Flying out of Syracuse with Jet Blue instead of Ottawa

[mjf]

Hi Everyone,

We are considering flying with Jet Blue out of Syracuse direct to Orlando. We live in Ottawa and normally fly direct with Air Canada or West Jet. Our trip is scheduled for late March, there are three of us and direct flights are a must. We would like to get people's opinions on the pros and cons of doing this from those of you who may have done it before.

Of course, the main reason we're considering this option is price. Currently the WestJet price from Ottawa is $2800 although, based on past experience, there could be a seat sale and maybe we could get a price closer to $1400 - $1500. Jet Blue from Syracuse is around $1000. On top of that, if we wanted to get direct flights from Ottawa, we'd have to extend our vacation by an extra day (and pay for an extra night in a hotel in Orlando) because Westjet doesn't fly direct to Orlando on Sunday... Jet Blue has direct flights every day.

If we do the Syracuse/Jet Blue thing, the flight to Orlando leaves at 7am so we'd probably drive down the day before our flight and get a hotel + park&fly deal. Based on comments from previous threads here, we called the Holiday Inn Express by the Syracuse Airport and the rate they gave us was $175+tax for hotel, shuttle, and parking for 10 days. Does anyone have suggestions for better options?

Some of our concerns:

- The weather. It's going to be March so a snowstorm is a possibility. There's always a chance we won't be able to drive to Syracuse and/or we'll be stuck there. Of course, any storm that hits Syracuse will likely hit Ottawa too. Obviously, this is a risk.

- What about going through the border? Going down, I guess our primary concern would be getting delayed but we'd be leaving the day before our flight so... no biggie. On the way back, we'll likely be well under our limits for duty purposes, but we'll probably have several hundred dollars worth of stuff (clothes mostly).

- When leaving the car at the hotel, will it be safe? Not a huge concern I guess but, it wouldn't be very good if we showed up to pick up our car and it wasn't there!

- What about the shuttle to/from the airport? Presumably, the shuttle to the airport won't be a problem as I'm sure lots of people will be going... but what about on the way back? How long might we wait at the airport going back to the hotel?


Anything else??

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

 

[cey]

Welcome from a fellow cross boarder flyer!

We have been flying regularly out of Syracuse for the last 15 years (DH is a teacher) and we wouldn't have it anyother way. JetBlue is a wonderful airline and the direct flights are terrific. Prices have gone up this year, but they are still much better than flying from Canada. Just don't wait too long before you book. Flights appear to be booking up quickly this year. We also drive down the night before and stay at Comfort Inn and Suites near the airport using their park and fly package. I think if you give them a call, you can do better price wise. They have a shuttle service that you can pre-book and place your names on the list, so you don't have to wait in line. When you return, you just phone the hotel and they will let you know how long it will take before they will be there. The shuttle will pick you up at the airport and usually takes you right to your car so you just transfer your luggage directly into your vehicle and then you start your drive home. We also like The Comfort Inn's free hot breakfast buffet and the fact your car stays in their parking lot so security is rarely an issue. Having just returned from flying from Toronto to LAX and then to Brisbane Australia, I can tell you that going through customs at the border is a dream! We show our passports, they ask the usual questions about alcohol and tobacco, if you are bringing anything into the US that you will be leaving and they wave you through. I keep my receipts of any items I want to claim handy on the way back, but if you are gone for a week or more especially over March Break, you will have no problems. A couple of hundred dollars in clothes will not be an issue. The customs officer may ask you what was your most expensive item you purchased. Again, just have the receipts handy.

Weather wise, You can experience snowstorms and white outs on the way down, especially between Watertown and Syracuse. We just take our time and try to leave earlier to avoid the storm. It seems every year just before March break there is a snow storm, but it rarely caused any airport delays! Quite frankly, I have hit worse driving weather on the 401 when we used to fly from Pearson!

Once you fly from SYR you will wonder why you didn't try it earlier.

Have a nice vacation!

 

[momlady]

We too are flying JetBlue out of Syracuse in March; we drove to and from Syracuse twice this summer for sports tournaments and it was such an easy drive we decided to save some $$ and try it for vacation as well. We will drive from Ottawa the night before and haven't decided where to stay yet. We never had issues at the border even though both weekends we were gone I spent close to $300. I'm looking forward to a smooth trip, and even though I didn't get direct flights, the times are good with reasonable (not too short, not too long) layover times!

 

[jojo14]

We leave tomorrow for Syracuse and Disney! I fly out of Syracuse often (NYC, Vegas), but this will be the first time to Orlando. Cost was $420 total for two of us. We're staying at the Holiday Inn Express, but figured it was better to pay the gov't rate ($85) and the park at the airport for $6/day/10 days.

We were going to rent a car in Fla for one day and shop the outlets etc., but then decided to go to Syracuse earlier tomorrow and do all our fall clothes shopping there. This was we can leave it in the car and not worry about fees for extra baggage weight, and will have an extra day to hang around Disney instead of hitting the malls.

Flying out of Syracuse airport is great - it's small so there's virtually no wait on the runway, and you get your bags almost immediately.

 

[FayeW]

We are leaving for our 4th trip to Orlando in December. We always fly out of Syracuse. The first time was on Transmeridian, but they went bankrupt 3 weeks before we were heading out on our 2nd trip, so we very quickly had to make new reservations on JetBlue. They were AWESOME and even gave us a substantial discount because we were displaced Transmeridian passengers!

