flying out of buffalo...how long before your flight did you get there?

[laura001]

For anyone that has travelled out of Buffalo on Southwest, I see that the Southwest website says to arrive 1 hour before your departure (seems like cutting it close). How long before your flight did you arrive???? Was the security tough etc.???

 

[sammi]

I always like to make sure I get there in plenty of time so we usually get to the airport in Buffalo at least 2 to 2 1/2 hours before...... because you just never know what can happen once you get there!

 

[Jewel99]

When we went to WDW in May 2005, we flew on SW out of Buffalo. Because our flight left somewhat early in the a.m. (I think around 9:30ish), we knew we needed to be there pretty early in the a.m. We'd just adopted our son from Korea and the adoption wasn't yet finalized, nor did he have Canadian citizenship, so we were worried about delays in crossing the border, so for us, it made sense to go down the night before the trip and stay overnight in a hotel just so we didn't have to worry about getting delayed and being late for our flight.

When we crossed the border, the extra paperwork for our son probably only took us about 15 min, but the crossing wasn't busy at the time we went over.

As we were staying in a hotel, I checked around and picked one near the airport that had the park and fly option where your parking for the week is included in the room rate, and they transfer you to the airport and back again. I can't remember the specific costs, but I think the airport parking for the days we'd have been gone would have cost us almost the same as the hotel for the night, so we netted out about the same, plus got a good night's sleep at a hotel and got dropped off right at the terminal in the a.m. For our situation, it just made sense to do it this way and didn't really cost us more than the airport parking would have cost (plus a nice breakfast for the three of us was included).

Julie

 

[mousy_in_canada]

We got to the airport about 1.5 hours early and used Skycap, we already had our boarding passes and just whizzed past security.
I would go 2 hours early if using the inside check-in, just to make sure you have time.

 

[NancyK]

Just got back from taking DS to the airport in Buffalo. We got there really early as we had to do some paperwork at the border this morning and you never know how long you'll get tied up on the bridge. I agree that if you stayed in a hotel the night before, you wouldn't have to allow yourself so much time.
The line-ups for the Southwest counter were very manageable today but I've seen them quite long at other times. It took my son almost 30 minutes to clear security. They move quite quickly but there were a lot of people this morning. Oh - and something I've never seen before - the short term, preferred long term and long term A parking lots were all full! People had to go to Long Term B which I believe is across the street from the airport. I saw a few people rushing in while mentioning the parking situation. I'm the type that would rather wait in the airport a couple of extra hours than risk missing a flight.

 

[laura001]

Actually, I am asking because in October I am taking my DD and her friend to WDW and have decided to take a late afternoon flight (not sure of exact time because flights aren't out yet), probably around 4:45 or so. I am just wondering how close I can cut it so they don't have to miss too much school that afternoon. I am thinking of taking them out at 2:15, which would put us at the airport by 3:15 for sure which I am thinking would give us plenty of time before our flight.

 

[canron]

2 and a half hours and we are sometimes early,,never late been doing it for 7 years 3 to 4 times a year never late,,just booked for may 20 to may 25 just came back mar 2

 

[NancyK]

I am thinking of taking them out at 2:15, which would put us at the airport by 3:15 for sure which I am thinking would give us plenty of time before our flight.

I wouldn't count on getting to the airport an hour after the girls get out of school. It is not uncommon to wait 30 minutes or much longer at the bridge regardless of the time of day. Then the highways in Buffalo could be backed up due to accidents etc (I listen to a Buffalo station and am always hearing road reports. ) On Tuesday, people were finding that all the parking lots were full, although this really shouldn't be an issue in October. If you have your boarding pass, you can do curbside check-in, but I have seen that lined up as well. The last three times we've been at the airport, it has taken anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to get through security. I would be taking them out at lunchtime. Just my humble opinion, though.

 

[laura001]

I wouldn't count on getting to the airport an hour after the girls get out of school. It is not uncommon to wait 30 minutes or much longer at the bridge regardless of the time of day. Then the highways in Buffalo could be backed up due to accidents etc (I listen to a Buffalo station and am always hearing road reports. ) On Tuesday, people were finding that all the parking lots were full, although this really shouldn't be an issue in October. If you have your boarding pass, you can do curbside check-in, but I have seen that lined up as well. The last three times we've been at the airport, it has taken anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to get through security. I would be taking them out at lunchtime. Just my humble opinion, though.

Thanks so much for your input. I will probably take them out a 1/2 hour earlier than planned. We are really only about 30 minutes away from the airport so I was adding extra time to cross the boarder. DH will be driving us and dropping us off.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I wouldn't count on getting to the airport an hour after the girls get out of school. It is not uncommon to wait 30 minutes or much longer at the bridge regardless of the time of day. Then the highways in Buffalo could be backed up due to accidents etc (I listen to a Buffalo station and am always hearing road reports. ) On Tuesday, people were finding that all the parking lots were full, although this really shouldn't be an issue in October. If you have your boarding pass, you can do curbside check-in, but I have seen that lined up as well. The last three times we've been at the airport, it has taken anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to get through security. I would be taking them out at lunchtime. Just my humble opinion, though.

No kidding! I've spent as much as 3 hours sitting in traffic on the Lewiston Bridge. Granted that was on a long weekend but lately if we get over without at least a half hour wait, I'm happy.

Beth

 

[NikP]

Thanks so much for your input. I will probably take them out a 1/2 hour earlier than planned. We are really only about 30 minutes away from the airport so I was adding extra time to cross the boarder. DH will be driving us and dropping us off.

What bridge do you cross over on?

 

[laura001]

What bridge do you cross over on?

I will cross at Fort Erie and will check the wait times on the internet before leaving in case there is a problem.

What brought this whole question to light was the fact that the Southwest website recommends that you arrive only 1 hour prior to departure, which I thought was a little off, so wanted to know how long it really takes people to check in etc.

 

[NancyK]

We used to use Queenston-Lewiston most of the time, but lately we have been having much better luck with the Fort Erie crossing.

 

[disneyfan2]

we crossed at fort erie, and that was recommended by many,