Flights? and booking?

[MillbrookMom]

OK...if you live in the Toronto area which airport do you suggest flying out of? Also, where do you book through? I've looking at expedia and westjet and the expedia price is over $1000 less..........????

 

[erynsmom]

We took our first trip last September and flew out of Buffalo. It was $2200 to fly from Toronto for 3 of us and only $777 from Buffalo. We stayed overnight in Buffalo the night before and ended up staying in Buffalo the night we came home and it still didn't cost us more than $1000 total. I don't think I will ever fly from Toronto unless I can get a super cheap deal.

 

[tone.def]

I fly from Buffalo and book with the airline directly.

 

[disneynuts777]

We normally fly out of Buffalo. Southwest or Airtran.
We are flying out of Toronto this August. It will be a treat because I normally cannot find a fare that I am willing to pay for.

 

[webworm]

We are flying out of Pittsburgh again for March break to Fort Myers and got 5 tickets for $365US during an awesome sale with AirTran during the holidays in December. Flights are nonstop as well! We always fly out of Buffalo, Detroit or Pittsburgh and forget about Pearson!

 

[AndyMcV]

Hi MillbrookMom

Be careful with Expedia as I think most of thier policies state that once you book you can't get any money back.

I aggree with the PP's, look at flying out of Buffalo. I assume that you live in Millbrook. We're in Peterborough. Last June we flew out of Buffalo for the first time with SouthWest. It was great!

It took us about 3.5 to 4 hours to get to Buffalo and we stayed over night at the Sleep Inn ($120 including parking for 2 weeks and a good continental breakfast). Not a big deal really.

We got direct flights from BUF to MCO and at good times too. Departing at 11am and coming back at 12:40pm. I'm still shocked at the flight costs. For my DW, DD5, DS9 and myself it cost us just under $800 total. Yes that's for the 4 of us taxes in, fees in... total. I priced Air Canada and they wanted $2600 for the same thing!!

The Buffalo airport is nice and it's small so it's easy to navigate. I'd highly recommend going through Buffalo.

Check out Southwest for your flight costs at www.southwest.com and the Buffalo Int'l Airport for more info too http://www.buffaloairport.com/

Andy

 

[MillbrookMom]

Hi MillbrookMom

Be careful with Expedia as I think most of thier policies state that once you book you can't get any money back.

I aggree with the PP's, look at flying out of Buffalo. I assume that you live in Millbrook. We're in Peterborough. Last June we flew out of Buffalo for the first time with SouthWest. It was great!

It took us about 3.5 to 4 hours to get to Buffalo and we stayed over night at the Sleep Inn ($120 including parking for 2 weeks and a good continental breakfast). Not a big deal really.

We got direct flights from BUF to MCO and at good times too. Departing at 11am and coming back at 12:40pm. I'm still shocked at the flight costs. For my DW, DD5, DS9 and myself it cost us just under $800 total. Yes that's for the 4 of us taxes in, fees in... total. I priced Air Canada and they wanted $2600 for the same thing!!

The Buffalo airport is nice and it's small so it's easy to navigate. I'd highly recommend going through Buffalo.

Check out Southwest for your flight costs at www.southwest.com and the Buffalo Int'l Airport for more info too http://www.buffaloairport.com/

Andy

Thanks so much for this information....we are thinking of going in Aug. because of the free dining thing, and the fact that dh and I already have the time off and the kids would not miss school, and yes, we are in Millbrook

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

Hi MillbrookMom
I assume that you live in Millbrook. We're in Peterborough.
Andy

I'm in Peterborough also!

I just booked with WestJet for Nov., it is the airline I always fly with out of Pearson. They are very dependable, I've never been bumped and the flight times are never changed (except when mother nature steps in.)


I just checked out WestJet.com and if your flights are flexible, there are some seats for only $99.00 in August! My advice is to stalk the website daily for a seat sale. That is what I do (about 3 times a day) and I got our seats for 139.00 ea. I also signed up to receive emails regarding sales from WestJet. I don't bother crossing the border for a flight, it doesn't make sense in our situation financially (there is only 2 of us, not worth the gas/hotel $$ as well as the commute headache for only 2 seats).

Good luck!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I always fly out of Pearson because it's 25 - 30 minutes from our house and to get there we always go on the 407 - 427 - 409, which is why it doesn't take long to get there. Besides that no matter how great the cost might be we don't think it's worth it driving to Buffalo because if we spend the night there you have to figure in the cost for a hotel and the cost of gas. Plus if there was bad weather problems we rather be stuck in Toronto and not in Buffalo. Finally we always try to fly with WestJet because of the fact that they don't overbook ther flights and if we want to we can pre-pay for our seat assignments, we will know right away where we will be sitting on our flights going and coming home. Also just a few weeks ago we made our flight reservations on WestJet for this December on their website and pre-paid for three exit row seats, which cost $15.00 each.

 

[cdnmousegirls]

We fly out of a U.S. airport it saves us more than a $ 1000 foru a family of four check out orbitz and there price assurance guarantee

 

[alamode]

For anyone going June 4th to 11th, Flight centre has an amazing deal. Wish I was going then.