We flew JetBlue again for our 3rd trip in 2006, and will fly them again for this trip in December. Trip down is direct, flight back has a stopover. Total for the 4 of us was $997. CDN.

We always drive down the night before so we don't have to worry about delays at the border or bad weather. We have stayed twice at Best Western Airport Inn (literally on the edge of the runway) and last time I believe it was the Comfort Inn. For this trip I have booked again at the Best Western because we liked it better. Our rate is $135. and that includes parking for 10 nights.

Occassionally Air Canada or West Jet will have a sale that would put our flights in the $1400. range, all taxes in. I would be willing to spend that much because after you factor in the extra $200. for the hotel and gas to/from Syracuse, I would be willing to spend the remaining $200. for the convenience of not having to drive 3.5 hours each way. However, we don't have passports yet so driving across the border is our only option at this point. I might give flying from Canada more thought once passports are mandatory in June/09.

 

[siobhan1997]

Just booked Holiday Inn Electronic Parkway for March using their park and fly rate. Includes free shuttle and up to 30 days of free parking inluded. Great rate only $104.30 plus tax, double room.

We used them this past March and they were great. Vehicle was fully intact upon our arrival back.

 

[FayeW]

Just booked Holiday Inn Electronic Parkway for March using their park and fly rate. Includes free shuttle and up to 30 days of free parking inluded. Great rate only $104.30 plus tax, double room.

We used them this past March and they were great. Vehicle was fully intact upon our arrival back.

I hadn't heard of them before, and they are about $30. less than the Best Western where we usually stay. I looked them up after your post, but the reviews on Trip Advisor are not very good. You enjoyed your stay with them last year?

 

[siobhan1997]

I hadn't heard of them before, and they are about $30. less than the Best Western where we usually stay. I looked them up after your post, but the reviews on Trip Advisor are not very good. You enjoyed your stay with them last year?

The room was very clean, no problems I made sure to ask for an interior corridor room. But it is a convention hotel and was very noisy and busy, but when you arrive late and have to leave the hotel by 5 am to catch your flight I can put up with the nose for $104.00.

You must call them directly and ask for the park and fly rate though.

 

[cey]

I agree with the OP, I am reluctant to try HI due to the multiple bad reviews on Trip Advisor. We also really like to get a good nights sleep the night before we fly so we are not exhausted when we reach Florida. That is the reason I stopped staying at the Best Western Airport Inn. Very run down and noisey day and night! Has anyone tried Candlewood Suites park and fly package? I would be interested in hearing from someone who has actually stayed there.

 

[FayeW]

I have taken the plunge and booked the Holiday Inn Electronic Parkway. It will save us about $35. off the cost of the Best Western, and now that our pet sitting fees have increased tremendously I have to save a buck where ever I can.

A friend always watches my dog while we are away but I just found out yesterday that she will be away for part of the time that we are gone. Now I am looking for someone to board my dog in their home, but it's expensive! I have boarded her in a kennel for a day or two previously, but she gets over-stimulated by the 24 hour barking that goes on there, and then she ends up vomiting for a couple of days when she gets home. I'd love to have somebody come and stay in my home with my dog and two cats, but I don't even know where to begin to look for somebody to do that!

Can anybody in Ottawa recommend someone who will board a small dog in their home? She's a Westie, if that makes any difference (no shedding, under 20 lbs).

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I live in Syracuse, so if anyone wants a scout out or opinions, let me know.

I wouldn't worry about the weather so much here in Syracuse, more so of the drive from Canada to Syracuse. The lake effect snowband can close 81 often during the winter and create foot per hour snowfalls.

Syracuse has the world's largest snowplow that is used to keep our runway cleared, and we rarely close. I also wouldn't worry about your vehicles, all of the Liverpool/North Syracuse hotels are in fairly decent areas with low crime rates (not saying its not possible).

 

[Nagle]

Just back today. Stayed at the Embassy Suites last Saturday. Nice hotel; breakfast included (quite good), manager's reception (free beer & wine) Starbucks coffee. Just off Carrier Circle. However, front desk completely fouled up our reservation!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sure it is not a regular occurance, but I was so frustrated by the time we left, I demanded $60 off my bill so I could leave my car at the airport instead of the park & fly. Parked at the airport instead and had no problems there. Will not stay at the Embassy Suites again.

Stayed at the Holiday Inn last year. Ok hotel, rather dated, decent price for park & fly.

John

 

[lisabrown]

We live near the 1000 islands bridge and therefore fly Jetblue out of Syracuse often. It's fantastic. So much cheaper, Jetblue is a great airline - especially for kids with the seatback TV. The airport is not even within Syracuse, but on the northerly limits of the city. Very easy to get to.
The weather can be iffy, but keep your eyes on the weather as to when you should leave. We've never been stranded. Lots of park and fly options too. Usually you just call the hotel and they send the shuttle - call as soon as you step off the plane and they tell you where to meet them.
Also, when you are in the U.S. - it's a domestic flight - so you don't need to be at the airport so early. You've already done customs at the border, so you don't repeat it in the airport. Go with Syracuse, you'll never go back to Canadian flights!