FAQ: Flying Out of Buffalo OR Detroit

[CanadianPaco]

Please leave yourself at least an hour and a half to two hours for the bridge/customs. It has been a nightmare lately. DH was on his way home from work on Thursday (drives the 402). Once cars got just past exit 6 (modeland road) they were throwing their cars in reverse, backing up and taking the exit ramp. Once you went past the exit, you could see the line up of cars.The lines were backed up to there. One person even drove down the on ramp backwards to get off the 402 there was someone driving up it that also had to start backing up to get out of the person's way. It's crazy out there.

We always check the border/customs websites - it helps our planning.

 

[tgropp]

We are staying at the Westin in the airport and we want to take a taxi to the airport hotel area and find a nice restaurant to eat at. Any Suggestions?

 

[phabric]

I am interested in Buffalo's parking. Is there a coupon off for one of the lots? Which lot is better?

Usually we stay over with a hotel that has parking but this time our flight is at 5pm so will have plenty of time to get there from Toronto.

 

[iX.]

I fly out of Buffalo *a lot* for business.

I live about 1.5h from the NY boarder and about 3h from the Windsor border.

Last time we went to DW I couldn't resist the flight savings and went to Detroit.

I picked the long term lot that was fairly close but not the most expensive. I paid more to park my car there ($150) than I did to rent a mid-size car for a week in Florida ($138).

The return border crossing was a 3 hour nightmare. The drive is long and dull. Navigating in Detroit is difficult, between constructions and bad signs. Anywhere you get off the highway for a bite or a pee break is pretty much lock-the-doors-and-keep-moving ghetto.

Detroit airport is easy enough once you're there... the tram is great, lots of moving sidewalks, terminal couldn't be simpler for its size.

I'd seriously look at the stay-park-fly option there... gives you time to get there get lost, whatever, without worrying about a missed flight and probably is cheaper than airport parking.

But by comparison... typically 15 minute Queenston-Lewiston crossing, Buffalo is like a big easy bus stop, usually about 10 minutes at security. Airtran does hub out of Atlanta but stopovers are often 45 minutes. There are direct flights once a day. It's easily worth a couple hundred more on the entire trip for four to fly out of Buffalo, even if I have to transfer once. I once got out of my car (arrived late) and within 20 minutes, yes, literally, I was sitting on a plane. No special treatment or allowances, that's just how long it took.

 

[phabric]

Southwest opened their flights to November 4 today.

Their next update for flights will be May 26 for flights to January 6,2012.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

We are going to fly out of Flint, only an hour from Sarnia. DW's family is in Sarnia, so we can sleep overnight there and head out bright and very early to the airport. my FIL is going to drive us out, and in his opinion, it's easier to drive to. We got decent rates, and as a plus, the flight times give us a little more time to enjoy the parks...

 

[Susan595]

I got what I think is a great deal out of Detroit for 3 of us 604 bux and that's reserving our seats. We are just outside of London so DTW was the obvious choice for us, is there a hotel that connects onto that airport and if not where is a good place to spend the night before? I've always flown out of Toronto DTW is a first for me, but the difference in price was ridiculous I don't know how they can justify that.

 

[tgropp]

I got what I think is a great deal out of Detroit for 3 of us 604 bux and that's reserving our seats. We are just outside of London so DTW was the obvious choice for us, is there a hotel that connects onto that airport and if not where is a good place to spend the night before? I've always flown out of Toronto DTW is a first for me, but the difference in price was ridiculous I don't know how they can justify that.

The Westin hotel is located right inside McNamara Terminal and it is an awesome hotel. They have a package this year that you can get one nights stay and 10 days parking (valet) for $129.00 plus tax. This is for a Thurs-Fri-Sat night stay. Use promo code LNC

 

[phabric]

Anybody know if there is a covered parking garage at the Buffalo airport? We are thinking of going through Buffalo at Christmas and a covered garage would saving us shovelling out the car after a flight.

 

[alohamom]

I dont think so, I am not 100% sure but we have flown many times in winter and had to come out to a snow covered (and I mean COVERED!) car. IT may exsist though, check out their website http://www.buffaloairport.com/

 

[phabric]

I dont think so, I am not 100% sure but we have flown many times in winter and had to come out to a snow covered (and I mean COVERED!) car. IT may exsist though, check out their website http://www.buffaloairport.com/

Thanks for the site.

They say Short Term Garage, so it must be covered, the other lots don't say garage.. It is $168 weekly max. It might be worth it in the winter months.

 

[Susan595]

Thanks I just booked the room, makes things even more exciting for me I didn't get the 129 rate though 149 which still fine, parking for a penny a day

 

[LondonMommy]

Hi... first time poster here : )

We're planning a last minute trip to WDW (11 more sleeps!), and will be flying out of Detroit for the first time.

I have called the airport parking services (the various coloured lots), and they do not allow you to pre-book. I don't like leaving that loose end. I would hate to arrive to find no spots available and scramble to make other, likely more expensive arrangements.

I have seen the referrals for both Airlines Parking, and Qwik Park (although can't find rates on QP's website). Would you recommend one of these over the Airport's own lots at all? Can you pre-book with them?

We're looking for a resonable price for a 6 night stay and will not be staying overnight in Detroit because our flight doesnt leave until after 9pm.

Any tips/suggestions welcome!

Roxanne

 

[teamaaron]

getting a ride to buffalo by a close friend, but ya flying out of buffalo really saved us A LOT of money. Leaving via Continnental from Buffalo on Monday May 2nd.

See a bunch of you there if you're going.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Which terminal does Air Trans fly our of in the Detroit airport? North or McNamara?

 

[thehowells]

macnamrra, as far as i can remember

 

[phabric]

I tried Priceline for August 20 one night up to $85 US and was rejected. I went to Hotwire and got Quality Inn for $95 CDN for a total of $117 CDN.

Does anybody know if you can leave your car there or will be have to pay to park at the airport?

 

[Trinityloo]

Hello everyone! I am from Toronto and have been to WDW a few times now, but have never flown out of Buffalo before. I am looking for any and all tips you may have for me regarding how I can best pull this off! Off the top of my head are the following questions:

1. What airlines have you used?
2. Do you stay at a hotel the night before and if so, which hotel?
3. Approximately how much money do you think you save by flying out of Buffalo?
4. Do you park at the airport or,as I have read on this thread, at a hotel?

I am sure there are many things that I haven`t even thought of! Any help would be so much appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[son3disfan]

Hello everyone! I am from Toronto and have been to WDW a few times now, but have never flown out of Buffalo before. I am looking for any and all tips you may have for me regarding how I can best pull this off! Off the top of my head are the following questions:

1. What airlines have you used?
2. Do you stay at a hotel the night before and if so, which hotel?
3. Approximately how much money do you think you save by flying out of Buffalo?
4. Do you park at the airport or,as I have read on this thread, at a hotel?

I am sure there are many things that I haven`t even thought of! Any help would be so much appreciated!
Thanks!

All of your questions can be answered in the previous posts in this thread. Start at page one....and work your way through! There has been some awesome info posted, maps, and even hotel/parking info.
This thread was created for travelers from Canada using Buffalo and Detroit airport.
And yes, the savings are quite substial flying out of Buffalo.

 

[Trinityloo]

All of your questions can be answered in the previous posts in this thread. Start at page one....and work your way through! There has been some awesome info posted, maps, and even hotel/parking info.
This thread was created for travelers from Canada using Buffalo and Detroit airport.
And yes, the savings are quite substial flying out of Buffalo.

Thanks! I have read through some of the thread and you are right, there is some very useful information there already. I was just hoping for some more up to date info since most of the entries date back a few years.