Flying out of Detroit instead of Ontario

[Raecheal]

Any Canadians ever fly out from Detroit instead of Ontario to save $$$.
1.What was your total savings?
2. Is 145 per person, return in US dollars Cheap??

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

we've done Detroit to San Juan last March - it was the only place that had a direct flight and reasonable prices - $300 pp return taxes in.

We are closer to Buffalo/Rochester though and prefer to fly from there.

If $145 is taxes in return then that's a great price!

 

[maggieb9975]

I did it last October and it was DEFINATELY cheaper!! We had a few issues with AirTran :they did change our times quite a bit and one of our direct flights changed to a connecting one with a 5 hour layoff! But flights were on time and no issues with service etc. One BIG advantage ..for $50 more when we checked in we got to fly first class which was cool....

However, there are a few factors that made us fly AirCanada this March.

1. AC is not known for changing times as much.
2. AC allows 2 FREE bags, AirTran charges for first bag now, when we went 2 bags were free. Seat choice is free.
3. AC has better times for us.
4. We have a longer drive to Detroit vs Toronto (2x as long)
5. With the exchange rate so bad right now the savings are not as good.

Last but not least, we got a REALLY good deal with AC...March break Mar 11-18 $734 including taxes, for 2 people! AirTRan was about 1/2 that but with exchange rate, paying extra for bags and paying for seatchoice it wasn't that great a savings for the inconvenience compared to AC.....

all that being said I would still fly AirTran again....

 

[Raecheal]

Thanks for replying.



I think were gonna fly out from Detroit this September.... I'm gonna keep my eyes open in the next couple of months for low rates.

 

[5boyz]

I flew out of Detroit 3 yrs ago and paid $786.CDN for 6 of us...last year I also flew out of Detroit and paid $500 US for 4 of us. Westjet wanted $2780. WHATEVER!!!!

 

[5boyz]

You should check Buffalo too!!! We flew out of there 2yrs ago and hoping to fly from there this year.

 

[MikeJ]

We live in London and almost always fly out of DTW. We're now looking at booking flight for a trip scheduled for early May. At first glance, AC is CA$2100 from YYZ; Spirit and NWA are both about US$800 from DTW. Even factoring in exchange rates and additional fees (for Spirit) it's a no-brainer.

We also have a trip planned for the end of August, and airfare for 4 from Detroit on Northwest comes in at US$1000. AC won't be able to come anywhere close to that...

- Mike

 

[Raecheal]

Thanks everyone for getting back to me... i really appreciate it.

We live in London and almost always fly out of DTW. We're now looking at booking flight for a trip scheduled for early May. At first glance, AC is CA$2100 from YYZ; Spirit and NWA are both about US$800 from DTW. Even factoring in exchange rates and additional fees (for Spirit) it's a no-brainer.

We also have a trip planned for the end of August, and airfare for 4 from Detroit on Northwest comes in at US$1000. AC won't be able to come anywhere close to that...

- Mike

Mike... we are dropping off our puppy, Stella in Sarnia for the week while we are away. It's really good to know that others are flying from Detroit... Do you get a shuttle to pick up your family or do you drive yourselves? If you drive down... how much on average did you pay for parking? If you take a shuttle.. how much did that cost?

 

[roscoepc1]

1. Over $800 per person....there's five of us, so $4000 in savings.

2. YES!!! GRAB IT!

 

[MikeJ]

Mike... we are dropping off our puppy, Stella in Sarnia for the week while we are away. It's really good to know that others are flying from Detroit... Do you get a shuttle to pick up your family or do you drive yourselves? If you drive down... how much on average did you pay for parking? If you take a shuttle.. how much did that cost?

We always drive. We usually catch an early morning flight so we drive down the night before and for the past two trips have stayed at the Marriott Fairfield on Merriman Road. They have a park, sleep, fly option which is usually US$110-$130 and includes 8 days parking at the QwikPark lot immediately next door. The hotel is reasonably new and very clean. It also includes a continental breakfast (as long as your flight isn't too early0.

From Sarnia, just hop across the bridge into Port Huron, pick up I94 and follow it right to the airport. It's about a 1.25 -1.5 hour drive to DTW once you're across the bridge - depending on Detroit traffic. If your flight is later in the day and you won't need the hotel option there are a number of off-site places to park - QwikPark and US Park ($9/day) are two. There are others such as the Big Blue Deck ($16/day) on airport property. Both QwikPark and USPark have coupons on their website.

Check out the sticky thread at the top of the board about flying from Detroit or Buffalo. There's a lot of really good information in that thread.

- Mike

 

[maggieb9975]

We used these guys and found them great...I live in a small town and don't do well with driving in unfamiliar cities....we took them from London but next time I think I will take them from Windsor...the great things is the parking is free! They are reasonable for a few people, but a large family it gets a bit pricey....I liked the convenience.

http://www.robertq.com/

 

[CDNmouse]

Yes always fly out of Detroit. We are from the Windsor area so it makes sense. My brother lives in TO and flys out of Detroit or Buffalo as it is much cheaper that flying out of Pearson.

Gary

 

[mtmbyck]

Last year we flew out of Detroit for $168 tax incld each which was hundreds less than anywhere in Ontario. We stayed at the Crowne PLaza which was absolutely lovely - the indoor pool is in an atrium and so the kids got to swim and we could sit on our balcony and overlook the indoor pool. Comfy beds too!

Most hotels offer the 8 days of parking and then any extra are $9 a day. Your car does not stay at the hotel - they put it at a park and fly and this is where you pick it up via shuttle when you come home. Detroit airport is beautiful - love the tram (like a monorail) insode the airport in case you have a gate that is way down on the ends.

We are trying Buffalo this year for the first time and we never did find the same deals as last year.....

BTW, I love flying domestic out of the US so you don't have to go through customs with all of your luggage!

 

[mlenmoore]

flying out of DTW is absolutely the right call. check out spiritair.com and pay the $29 USD to join their "$9 Fare Club". You will get daily email offers for flights as low as $9. Spirit flies direct to Orlando. As mentioned earlier .....checkout the hotels on Merriman Rd for Park N Fly deals as the lot is right across the street with shuttles picking up every 15 mins.

 

[TG4AKV]

:banana Just booked March Break today for $59 down (Friday evening) and $99 return (following Saturday) with Southwest. Flights have one quick stop in Nashville each way. With a price like that you really can't complain about a quick stop. Also, Southwest doesn't charge you for luggage (up to two bags each) or for seat selection or for snack boxes. Flying out of Detroit is definately the way to go!

 

[Cottager]

We flew out of Detroit non-stop to Orlando last October on Spirit Air using one of their $48 off for 48 hour email specials. The cost came out to around $39 each one way with taxes in. The plane looked brand new and the new wing of the airport had just opened up and was fantastic. The only rough part was crossing the border at Windsor and trying to follow all the construction detours. It also wasn't easy trying to explain the the little ones why people were camping out in tents in the middle of the medians as we crossed the border....very sad.

 

[rickysgirl]

I agree. We live in Sarnia and would choose detroit over canada anytime. The Taxes are alot cheaper so the flights turn out to be. We generally stay the night before and get a park and fly hotel. The $9 spirit club is great!