$19
+ $224 tax
Toronto to Orlando, non-stop return
Source: FlightCentre

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I make the trek to Buffalo too. It's about a 3.5 hour drive from Port Hope where I live but for the 5 of us it makes it worth it. We like to stay overnight and do the sleepparkfly thing. We've stayed at the Millenium (has an indoor pool, walking distance to the Galleria mall and accross the street from Olive Garden but rare to get breakfast included) and the Best Western (Cheap & Cheerful. Rate includes a breakfast). We've flown southwest, Air Tran and Jet Blue.

Even with the hotel, gas, parking and extra meal expenses we still save well over $1000 by going through Buffalo. You do have to factor that extra time in. If you are planning to work that day and then take a flight late that night you'll need to travel from Toronto. You just won't make it all the way to Buffalo for their latest flights. So driving to Buffalo does add a day out of your vacation but in my opinion it's worth it to save that much money. Plus if you plan it right you'll have some time in the states to do a quick shop of Target or the outlet malls.

The airport is less than 30 minutes from the border. The signage on the highways are well marked so it is easy to follow directions from Mapquest or directly off the airport website. There are many flights to Orlando to choose from each day although the airport is smaller than Torontos.

I've never flown out of Buffalo in the Winter though. I would be nervous about the snow storms but you mentioned August so theres not much chance of that happening.

The cars at the Buffalo airport is full of licence plates from Ontario. So you know it's an option to consider.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Going to Buffalo just seems so inconvenient for us, we are 30-40 mins from Pearson and I love Pearson, would rather fly Canadian than American. We got a great seat sale with Westjet, $1000 for 3 of us. I would rather pay more for the convenience!

 

[wdwmike59]

I just checked out WestJet.com and if your flights are flexible, there are some seats for only $99.00 in August! My advice is to stalk the website daily for a seat sale. That is what I do (about 3 times a day) and I got our seats for 139.00 ea. I also signed up to receive emails regarding sales from WestJet. I don't bother crossing the border for a flight, it doesn't make sense in our situation financially (there is only 2 of us, not worth the gas/hotel $$ as well as the commute headache for only 2 seats).

Good luck!

The problem with the Canadian airlines is that the $99.00 price isn't really the COST. That $99 price ends up being over $200 after taxes and fees. And that's only one way. I priced out flights for Aug 23rd to Sept 1st on all the Canadian airlines and the cheapest for 4 people I could find was $1800. I am flying Southwest from Buffalo instead. I haven't booked the first leg yet but right now I am looking at about $450 US and my return is already booked at $278 US so even with exchange I am saving at least $600 CDN. That's three more nights at WDW!

 

[devilsrule2004]

if your looking for cheapest prices i always use orbitz

 

[SandraC]

Buffalo and Pearson for us.

Buffalo is great for the low prices, but honestly, the comfort on the plane is lacking. However, 2.5 hours flight is okay, going thru customs by car is one less line at the airport.

Pearson I like because of Air Canada. Comfy flights. But it's $200+ in taxes p.p. more than BUF.

S

 

[AndyMcV]

...I just checked out WestJet.com and if your flights are flexible, there are some seats for only $99.00 in August! My advice is to stalk the website daily for a seat sale. That is what I do (about 3 times a day) and I got our seats for 139.00 ea. I also signed up to receive emails regarding sales from WestJet. I don't bother crossing the border for a flight, it doesn't make sense in our situation financially (there is only 2 of us, not worth the gas/hotel $$ as well as the commute headache for only 2 seats).....

I'd be careful as you are not comparing apples to apples. That price of $99 from WestJet is before any taxes or fees. What is the real price with all the taxes and the rediculous Pearson airport fees? It won't be anywhere near $99.

I agree with you too that if it's just the 2 of you the price difference isn't as bad between YYZ and BUF but given a family of at least 4 it's quite a big savings.

Andy

 

[AndyMcV]

Thanks so much for this information....we are thinking of going in Aug. because of the free dining thing, and the fact that dh and I already have the time off and the kids would not miss school, and yes, we are in Millbrook

Hi MillbrookMom (and neighbour)

FYI, we just booked with Southwest Vacations (www.southwest.com) out of Buffalo for an 8 day / 7 night trip to AKL. This includes direct flights, park hopper tickets + waterparks, free dining, DME for $3600 US. We are going in the last week of August.

They have some really good prices for the other resorts as well.

Hope this helps you if you haven't booked your trip yet.

Andy

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We are diehard Buffalo Airport fans. Living in St. Catharines the drive to Buffalo is shorter and far less hectic than that awful TO traffic. Parking is simpler, the airport is smaller and easier to navigate. They have recently improved the security area and even that moves quicker.

As mentioned by a pp, going through customs in the car vs airport/flight is also much simpler. A few questions and you are on your way.

We stop at the Duty Free and pick up our booze, which stays in the vehicle and is brought home with us on the return drive over. (not sure of the dollar savings there but it certainly makes you feel better !)

Southwest, as an airline, is great to deal with. Switching out reservations if the flights get cheaper incurs no costs. We travel regularly so we can usually use the credits. Flight crews are enthusiatic and helpful. Non-stop flights leave multiple times in the day. We usually fly the 7 am flight and are relaxing by the pool before 11 am.