Driving to US for cheaper flights?

[nosnobunny2006]

Southwest isn't always the best for rates. One of the things that I like about flying out of Buffalo is that you have your choice of many carriers. So far I've used Delta, US Air, Southwest and AirTran. They were all comparable so it all boiled down to who had the best route and rates for my destination. When it comes to getting a good rate, I have no loyalty for any particular airline.

Beth

 

[Applemomma]

Enjoy it while you can. Three years ago we drove from Buffalo to Toronto to fly to Hawaii because it was $200/person cheaper. It's all about the money!

I won't disagree with you there! Our taxi driver in Portland told us he drove to Toronto to fly home to Kenya because it was substantially cheaper....must be something about the long hauls.

 

[sk8jdgca]

I've been going spirit air out of detroit. For this trip I got 100 round trip. Last year I went to Florida on a last monute thing and got 5cents there and $55 back. Parking is way cheaper than TO and for me much closer drive

 

[Ladybug Mom]

We just planned a last minute trip, flying from Bangor to Sanford via Allegiant Air for 6 and mini-van rental for the week $1300. As of today he same fare from Saint John to Orlando on Air Canada would cost $9307.50. I know this isn't a true reflection of the differences, but you would think that the airline would discount their last minute fares like certain carriers in the US.

The taxes and surcharges here really peeve me (I'm former airline employee too pre-911), things have gotten ridiculous since then.

 

[cdotla]

Wow!

We flew from Halifax to Orlando on West Jet May 2 for $182.

Then we flew home on Air Canada May 9 for $69.

I priced fares from Bangor and Portland ME before leaving. Not even close to the cheap fares we got direct out of Halifax.

Not to mention the time, effort and aggravation of driving to Maine.

 

[mommylo]

We just can't justify the airfare from Toronto. For our July trip, Westjet for the 5 of us would be around $3000, Southwest, $1100. For our Christmas trip, would be around $2800 for 4 of us, Jetblue $1600. I tried to redeem Airmiles for 4 tickets with Westjet and taxes alone will be $800!!
Plus, we really like the Buffalo airport, curbside checkin, stroller security line...

 

[disneynuts777]

I agree....I just cannot justify paying to fly out of Toronto (and we only live 30 minutes away). This past March we flew out of buffalo on Delta down and Airtran return for 1100.00 for 4. Air canada or westjet or even Delta out of Toronto I was looking at between 2500.00-2800.00. This August we are flying airtran r/t for 571.00 (only 3 of us). Out of Toronto 1500-1800.00. It is so worth the drive!!!!

 

[Charleyann]

My friend and I are both going to Disney this December. She opted to fly out of Fredericton and I opted to drive to Portland, Maine and fly out of there. Her tickets for two people were roughly $1626.00 for both or $813.50 each(taxes in).

Mine were $218.00 return(taxes in) for two people or $436.00 total. Difference of $1190.00!

We are leaving 7 day earlier. We are Staying in Ft. Lauderdale for 3 days at $178.00. and taking a 5 day cruise to the carribean. Total for two people with taxes in and fee is $532.00.

Our Flights from Miami - Orlando were $85 each or $175.

Our overall total for flying out of Portland, Staying in Ft. Lauderdale, Taking a 5 day cruise and then flying out of Miami to Orlando is: $1321.00! . Forgot to add one night hotel with park and fly $58.00 total ! (they are keeping my car a month for this price!)

Total now : $1399.00! Difference of $227.00. We'll keep $100 out for gas ( I wouldn't use that much with my car.) Still leaves $127!

I got more for my buck flying out of Portland, Maine and staying in Ft. Lauderdale for 3 nights and taking a 5 day Carribean cruise, plus extra flight between cities!

IMO it is worth flying out of Maine!

Charleyann

 

[Kurby]

WOW - wanna be my travel agent???

We were considering driving down to disney next may. 2 days driving (5 gas fill ups) food, hotel and time was still cheaper then flying AC but if we could get flights out of the states for 218 each x 3 - that alone would be the cost of gas.
maybe we should consider it.

does the airport you fly out of matter? is Buffalo cheaper then Windsor?

who did you book your flight with out of portland?

My friend and I are both going to Disney this December. She opted to fly out of Fredericton and I opted to drive to Portland, Maine and fly out of there. Her tickets for two people were roughly $1626.00 for both or $813.50 each(taxes in).

Mine were $218.00 return(taxes in) for two people or $436.00 total. Difference of $1190.00!

We are leaving 7 day earlier. We are Staying in Ft. Lauderdale for 3 days at $178.00. and taking a 5 day cruise to the carribean. Total for two people with taxes in and fee is $532.00.

Our Flights from Miami - Orlando were $85 each or $175.

Our overall total for flying out of Portland, Staying in Ft. Lauderdale, Taking a 5 day cruise and then flying out of Miami to Orlando is: $1321.00! . Forgot to add one night hotel with park and fly $58.00 total ! (they are keeping my car a month for this price!)

Total now : $1399.00! Difference of $227.00. We'll keep $100 out for gas ( I wouldn't use that much with my car.) Still leaves $127!

I got more for my buck flying out of Portland, Maine and staying in Ft. Lauderdale for 3 nights and taking a 5 day Carribean cruise, plus extra flight between cities!

IMO it is worth flying out of Maine!

Charleyann

 

[Charleyann]

WOW - wanna be my travel agent???

