flying from BUF to MCO

[bestjsg]

SouthWest flight is 1:55 pm on a Friday at BUF, what time should I leave home (Markham) ? is there a 2 hr prior for dosmetic flight as well ?

Appreciate your feedback.

 

[Tower]

SouthWest flight is 1:55 pm on a Friday at BUF, what time should I leave home (Markham) ? is there a 2 hr prior for dosmetic flight as well ?
Appreciate your feedback.

I'm a conservative thinker when it comes to the Buffalo airport. I'd leave at 9:00AM from Markham, assuming you're just a short hop away from 401 or 407.
We're in Mississaga and a 90 min drive from the airport. Normally we fly out of BUF in the early AM so we normally spend the night in Buffalo prior to departure. (Occasionally get a decent Park N Fly rate at one of the Buffalo hotels)
The last thing I want is to be delayed at the border (happened once) to miss my flight. I'd rather spend extra time in BUF, than even more time at home because I missed my flight.

 

[bestjsg]

I'm a conservative thinker when it comes to the Buffalo airport. I'd leave at 9:00AM from Markham, assuming you're just a short hop away from 401 or 407.
We're in Mississaga and a 90 min drive from the airport. Normally we fly out of BUF in the early AM so we normally spend the night in Buffalo prior to departure. (Occasionally get a decent Park N Fly rate at one of the Buffalo hotels)
The last thing I want is to be delayed at the border (happened once) to miss my flight. I'd rather spend extra time in BUF, than even more time at home because I missed my flight.

thanks....actually that brings out another question, the park n fly hotels that I have been reading about , are they secure ? ( I remeber reading a Sleep Inn or something that you have to park the car offsite somewhere away from the hotel and kind of scary..) in fact, even the Airports long term parking , are they more secure than the hotel ones ?

 

[dancin Disney style]

I leave from Oakville 4 hours before my flight.

I like to plan to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight.....yes they do suggest 90 minutes minimum at BUF.

The drive from home is approx 90 minutes.

The extra 30 minutes is a cushion for delays at the border or traffic.

We normally end up at the airport exactly 90 minutes after leaving home but we just grab a beverage and relax watching the planes out the window. I would much rather be early than late.

 

[bestjsg]

I leave from Oakville 4 hours before my flight.

I like to plan to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight.....yes they do suggest 90 minutes minimum at BUF.

The drive from home is approx 90 minutes.

The extra 30 minutes is a cushion for delays at the border or traffic.

We normally end up at the airport exactly 90 minutes after leaving home but we just grab a beverage and relax watching the planes out the window. I would much rather be early than late.

so I think latest 10 am for a 2pm flight then...I guess to be safe I should leave at 9 am instead...

 

[Tiggs14]

You need to be at the airport 1.5 hours before your flight.

I'd personally leave earler than 9am. You'll be going through potentially heavy traffic (if a weekday) as well as customs before you hit the airport. I'd much rather be at the airport early than to be rushing or even worse missing a flight.

Just my 2 cents worth...

 

[bestjsg]

I thought about going down the night before just that wife would not let me park the car at the hotel , she thinks parking at the BUF airport is more secure which mean I would pay like $ 60 for hotel and another $ 60 for parking...(point is wasted the free parking offer with the hotel..) ..

anyone can share experience with park n fly from a hotel offer ?

 

[Tower]

I thought about going down the night before just that wife would not let me park the car at the hotel , she thinks parking at the BUF airport is more secure which mean I would pay like $ 60 for hotel and another $ 60 for parking...(point is wasted the free parking offer with the hotel..) ..
anyone can share experience with park n fly from a hotel offer ?

We stayed at a La Quinta (www.lq.com) very close to the airport and took their park and fly deal. Unfortunately, in this case, your wife is correct in that I had to drive and follow the shuttle van to the Econo Lodge down the road. (Also a property owned by the same company). I parked it there and was driven to the airport for our flight. We did a Reverse Park N Fly as we wanted to spend the night at the hotel after arriving home late at night from Orlando.
The Holiday Inn (both Express and regular) are almost directly across the street from BUF and also offers a more expensive Park N Fly rate. Never stayed there though.
One other place we stayed at was the Marriott in Buffalo on Millersport Hwy(https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bufny-buffalo-marriott-niagara/). They do not have a Park N Fly rate, and the parking is outdoors, but we essentially parked there for free. The family spent the night there once on points and took the early morning shuttle to the airport the following moring. No problem getting back to the hotel via shuttle (except for the clearing of snow/ice from the van before we left for home that evening.)
No parking lot is so secure that it won't have thefts/breakins. Just remove any valuables from sight or keep them at home and make sure you get a lot of salt/grime on your car to make it less attractive )

 

[Tower]

Should you decide to park at the airport, here is a discount coupon for the Buffalo Airport parking.
http://www.buffaloairport.com/Parking.asp?sec=0#Realtime

 

[twokids0204]

Personally I would leave at 9:00 am at the absolute latest (probably even 8:00)

I would prefer to be there earlier, then later.

