Canadians put the 'international' into BUF

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Article in today's USA Today quoting the Business First of Buffalo publication:

Nearly a third of the customers using Buffalo Niagara International Airport are Canadians seeking lower fares on the U.S. side of the border, according to Business First of Buffalo (free registration). Buffalo's airport sits less than 20 miles from the U.S.-Canadian border. The publication writes that Canadians are being lured to the airport "because of low-cost air carriers such as Southwest, JetBlue and AirTran" and the lower fares that competition from those airlines has helped bring to Buffalo.

Due largely to high trans-border taxes and Canadian aviation fees, flights to Florida, New York and other popular U.S. destinations often cost dramatically less from Buffalo than from nearby Canadian airports such as Toronto and Hamilton. Business First also notes that Southwest -– which began flying to Buffalo in 2000 -– has overtaken US Airways as the city's busiest commercial airline. With overall passenger numbers surging past expectations, the airport is now planning to add additional security lanes and retail options. Passenger traffic at the airport has nearly doubled at the current facility since it opened in 1997, Business First reports.

 

[dsneygirl]

Doesn't surprise me at all. Especially now that the dollar is so high. Back on 2000 it was more like 50 cents, not 5 or 10 like know. It is so much easier and more convient than dealing with Pearson and of course the cost savings are unreal.

 

[Nickles]

You're telling me ... a trip to Orlando out of Toronto was costing my family of three $1400 CDN. This wasn't even a direct flight. I got return flights from Buffalo to Orlando DIRECT for $470 US. Factor in parking at the airport, it's a grand total of $510 US. I saved over $900.

Pearson will never see my money if I'm flying to the US. No way.

 

[101DalmFan]

Two years ago, a friend and I flew down to Virginia. The return flight out of Pearson: $750 CDN. The return flight out of Buffalo, converted to CDN dollars: $250.

Yup, we each saved five hundred bucks! Buffalo is the way to go!!!

 

[princess aurora]

So true, so true and you'd think Air Canada or the like would want to do something about it....nope. So we'll be fine saving 100's of dollars and putting our money into the US economy in Buffalo.

In fact we'll bethere in Sept.

 

[trivial]

I love living so close to the border!

 

[101DalmFan]

So true, so true and you'd think Air Canada or the like would want to do something about it....nope. So we'll be fine saving 100's of dollars and putting our money into the US economy in Buffalo.

In fact we'll bethere in Sept.

While I don't much like Air Canada, they don't take the hit for this. It's all the departure taxes, airport taxes, etc. My girlfriend is in the travel business and she says even a FREE ticket still costs over a couple hundred bucks because of all the taxes the traveller must pay

 

[SaraMc]

Yeah Buffalo air fares! Also the parking is much cheaper too

 

[Disney_Mama]

We fly out of the states as well but along the east coast. Last Nov for us to fly out of Fredericton to Orlando would have cost our family of 4 $4000cdn We drove to Portland Maine and paid $1200 Canadian. Canadian airports need to do something!

 

[nosnobunny2006]

Buffalo has been our airport of choice for several years now. The only time I've flown out of Pearson recently was last Feb when my sister and I took a package deal to the Caribbean.

My extended family of 6 just got back from Florida last week. We flew AirTran at a total cost open-jawed ticket of US $1254. The cost for the same flight out of Pearson was over CDN $4200. It was a no-brainer for me.

Beth

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

With the fuel being higher in Canada and apparently the labor costs, the Canadian airlines have a disadvantage. And then the international taxes are the real killers. The U.S. has an international departure tax and a sercurity surcharge and a Immigration fee and a Customs user fee, so it's not just the Canadian taxes. But the Canadian taxes plus Canadian international taxes add plenty. Add it all up and the price of international flights to/from Canada versus you driving over the border and taking a U.S. domestic flight is HUNDREDS$ more.

Those of you near Buffalo, Detroit and Seattle can do well quite easily.

COME ON DOWN..........we need the business!!

BobK/Orlando

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

While I admit the prices out of Buffalo are amaizing, my family and I still choose to fly out of Toronto because it makes things so much easier. So if everyone else likes to fly out of Buffalo that's fine, my family and I have our own reasons for sticking with Toronto and I am sure others can respect that.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

Absolutely I can respect that. But for us, it's either an hour drive to Pearson at a cost of over $4200 or a two hour drive to Buffalo at a cost of $1200. That's before we add in the outrageous prices to park our car in Toronto vs $38 a week in Buffalo. Which would you chose?

Beth

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Absolutely I can respect that. But for us, it's either an hour drive to Pearson at a cost of over $4200 or a two hour drive to Buffalo at a cost of $1200. That's before we add in the outrageous prices to park our car in Toronto vs $38 a week in Buffalo. Which would you chose?

Beth

My family and I never drive to Pearson, we always have one of those Airport cars take us there and the cost is usually $50-$60, so it's not that bad. So like I said before my family and I will keep flying out of Toronto because in our opinions it's a lot easier then the drive to Buffalo. At least with flying out of Toronto we save on gas $ and $ that would have gone to spending the night at a Hotel in Buffalo.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

My family and I never drive to Pearson, we always have one of those Airport cars take us there and the cost is usually $50-$60, so it's not that bad. So like I said before my family and I will keep flying out of Toronto because in our opinions it's a lot easier then the drive to Buffalo. At least with flying out of Toronto we save on gas $ and $ that would have gone to spending the night at a Hotel in Buffalo.

It stands to reason that any family that can afford regular stays at the Contemporary Resort with room rates beginning at $400/night is probably not concerned with saving a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on airfares. Your choice is a valid one. But for many others the savings on airfares via Buffalo allow the trip to occur in the first place or allow for multiple visits each year. Neither side is wrong in their decision-making.

BobK/Orlando