Direct Air from Niagara Falls

[greenclan67]

Has anyone flown this route before? Also has anyone ever bought their family ties event? $169 return and you book your flights later. So you can buy them in bulk. I need to fly on March 10th, 11th or 12th, and back on the 22nd or 23rd. Would it be hard to do that, to book my exact dates? Also, anyone have any luck with car rentals there? TIA

 

[dancin Disney style]

I haven't done it but friends of mine have. They spend the winter in FL and have bought the family ties tickets several times in the last 2 years. They think that the whole thing is fantastic. They have used the tickets to come home for Christmas, a graduation and just to visit the grandkids. All at various times from mid December through March. From what she told me once you buy it you can book any flight you want.

 

[greenclan67]

MMMMM very interesting. I know they have alot of sales all the time. But it would be a little less then $800 for us to fly this airline with the family ties event. Which really is a very good price. Niagara Falls is a tiny bit closer, but not enough of a real difference between BUffalo and NF. I will take a closer look then! Thanks

 

[bande]

You may want to check the web site if you are seriously looking at this as an alternative. Just received email to use "YLXEM" as the promo code when booking flights to receive half price fare. Couldn't check if this was accurate since my internet connection right now is acting up. Was able to access earlier and flights in Feb.2012 were $99 at full price so assume $50 for half price. Hope this helps. Not sure of details of Family Ties event so can't comment how this compares to that.

 

[Kurby]

Looks like they don't run past mid December

I looked to see how much it would cost for a new years trip and it says dates not available.

 

[greenclan67]

I knew about the family ties sale as I got it this morning. That is why I was asking. I just wondered if anybody has bought the family ties and then booked with any problems!

 

[LSmith]

I do NOT recommend the Family Ties from Direct Air. We purchased four tickets about a year ago (Oct) through this program. We paid a total of $636. There are huge black out dates with this program and the dates that aren't blacked out allow VERY FEW seats on each plane using Family Ties.

You cannot book by internet with Family Ties. You have to call but not until a certain date. Good luck getting through on that date. I started calling as soon as they were opened and didn't speak to someone until at least 7 hours later. You can not stay "on hold". You must call back. I really wonder if they just keep their phones off the hook all day.

Of course there were no seats available for my dates when I finally got through. They only allow a few tickets on each plane for each flight for Family Ties. They would not tell me how many tickets were allowed though. I tried for a week before March Break, a week after March Break and Easter and a week in May. Nope, nothing. What they did offer me was to "upgrade" my tickets for those dates which would basically double the cost.

Personally I think this is nothing short of a scam. Read the fine print and then read it again. Google Direct Air Family Ties Scam.

I wrote on a Spirit Airlines thread about getting stuck on Direct Air from Myrtle Beach to Niagara Falls. The planes they use are horrific. You can search to see what I thought of Direct Air.

Spirit Airlines and Direct Airlines will never get my business again.

BTW I still have the coupon for Direct Air although it is probably worthless now. I actually just called to see when it did/does expire and of course the lines were busy. No holding.

 

[proud_canadian]

I didn't read the other posts but just flew from niagara to lakeland with direct air last week. We didn't have family ties tickets but did purchase at the 50% off price. I think we paid just under 700 for 4 of us, with 2 bags each way.

I would highly recommend it. The airport was beautiful and so much easier than a large airport. Also, when landing, the luggage was out so quickly. The whole process was very easy.

The flight itself was very no frills. There was beverage service but you had to pay (we just bought drinks and brought them on), and there is no entertainment system, but the flight is short. I think the flight attendants were bored as they kept coming by about 20 times to see if anyone had any garbage, lol.

Going back we had to stop in myrtle beach but that was very easy as well, we didn't even get off the plane. PM me with any questions.

 

[2forMe]

I didn't read the other posts but just flew from niagara to lakeland with direct air last week. We didn't have family ties tickets but did purchase at the 50% off price. I think we paid just under 700 for 4 of us, with 2 bags each way.

I would highly recommend it. The airport was beautiful and so much easier than a large airport. Also, when landing, the luggage was out so quickly. The whole process was very easy.

