Best Airline from Toronto to Orlando?

[VeronicaBride]

We are going to WDW from Oct 24 - Nov 2, 2014 and have booked our stay but are just starting to look for flights. We have been twice before and have done Sunwing (Elite Plus) which we enjoyed. Anyone have any info on the pros and cons of other airlines that frequent this route?

 

[stefanospops]

The biggest con is price for any airline flying out of Pearson. Fly from Buffalo! We've done both and only fly Buffalo now. At Pearson you spend at least an hour just clearing customs at the airport. For US flights they suggest arriving 3 hours before your flight. For Buffalo you can be there as late as 45 minutes before your flight. I would rather spend an hour and a half in my car than an hour trying to clear customs at Pearson.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The biggest con is price for any airline flying out of Pearson. Fly from Buffalo! We've done both and only fly Buffalo now. At Pearson you spend at least an hour just clearing customs at the airport. For US flights they suggest arriving 3 hours before your flight. For Buffalo you can be there as late as 45 minutes before your flight. I would rather spend an hour and a half in my car than an hour trying to clear customs at Pearson.

Depending on where the OP lives, Syracuse might also be an option (and closer than Buffalo....that's the case for us). Very similar experiences (small airports in both locations) and usually better prices than out of Toronto.

 

[Disfanx4]

The biggest con is price for any airline flying out of Pearson. Fly from Buffalo! We've done both and only fly Buffalo now. At Pearson you spend at least an hour just clearing customs at the airport. For US flights they suggest arriving 3 hours before your flight. For Buffalo you can be there as late as 45 minutes before your flight. I would rather spend an hour and a half in my car than an hour trying to clear customs at Pearson.

Ditto!!!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Another vote for flying out of Buffalo. We fly to Orlando an average of 3 times a year and have never found it cost effective to fly out of Toronto. Our favourite Buffalo - Orlando airline is Southwest (free baggage) and normally end up saving about 1/2 of what it would cost out of Toronto. I just can't justify the Canadian taxes.

 

[Gigi22]

We take the train to Montreal, stay overnight at an airport hotel, and fly from Montreal rather than go through Pearson! There should be an ABP (anything but Pearson) club! Looking at going through Newark is also a possibility for us.

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

I completely agree with those who say fly from Buffalo! Much cheaper, and the convenience can't be beat. Last January we had to fly from Toronto because my FIL wouldn't fly from Buffalo (and they were paying for us). We had an early flight, so had to be a t the airport at 3:30am, and spent about 2.5 hours in lines. However if you didn't get there that early, I'm sure you'd miss your flight. It just seemed like such a waste of time, very busy, and with kids it was difficult.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

To answer the OP's original question, WestJet, Air Canada and Air Transat all offer non-stop flights from Toronto to Orlando (assuming flying from Toronto is a "must" for you). You can compare each of those with Sunwing prices to see what comes out best for you.

We have flown Sunwing once.....and said never again. The flight was fine and the FA's were very friendly, but my DH was sooooo squished in his seat that it made the trip very, very uncomfortable for us all . Comfort became as important a consideration for us as price. Also be sure to check on what "extras" will need to be paid over and above your seat fee, because seat selection, baggage charges, and food can all add up quickly.

 

[mkmommy]

I work like 20 minutes from Pearson and I can leave work at 5:00 and make the 8:00PM direct flight on AC or Westjet and get a full day in at the Parks instead of losing a large part of the day driving to Buffalo and flying. At that time of the day US customs in not terribly busy.

AC and Westjet are about the same service wise, who ever is cheaper.

 

[dsneygirl]

I work like 20 minutes from Pearson and I can leave work at 5:00 and make the 8:00PM direct flight on AC or Westjet and get a full day in at the Parks instead of losing a large part of the day driving to Buffalo and flying. At that time of the day US customs in not terribly busy.

AC and Westjet are about the same service wise, who ever is cheaper.

