida and for how long. It is very common. Most flights we have been on to Orlando lately are I would say 50% Canadian. We usually have our printed flight confirmation at the border as well to show the agent if asked.

 

[tnt39kids]

We are flying from Buffalo this Tuesday morning on the 7:10am flight so will leave here areound 4am for the drive over.

Looks like we'll be on the same flight! We're driving down tomorrow as dh wants to hit the Pro Bass Shop in Vaughn and dd13 and I wanna hit the Walden Galleria mall. We're staying at the Sleep Inn... I'm really excited

 

[motherof4]

We are flying out of Buffalo for the first time this January! Can't beat the prices, costing us $1075 return for 6 of us! We are flying with JetBlue because southwest was more expensive! Our flight doesn't leave till 530pm, so we don't need to stay in a hotel overnight! Thanks for the tips and info!

 

[sequins]

Photo Health card still ok for id if you dont drive? Had a bad dream that we couldnt go thru security and am really scared...normal I guess?

 

[palmickey2005]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I knew I could count on getting some advice here.


We'll only be going on our WDW and Wonder Cruise in 2008 but who knows maybe we can do a practice trial run sometime this winter ?

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Also, one tip.

When driving to Buffalo, don't cross at Queenston/Lewiston bridge. Go to Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, it's much faster.

We tried to cross at Q/L at the end of August and it took 3 hours to get through customs into the US. I've heard similar stories since then.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Here are some great directions that we used in the spring!

Depart on Peace Bridge (East)
and travel 0.5 mi / 0.8 km

Entering New York


Turn Right onto I-190 [Gov Thomas E Dewey Thruway]
and travel 2.2 mi / 3.5 km

At exit 6, turn RIGHT onto Ramp
and travel 0.3 mi / 0.6 km

Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-33 [Elm St]
and travel 9.1 mi / 14.6 km

Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-33
and travel 0.3 mi / 0.5 km

Bear RIGHT (East) onto SR-33 [Genesee St]
and travel 1.1 mi / 1.7 km

 

[Armadillo4]

Many thanks to everyone here posting about flying out of BUF. This will be a great help to my Toronto-based family members for a trip next March. They hadn't thought about this option before and were happily surprised to find out how cheap the airfare is from BUF vs. YYZ. Whoo-hoo!!!