The flight itself was very no frills. There was beverage service but you had to pay (we just bought drinks and brought them on), and there is no entertainment system, but the flight is short. I think the flight attendants were bored as they kept coming by about 20 times to see if anyone had any garbage, lol.

Going back we had to stop in myrtle beach but that was very easy as well, we didn't even get off the plane. PM me with any questions.

How was the car rental/transportation situation...

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I do NOT recommend the Family Ties from Direct Air. We purchased four tickets about a year ago (Oct) through this program. We paid a total of $636. There are huge black out dates with this program and the dates that aren't blacked out allow VERY FEW seats on each plane using Family Ties.

You cannot book by internet with Family Ties. You have to call but not until a certain date. Good luck getting through on that date. I started calling as soon as they were opened and didn't speak to someone until at least 7 hours later. You can not stay "on hold". You must call back. I really wonder if they just keep their phones off the hook all day.

Of course there were no seats available for my dates when I finally got through. They only allow a few tickets on each plane for each flight for Family Ties. They would not tell me how many tickets were allowed though. I tried for a week before March Break, a week after March Break and Easter and a week in May. Nope, nothing. What they did offer me was to "upgrade" my tickets for those dates which would basically double the cost.

Personally I think this is nothing short of a scam. Read the fine print and then read it again. Google Direct Air Family Ties Scam.

I wrote on a Spirit Airlines thread about getting stuck on Direct Air from Myrtle Beach to Niagara Falls. The planes they use are horrific. You can search to see what I thought of Direct Air.

Spirit Airlines and Direct Airlines will never get my business again.

BTW I still have the coupon for Direct Air although it is probably worthless now. I actually just called to see when it did/does expire and of course the lines were busy. No holding.

With this program I have so far purchased 8 vouchers, redeemed 8 vouchers on the system and I am awaiting our flight this January. I did NOT have to call to redeem my vouchers. I used the on line link they provide on the first page of their website. I had to enter multiple flights that I was interested in and got my first choice via email. So far so good, I need to call and pay for my luggage and that's all. I am not interested in fancy planes when I can get a deal like this! I just need a safe plane...
As to another PP's question about car rental, we are flying into Melbourne and they had multiple companies on site to rent from. Lakeland only has one and it was still being set up when I first was looking into flights so I didn't want to chance it.

 

[tamarabannon]

I really need to know about getting to and from the airport from Lakeland/Disney.

I've read it's about 50 miles - so a cab would be quite expensive.

Is cabbing to Orlando's main airport and then taking the Magical Express an option?

If you rent a car, what are the options for returning it at Disney? *(we're staying at POP, if that matters)

Help pretty please!

 

[wee-haggis]

I really need to know about getting to and from the airport from Lakeland/Disney.

I've read it's about 50 miles - so a cab would be quite expensive.

Is cabbing to Orlando's main airport and then taking the Magical Express an option?

If you rent a car, what are the options for returning it at Disney? *(we're staying at POP, if that matters)

Help pretty please!

I have a car reserved with Hertz at Lakeland and I will be dropping it off at the Hertz location in Port Canaveral later the same day. I will also be using it for the return leg from the Port to lakeland.
Each way cost me about $40 plus gas. I'm assuming you can do the same from Lakeland to Orlando locations (other then the main ones....Hertz are located at Bonnet Creek,Gaylord palms and Caribe Royal Hotels.
I'm guessing you could also return it to Hertz in the Airport and get the Magical Express.

 

[proud_canadian]

For the poster that asked about the car rental situation at lakeland, there were no issues.

When we got off the flight, DH went to wait in line for hertz, and I went to get the bags. He was done with the car before the bags all even came out. When we left there were a few people still in line who waited to get their bags then get in line. There was a longer line up for the transportation shuttle. There were 2 hertz agents.

When we returned the car, the hertz office was closed so we just dropped the paperwork and keys. Our credit card was charged the correct amount.

Easy peasy

I liked alamo and choosing my own car last year, but would definitely do direct air/lakeland again.

 

[tamarabannon]

Ended up getting US Airways at way better times, with Magic Transportation for under $1000 for 4, plus I prechose my seats.

I will definitely try directair one of these times, but my husband was leary this time.