We were considering driving down to disney next may. 2 days driving (5 gas fill ups) food, hotel and time was still cheaper then flying AC but if we could get flights out of the states for 218 each x 3 - that alone would be the cost of gas.
maybe we should consider it.

does the airport you fly out of matter? is Buffalo cheaper then Windsor?

who did you book your flight with out of portland?

Book your flights as soon as they come out. Usually much cheaper......Although Jetblue's everyday price I think is $99 or $104...They have sales too. Right now you can get $50 off if you book by a certain date...

Our cruise booked by Carnival themselves was just $209.00 per person! Keep in mind that is not peak time. I think I will take a 7 day cruise next year if I like this. You can get them as low as 369.00 per person!

Charleyann

Charleyann

 

[maxie]

We just booked 4 tickets with Airmiles for a total of $850. We have never bothered driving to Minneapolis and doubt we ever would.

1.) It would reduce our vacation by 2 days.

2.) Would rather poke my eye out than sit in a car with my young kids (18 months and 4 years) for 8 hours.

3.) I earn so many airmiles I've already redeemed for our flights, US passes, Disney ticket and now am working on miles for our resort. So not worried about saving couple $100 on plane tickets. All I'm paying for is food, spending money, part of the resort and some miscellaneous like tipping and taxi to US.

4.) By the time you pay for gas, parking, hotel and the inconvenience of driving 8 hours I don't think you have saved much for a family of 4 especially since I only paid $850 for flights from Winnipeg.

 

[snickerboo]

I have to ask: is anyone not driving to the US for cheaper flights anymore? LOL Seriously, I priced out our flights through Air Canada Tango from Toronto and it was....get ready....$3166 (family of four). Who is paying that?!

The first time we went from Buffalo, the last time Detroit, this time Detroit. We live in the London area so Detroit is just as close.

 

[averysmom]

WOW! That is a great deal!! Our flights were $625 (lowest) from Winnipeg, and from Minneapolis they are $313...It is just great that we don't mind the drive!!

We must have lucked out - we're flying NW for 1610.00 (CDN) for the 4 of us out of Winnipeg.

We got decent flight times too - early in the am leaving and 5:35 coming home.

 

[mkmommy]

I have booked DCL airfare for our cruise next March. The DCL airfare is $450 pp for Toronto which is a really good price for Toronto especially for springbreak, Buffalo is $410 pp so not a huge savings, but I am still going to fly from Buffalo it is just so much easier, there is no way I want to be at Pearson the Saturday of spring break. Last time I flew Toronto to Orlando it took me 3 1/2 hours to get through customs, wait for luggage, take the shuttle to the car and then drive home. In December it took us 4 hours from Buffalo to get home but we stopped had lunch and did some shopping.

I am sure I could get cheaper airfare from Buffalo for next years cruise but I will not be able to leave a day earlier so I want the DCL airfare, so we do not miss the boat.

I am sure my husband is not happy that I have discovered the Buffalo airport as the trips have increased.

For this December I just got $91 plus tax return Buffalo to West Palm Beach and then returning Orlando to Buffalo with the $25 Mother's day coupons that Air Tran had this past weekend.

 

[MrMarv]

Why are airfares in Canada so high?

Are there lots of fees, a lack of competition, or does the government set all airfares?

I haven't been to Montreal or Toronto in several years; do Montreal residents routinely drive to either Burlington, Portland, or Albany NY for reasonable airfares?

 

[Charleyann]

Why are airfares in Canada so high?

Are there lots of fees, a lack of competition, or does the government set all airfares?

I haven't been to Montreal or Toronto in several years; do mot Montreal residents drive to either Burlington, Portland, or Albany NY for reasonable airfares?

Sometimes the tax is more then the ticket! You could pay $69 for a ticket but when you added on taxes, airport fees, surcharges etc....you are looking at $360.! Here in Fredricton, only airline out is Air Canada. They are high priced!

Charleyann

 

[snickerboo]

This was just on Global News Morning yesterday. The travel expert says it's the airport taxes and fees that are killing us and each airport charges differently. It's funny, though, because dh travels internationally a lot for business and he flies from TO for international because it's about the same as flying from the US, but he flies from Detroit if he's going anywhere in the US because it's so much cheaper.

Global was saying this morning that Westjet is adding a fuel surcharge to tickets starting today, anywhere from (I think they said) $30-45 per ticket. They said Air Canada already did that. Even more reason to fly from the US.

 

[b-1]

I have found that NW's lowest prices on on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. so if you can fly on those days you can usually get a decent airfare like $398. However I have been watching NW daily for one particular flight and it changes radically from morning to night and from day to day.

example: I need a one way from ywg to mco on a friday in sept. and I want the last flight from ywg. The ONE WAY has gone from a low (so far) of $285 to a high of $425. Yesterday the ONE WAY was $308 and today it is $425. I am willing to play the waiting game on this one...

 

[disneynuts777]

For sure it is the fees... there is the pst, gst, airport tax, fuel surcharge, insurance, booking fee, airport improvement fees, Air navigation fee, security fee, another fee if you want to pick your seat, a second bag fee, arrival and departure fee. There is also a fee if you used a travel agent to book your ticket!!! This is no joke. My DH's boss used to laugh at me when I would summit an expense for a a flight from Toronto to Ottawa and the taxes would be more than the fare.
Flight 118.00+taxes 120.00=238.00

 

[AndyMcV]

For sure.

For us for our trip in June we are flying SouthWest out of Buffalo instead of using Air Canada out of Toronto. It was a no brainer for us. Air Canada total was about $2600 and SoutWest is less then $800 for the 4 of us. The extra 2 hour drive is well worth the savings to us.