Getting out of the GTA could be a hassle with morning rush hour.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Last time flying out of Buffalo left with a 45 minute cushion. Planned to stop for a breakfast before heading to the airport. There was a long line at the border and didn't have time to stop for breakfast and went directly to the airport parking.
Also have the the 1 pm flight on SW on Saturday. Planning on leaving (east Toronto) before 8am

 

[bbrnca]

last July we had a 7:00am flight out of Buffalo also SW and we left Burlington at 3:00am not that there would be lots of traffic but conveince of getting there and checking in and just relaxing.... we parked at airport and the shuttle must have followed us in because we loaded right up... dropped us at SW door and used curb side check in with in minutes all done.... longest thing was going through TSA check point stood in line atleast 30 min and this is at like 5am..... imagine what during busy hours are like.....8am would not be bad to leave Markham.... like others have said better early then not getting on at all..... also watch the weather in Niagara area... depending on when your going that is.... what might be nice in the GTA could be total opposite in Niagara area....

 

[Tower]

also watch the weather in Niagara area... depending on when your going that is.... what might be nice in the GTA could be total opposite in Niagara area....

Good Point

 

[Eveningsong]

We are flying out of Buffalo on a 7:00 a.m. flight in May 2010.

I have booked the Indigo Hotel park n fly package. The hotel has a pool and hot tub. We will have a good night's sleep before our early flight, and not be stressing about traffic and the border.

You get a much better rate if you phone the hotel directly.

 

[bestjsg]

We are flying out of Buffalo on a 7:00 a.m. flight in May 2010.

I have booked the Indigo Hotel park n fly package. The hotel has a pool and hot tub. We will have a good night's sleep before our early flight, and not be stressing about traffic and the border.

You get a much better rate if you phone the hotel directly.

thanks for the tip....but would you be concern about your car parked ? is the lot in the hotel or just somewhere with no gates etc ?

not that we are driving a MB or Lexus etc, just that I can't imagine when we got back with 2 young kids with no car...you know what I mean..

 

[Disneyof3]

We have stayed at the Sleep Inn and Suites across the road from the airport. We have now stayed there 4 times and this March will be our 5th. When you are done with your car you drive behind the shuttle and they take you and your car to the airport parking but in a special section just for Sleep Inn Guests. It is behind gates and there is a gaurd at the entrance. So technically you are parking with other airport patrons but not in the same area outside. They then pick you up with the shuttle and take you back to the hotel. We have never had our vehicle broken into or any problems with the vehicle. When you go to p/u the vehicle after your trip, you call the shuttle they take you from the airport to the hotel. Then they take 1 of you to the parking area to p/u your vehicle and your done. We usually arrive the day before our flight, shop and do dinner, then after knowing that we won't need the vehicle again, my DH takes the car to the lot.

Good luck

 

[webworm]

We stayed at a La Quinta (www.lq.com) very close to the airport and took their park and fly deal. Unfortunately, in this case, your wife is correct in that I had to drive and follow the shuttle van to the Econo Lodge down the road. (Also a property owned by the same company). I parked it there and was driven to the airport for our flight. We did a Reverse Park N Fly as we wanted to spend the night at the hotel after arriving home late at night from Orlando.
The Holiday Inn (both Express and regular) are almost directly across the street from BUF and also offers a more expensive Park N Fly rate. Never stayed there though.
One other place we stayed at was the Marriott in Buffalo on Millersport Hwy(https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bufny-buffalo-marriott-niagara/). They do not have a Park N Fly rate, and the parking is outdoors, but we essentially parked there for free. The family spent the night there once on points and took the early morning shuttle to the airport the following moring. No problem getting back to the hotel via shuttle (except for the clearing of snow/ice from the van before we left for home that evening.)
No parking lot is so secure that it won't have thefts/breakins. Just remove any valuables from sight or keep them at home and make sure you get a lot of salt/grime on your car to make it less attractive )

We booked the Marriott though priceline for $52.00 and was able to leave our van there for 10 days for free. Couldn't beat that deal and was a very nice hotel.

 

[bestjsg]

We booked the Marriott though priceline for $52.00 and was able to leave our van there for 10 days for free. Couldn't beat that deal and was a very nice hotel.

and is the parking right in the hotel ? gated maybe ?

 

[webworm]

and is the parking right in the hotel ? gated maybe ?

Parking is right at the hotel with lots of lighting but is not gated. Never had an issues.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

Sleep Inn uses 2 diiferent parking lots. One lot is the airport loat accross the street and the second lot is at the owners other company (public storage) down the street from the hotel.