Calling all Edmontonians

[chimo2u]

Ok, maybe I'll restate what info I am most interested in to get started!! What airline do most of you fly with to Orlando? I DEFINITELY don't want United again... LONG 7 1/2 hr. Flight with no Entertainment system (NO TV/Radios). Also, is there a flight that you could recommend that goes direct from Edmonton?
Thanks for your help!
Marie

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

We have gone with Continental, United, Delta & Northwest. We like Northwest the best for how it is broken up for each flight. I have not ever seen direct flights from Edmonton, just Calgary through Westjet. We were not crazy about United either, but they have been the cheapest for all the dats we are considering. As for the tv we bring a portable DVD anyways, which was good when we flew Continental. They had tv's, but the same show on both flights on the way down and only tv's on the first flight coming back. For us it usually depends on the price and times and are just glad we are going to see the mouse and make the best out of the flight. United once stayed on the tarmac in Orlando for 2 1/2 hours with us in the plane fixing the tail and we missed our connecting flight home in Chicago and had to wait 8 hours with a 5 & 7 year old.... But we saw the mouse!!!!

 

[so_are_you]

we couldn't find a direct we ended up going with Westjet because of the satilitte tv We flew them to mexico and the kids watch treehouse and YTV till just over texas when we lost signal
we are using airmile though we have a westjet gold master card so its only 1400 airmiles per person and $208 taxes

 

[bev r.]

I've redeemed aeroplan points 2 times to florida, which went via Toronto.
The trip in 2006 I paid for flights and flew down on Delta and returned using Air Canada. The flight down stopped in Salt Lake City and in Tulsa Oklahoma. There was less than an hour wait between flights. The Air Canada return flight was via Toronto. The reason for these selections was based upon price and schedule.

 

[nmccrea]

Due to a wonderful price and the fact that we haven't flown(?)in over 10 years.We will be going United.Hopefully everything will be okay.And like 1 poster said,at least we get to see the mouse!!Yeah.WE also plan on bringing our DVD player.I looked and looked,but all flights out of here have at least 1 stop,no direct.Darn.

 

[ABCanada]

Gone Delta, United and NWA.
Delta flights were fine but they frequently change their schedule without notifying you. An under 8 hr trip each way was rescheduled to 14 and 20 hrs. Fortunately we were able to change to another airline but had to pay more.
NWA and United were both fine although I would avoid Chicago connections with United.
Without a direct flight we find it makes more sense to fly a US airline because you clear customs in Edmonton. Clearing in Calgary or Toronto requires a longer layover.

 

[tiggerrr]

I would vote for a US airline as well, just because it can be much more painful to clear customs in the middle of your flight, especially if your first flight is delayed. Plus, I really don't like Pearson airport in Toronto.

I have flown United, Delta, Northwest, US Airways. My favorite is Northwest because Minneapolis seems to be on the most direct route to Orlando of any of the airlines, and they have been on time most of the time. I'll probably fly NWA from Edmonton to US cities (including Orlando) this year about 8-10 times. Second vote went to US Airways that had entertainment on the Edmonton-Phoenix leg. This isn't always the case though.

My least favorite by far is United. They have lost my luggage more than all other airlines combined. The plane from Edmonton to Chicago (or Denver) is just too small for my comfort. Plus, more than half the time we have flown to Chicago, there is a weather delay. The problem is that United has most often been the cheapest alternative.

The only time we've ever used Westjet is when flying on airmiles. Otherwise, their regular rate is just too high. Our August trip would have been $900/pp with Westjet and is only $377 with United (ugh!)

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Northwest is our choice as well - their flight times are usually the best for our schedule and as CrazyDisneyMommy1 said, the flight is broken up into 2 shorter flights.

Flight times and flight lengths are more important to us than inflight entertainment since we bring our own with us, so if the airline doesn't have any, it really doesn't matter. We also agree with tiggerrr and ABCanada, that clearing customs here in Edmonton is a plus.

To answer your question about direct flights, I don't believe there are any direct flights from Edmonton.

Bonny

 

[HappieMommie]

I am so happy to have found this Cdn section! I am in Edmonton, and we are taking our 4.5 yr old and our 1.5 yr old (then) to WDW in September. I love all the advice - I have noticed that there is always one WAAAY cheaper airline, (a US one, can't remember which), and I was wondering what's the best way to go.

Would you recommend flying through the night with these little ones, so they sleep, or should we leave late am - noon and arrive in the pm? Just seems like such a waste to spend 2 days of vacay flying. Any advice?

 

[Pokemom]

I wouldn't recommend flying through the night. You would be lucky to get an hour or two of sleep on each leg of the flight and you would have to wake the little ones up when you change planes. You would all arrive exhausted in Orlando and would probably not be able to check into your hotel until afternoon. Your first day would probably be "wasted" anyways and your children would probably be cranky and tired for a couple of days. I think it would be better to fly during the day, get to your hotel and relax that evening, go to bed early and get an early start the next day.

 

[nmccrea]

Can I ask why not through Chicago?This is the way we are going.We have not been on an airplane for over 10 years and then it was only between here and Inuvik,NWT.

 

[tiggerrr]

Can I ask why not through Chicago?This is the way we are going.We have not been on an airplane for over 10 years and then it was only between here and Inuvik,NWT.

Delays. Chicago O'Hare is one of the busiest airports and my experience is that it is very prone to bad weather. If you get a storm, look out. Planes are going to back up sometimes for hours. Maybe my experience isn't representative but I calculate that in the last 5 years I have been delayed in Chicago 7 times out of the 11 I have flown through there, sometimes missing connections in other cities.

On the other hand, flying Northwest through Minneapolis, I have only one been delayed by weather in 15 trips in the last 5 years.

Just my experience. YMMV.