Fly out of OTT or drive to NY, then fly?

[Why Is The Rum Gone?]

I've read here and there that it's much cheaper to just drive across the border to catch a flight than it is to fly right out of Canada. It looks like we'll be heading to Miami; would I save any money by driving to La Guardia to catch a flight? Too many travel websites giving me differing information. (I live about half an hour away from the NY border)

 

[Blackadder337]

This won't be overly helpful, but I think like anything, 'it depends'.

I've flown to Myrtle Beach before and it was much cheaper to cross the border and fly from Detroit. But when I flew to Austin, TX, it was almost the same price (exchange rate and other misc expenses factored in) to go through either Toronto, Detroit or Buffalo.

The one thing I can offer, is don't just look at the cost of the tickets. Remember to factor in the cost of gas to travel, long term parking, meals to and or from the airport if its a longer drive, as well as any other expenses. Sometimes its the incidental costs to travel to another airport that can bring the prices to a similar point. Then its what's more convenient......

 

[Why Is The Rum Gone?]

Hahah yeah I figured as much. I just wasn't sure how big the difference would be. A few hundred would be a no-brainer. Less than that and there's really not much point.

 

[minnie mum]

It might depend a lot on your dates, and how far out you can book. Check Expedia for flights from Ottawa, Syracuse, and NYC. You might find that once you've factored in gas, food, parking and perhaos overnight lodgings, its cheaper to just fly from home.

 

[badiggio]

we've flied from syracuse before with 9 of us and got a deal at 217 return canadian,last fall,but generally and especially in winter, we find it best overall to fly right from ottawa

 

[bankr63]

I don't think I would drive from here all the way to LGA, that is a LONG full day drive, especially if it is winter. If you are East of Ottawa, consider Montreal as well, there are better connections and more direct flights from there. And don't forget Montreal's second airport (Plattsburgh, NY) - an easy drive and cheap fares on Allegiant. South or South West of Ottawa puts you in easy strike of SYR, but again, in winter there is always lake effect snow to contend with across the end of Lake Ontario.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

It all depends on your situation. If you are just one person, it's not worth it.

If you are two people, it depends on what time of year - it is worth it in September, but checking flight prices for early February it's not.

 

[ottawamom]

I've got to agree with the previous posters. If it is just two of you, October -April, you can get direct flights from Ottawa. Not worth the money saved to fly from the States. When 5 of us fly in the summer months the savings are worth the drive to Syracuse or Rochester. You can get direct flights from both these cities. You'll have to do the math for your particular circumstance.

 

[mab2012]

The thing about flying out of Ottawa is that there aren't a lot of direct flights into Florida, and the few that do exist tend to get very expensive very fast. And if you have to connect out of Ottawa, your total trip time is probably not much different than driving to another airport 2-3 hours away. Even if you have to drive 4-5 hours it might not make much of a difference to your trip. I find that unless we're on a very early or very late flight (neither of which I care for with kids in tow), you're pretty much killing a day on travel in each direction anyway.

We're in west end Ottawa, and last year we actually flew out of Buffalo. The travel times suited us and it was $1000 cheaper than any reasonable option out of Canada. It's not my first choice, but it was fine, and I'd do it again under the right circumstances. We've flown out of Syracuse in the past, but I've found that in recent years the flight prices out of Syracuse during Ontario school breaks tend to be inflated relative to other US airports, even on newly released flights. This year we're flying out of Montreal; with the abysmal exchange rate the savings out of the US airports was not worth the extra driving time. I can't remember ever flying out of Ottawa into Florida. Well, maybe once, twelve years ago, when there were only two of us.

We're paying to park no matter where we fly from, including Ottawa, so that's not really a big factor. The smaller US airports actually tend to be cheaper for parking. It's also a bit easier to cross the border by land instead of dealing with customs at the airport.

I wouldn't consider NYC area airports. Too far, too expensive to get there (tolls) and park, and the flights probably aren't even cheaper than the other US airports, though you'll have more direct options. If you can't find anything that suits you in Syracuse, try Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany, or maybe even one of the New England airports (Burlington, Manchester, Hartford). Whether or not it's "worth it" is a very individual equation.

 

[bankr63]

Taking a quick look at Allegiant out of Plattsburgh, (they actually list the airport as Montreal, QC/Plattsburgh NY on the site) they don't fly to Miami but do fly into Ft Lauderdale a bit north up the coast. Return flights are $230 (+tx) in mid-January. They are under $200 to North Orlando's Sandford.

 

[badiggio]

Customs in Ottawa is a breeze compared to Montreal or Toronto,imo.check your luggage and your done;same coming home.We've gone direct with WestJet and Air Canada,but even with a 1 stop layover in{ Newark,Philly,Washington}depending who we're flying with,we're there{Orlando} before noon.I hate paying for a room when the day is practically over.For us,like my previous post unless there's huge savings and a large group of us,it's so easy,fast and convenient to fly from Ottawa.

 

[mab2012]

Customs in Ottawa is a breeze compared to Montreal or Toronto,imo.check your luggage and your done;same coming home.We've gone direct with WestJet and Air Canada,but even with a 1 stop layover in{ Newark,Philly,Washington}depending who we're flying with,we're there{Orlando} before noon.I hate paying for a room when the day is practically over.For us,like my previous post unless there's huge savings and a large group of us,it's so easy,fast and convenient to fly from Ottawa.

To each their own, I suppose. I'm about 45 minutes away from the airport. Figure arriving an hour and a half early for a US bound flight, 3.5 hour flight, an hour to collect bags and get to Disney. If I want to be at Disney by noon, I'm leaving home before 6 am, and that's for a direct flight. Closer to 4 am if there's a connection. I don't care for early mornings, so that's not my favourite way to start a vacation. I might do it anyway if the price is right, but to pay twice as much for the privilege? Not for me.

But that's what makes it such an individual question!

 

[mtmbyck]

Flying Ottawa to MCO next month. I have flown out of Syracuse in the past also. There are many considerations. If it is winter, the drive to Syracuse could be awful! But it is nice flying domestic once there. Plus factor in a hotel usually as you don't want to risk missing your flight. I love direct out of Ottawa but as you know they are few and far between. You have to act months before your trip. That said, I saw direct return with WestJet for our dates (Christmas) for $550 which I thought was great! Keep in mind you can pay in CDN. We are flying there on AC and home on WJ. Sometimes it helps to look at one way with different airlines.

 

[badiggio]

^We're flying down direct on christmas morning with AC {$517}.When it's just my wife and I we usually do a one stop,but this time ,my daughter and her family are coming along,and she hates layovers,so direct it is.It was a spur of the moment thing last month{to be there} on Christmas,as it's expensive enough already ,let alone Christmas rates and the exchange,but as someone said,these moments with your family are priceless.

 

[Tama-chan]

We drove to Montreal to fly to MCO for Nov6th-14th trip.
Flying out from Ottawa was about 700.00CAD per person but flying out from Montreal was about 900.00CAD round trip for 2 of us.
We used Delta and on the way, we had a connection at LGA and on the way back we had a connection at Atlanta.

 

[Why Is The Rum Gone?]

Originally we were thinking of cruising in APR, but now are leaning towards FEB. Never really thought about driving weather! I'm now thinking I may want to forget driving to the states just due to that fact alone.

There are three of us (one adult, two children) and no matter when/where I look there's no direct flight. But maybe I'll get lucky when our dates come up and find a good deal.

Thanks everyone!