For Anyone Who Is Concerned About Flying Directair

[wee-haggis]

We just got back.
Flying from Niagara Falls, New York was a dream !
Lovely wee airport that is so quiet....you wonder if its actually in use.
The 737 plane arrived on time with a load of passengers from Lakeland.
They were off and we were on within about 1/2 hour of landing.
Our plane was probably about 3/4 full (including a girls basketball team).
On board, the plane (owned and operated by Skyking) was very basic but clean. They did have snacks and drinks etc ,but you had to pay ($2 for snacks and soft drinks....and $5 for alchohol).
The crew were very pleasant and accomodating. No complaints there.
Upon arriving at Lakeland (an even smaller and lesser used airport than Niagara.........Directair is the only airline using it) we were out in the baggage area in no time.The suitcases came out in a few minutes.
We used the Hertz car rental (there is also a U-Save). It was a quick process (although they did try the insurance sell....but they accepted my "no" without argument). We only got a Nissan Versa which was adequate for our one way, 1 day rental to Port Canaveral.
The route out of the airport to I4 Highway was simple. We decided to stop off in Kissimmee on the way. Total travelling time to Port Canaveral was 1hr 45 mins. We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites. Checked in early .Lovely room with Jacuzzi.
Upon returning from the cruise, we picked up the Hertz shuttle to take us to the Hertz rental place on Astronaut Boulevard. We got a triple upgrade for free. We ended up getting a Jeep Compass 4x4. The one way drop off at Lakeland went fine (drove straight through,,,again about 1hr 45 mins).
We stayed overnight in the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel (literally steps from the airport) which was even nicer than the Port Canaveral Hotel.
Car was dropped off (also next to the hotel) .Total cost $35.98 + $10 in gas.
The next morning we wandered over to the airport for the 7-30 am flight back to Niagara. The plane was sitting overnight parked (apparently it always comes in the night before from Plattsburgh). The security and check in was a breeze( 3 people at the desk). No arguments with carry on size or weight (as we encounter with Canadian airlines.)
Again we left on time with the plane about 2/3rds full.
Equally as enjoyable, and smooth flight.
Upon landing in Niagara it was about 10 minutes at most before we were out in the parking lot. Apprently there is normally nobody on duty at the lot (in the early hours) ,so they leave a little water proof envelope on your windscreen and update it each day (as to how long you were away). I should also say that there was nobody there when we arrived at the lot a week earlier.So, you just drive in and park and walk away. The cost for the week was $25 , but because there is nobody on duty you have a choice of putting the money in the supplied envelope and drop it in a box....or send the addressed envelope via Canada Post.
We were then off and over the border within about 15 minutes.
To be honest, I thought the method of payment was a wee bit primitive.....but I can't complain about the price.
All in all, I would have no problem recommending or using Directair again in the future.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Great report ... answered a lot of questions about directair and lakeland! Thanks

 

[greenclan67]

We are flying from Niagara Falls, NY in March into Sanford on Allegiant. Just wondering from your great report if you stayed the night before your flight? If so did you find any kind of good prices for anywhere close? We will need a nights accomodation beforehand, but our flight doesn't leave until 515 so we can stay on eithier side (CDN or US). Thanks in advance!

 

[wee-haggis]

We are flying from Niagara Falls, NY in March into Sanford on Allegiant. Just wondering from your great report if you stayed the night before your flight? If so did you find any kind of good prices for anywhere close? We will need a nights accomodation beforehand, but our flight doesn't leave until 515 so we can stay on eithier side (CDN or US). Thanks in advance!

No.....our only hotel stays were in Florida (before and after cruise).
Stayed in Port Canaveral on the way down and Lakeland before my return flight.I have stayed in Buffalo at hotels the night before a flight, but not in Niagara Falls (at least not decent price hotels...the ones I stayed in were a bit pricey and were more of a special occasion,weekend,casino type stay).
I was interested to see that Allegiant have started flying to Sanford 4 times a week. Most dates are $69 each way. Good deal.
Sorry I could,nt be of more help.

 

[fitmom3]

Thanks for the information. We will be flying this route in March.


greenclan67 -I'm also looking for a hotel room for the night. We fly on Friday March 9. We feel better staying on the US side so we don't have to worry about the wait to cross. I found the Best Western Summit Inn - it is close to the airport - only 3 min. It has some good reviews (only cost $59.99 per night) We will need two rooms as there are 6 of us.

 

[Alderbrook]

When we flew DA of out Niagara Falls 3 years ago the parking was free. Good to know if we fly out of there again. We had problems with the airline & I said we would never fly with them again (flight times were wrong & we ended up at the airport in Myrtle Beach 4 hours early, even calling the morning we were leaving to confirm, with a lot of angry people & their phone lines were busy for 11 hours the day we were supposed to be flying to Myrtle Beach, but I won't go into the whole story as it still angers me to this day). Maybe they've turned it around in the last 3 years?

 

[LSmith]

When we flew DA of out Niagara Falls 3 years ago the parking was free. Good to know if we fly out of there again. We had problems with the airline & I said we would never fly with them again (flight times were wrong & we ended up at the airport in Myrtle Beach 4 hours early, even calling the morning we were leaving to confirm, with a lot of angry people & their phone lines were busy for 11 hours the day we were supposed to be flying to Myrtle Beach, but I won't go into the whole story as it still angers me to this day). Maybe they've turned it around in the last 3 years?

We flew with DA on the way home from Myrtle Beach this past May after a horrible Spirit Air experience and I would never fly with either of these carriers again. Our Direct Air plane was ancient and the tail was broken. They tried to fix it - we sat on the plane for a couple of hours waiting - but they couldn't and then put us on another plane - hours later - that was just extremely old, not ancient.

I travel quite a bit. This year alone I have flown on at least 20 different planes and approximately 9 airlines. I'm really not picky and I love a bargain. I also love the Niagara Airport set up; but because of the customer service and state of the planes on Spirit and Direct Air that my family was subjected to you couldn't pay me to fly with either of them again.