I work AT the airport and fly from Buffalo all the time.

I cannot justify $400 vs $200 per person difference. 2 weeks ago we went Fri afternoon, did all our Xmas shopping. Got on a 7:10 flight and were at the resort around 11:30 (with Magical Express).

For a family of 4 I can find lots of places to spend the extra $800-$1000 we save.

 

[grantclaire]

For the OP. whatever airline is cheaper! Westjet used to be our goto airline. But now they have made the first 4 rows premium and squished the other seats together, they are more like AC, also they now connect more often in NYC. I look at flight times and who has the lower fare. It is a short flight so we just focus on arriving in Orlando. Do not wait to long to book as flights seem to keep going up, good luck!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I like WestJet especially now with Air Canada charge them for everything attitude they seemed to have adopted. I get charging for a second bag but Air Canada charging for all checked bags is ridiculous. I think what they should do is not charge for checked bags but charge anyone who wants to carry on a suitcase.

 

[vacation_junkie]

We are going to WDW from Oct 24 - Nov 2, 2014 and have booked our stay but are just starting to look for flights. We have been twice before and have done Sunwing (Elite Plus) which we enjoyed. Anyone have any info on the pros and cons of other airlines that frequent this route?

Save yourself half your $ and fly out of Buffalo.

We never fly out of Toronto anymore. I refuse to pay 2-3 times as much!

When 3 of us can fly BUF-MCO direct for around $650 total consistently..its worth the trip over the border.

 

[VeronicaBride]

Who do you guys fly out of Buffalo with?

 

[vacation_junkie]

Who do you guys fly out of Buffalo with?

We fly Southwest out of BUF a few times a year and have always had a great experience. Watch their prices. The new promo's / Sales tend to launch on a Tuesday. The October flights won't be released until probably march-ish.

Jet Blue is another option.
Almost every time we flew Jetblue they changed our flight times close to departure day and that always messes up our rental cars and such! So never again.

 

[fuzzy164]

DW prefers to fly out of Pearson(Sunwing) but I like Buffalo particularly Southwest as they seem to have the best prices and more direct flights then JetBlue to MCO. We have flown Sunwing and I felt the seats were a little small( I am a person of size)vs Southwest which were very comfortable.
My vote is fly out of Buffalo.

 

[minnie56]

I prefer Pearson and would never ever fly from Buffalo in the winter...so like AC or WJ but when I do fly from Buffalo I like Jetblue.

 

[darwinsrule]

I prefer Pearson and would never ever fly from Buffalo in the winter...so like AC or WJ but when I do fly from Buffalo I like Jetblue.

The reality is Buffalo is better equiped for winter than Pearson. Flown multiple times in winter. Yes there have been delays but they have been the result of issues from where the planes are coming from.

 

[dsneygirl]

The reality is Buffalo is better equiped for winter than Pearson. Flown multiple times in winter. Yes there have been delays but they have been the result of issues from where the planes are coming from.

I agree. There is also far less volume to deal with. Less passengers in the terminal, etc. They are well prepared. Also SW has so many flights each day they can get you on another one. An airline like Sunwing you have 1 shot a day maybe 2. Something like SW they could get you to Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale etc and then on to Orlando. Lots of options.

We drove home from BUF a week ago in all that snow. Took 2.5 hours instead of 90min. The same storm was hitting the GTA so I am sure a drive home from YYZ would have easily taken almost 2 hours as well.

 

[busyshrew]

If there is an "ABP" - Anywhere But Pearson club, then please let me in!

We also fly out of Buffalo. Tried Pearson the first time but never again. The aggravation of dealing with customs at Pearson is NOT a pleasant way to start a holiday. BUF is a much nicer airport and so much cheaper!

And Buffalo is just as well equipped to deal with snow as Pearson, we've never had trouble with our flights to/from. (Well, there was one time... we had bad turbulence. But somehow I think that wasn't the airport's fault....)