Help me decide my flight ... I'm indecisive

[HunterBoo]

Ok ... I've booked my return flight, but not our flight going down. I am flying for March break (because I am a teacher) and am flying from Buffalo to Orlando. I live three hours from Buffalo.

My quandry is this ... do I book a flight at 8:35pm on the Friday night (school dismisses at 3:10) and hope I have good weather for driving and a fairly quick border crossing? (I can't leave early from school obviously). If I hit the three hours and have a half hour at the border I could be there by 7pm. I'd have to park and get in to check our luggage. My main concern is if the border is super slow/busy, rush hour traffic, and weather. Is it worth the stress?

Or do I book a 6am connecting flight the following morning? I have NEVER done a plane switch. It makes me nervous to be honest. I like knowing I have my ducks in a row ahead of time. Does anyone know how Southwest works when you buy Early Bird Check In ... does it apply to the second flight too and I'd have the same number? Does my luggage just move from my original plane to the next plane? Is an hour and ten minutes a pretty good layover? The switch would be in Chicago (so leave at 6 from Buffalo, arrive at 6:50 in Chicago and fly out at 8 to Orlando). My youngest, who is 15, is a very nervous flyer and I don't want myself to be stressed,as I already know she will be stressed herself.

Anyways ... I'm just looking for some opinions from others as I can't seem to make this decision myself. I go back and forth constantly between logic and just wanting to get there as fast as possible!! I'm driving myself crazy ...

 

[StarSeven7]

I would definitely not take the flight that leaves at 8:35pm as you are not giving yourself enough time there. Even if everything goes perfectly, you'll still be rushing. What happens if you don't make that flight? The airline won't rebook you on another flight for free, you would have to pay to book a last minute fare yourself and that would be super expensive. In my opinion, I would never put myself through that much stress!

The connecting flight is fine but are there no other options for nonstop flights? Often times a nonstop flight leaving later will get you there around the same time or even earlier. Connecting is really not a big deal at all, the airline will move your baggage between flights but there is always more risk with connecting flights that your baggage gets misplaced somewhere along the way.

 

[Dave889]

I would do the 6am flight. We have changed planes and they usually work out just fine, especially that early in the morning.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would not fly out on the Friday and I would not make a plane switch the following day either. Aren't there direct flights down on Saturday?

 

[kuhltiffany]

Where are you coming from? Wondering if you could use Swoop or an alternative...

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I would call in sick on the Friday and take that flight.
Ha ha jk....
I'd take the 6 am flight the next day. You will be too stressed trying to make it in time for the late Friday fight. Anything can happen to throw off your timing.

 

[craigkerstiens]

When exactly are you looking at flying down, what day? I'd not press it with traffic and plan to book the 6am. They'll take care of luggage you just want at least an hour for the connecting flight. I'd probably drive down that evening and get a room near the airport for just one night as 6am can come fairly early...

 

[HunterBoo]

I would definitely not take the flight that leaves at 8:35pm as you are not giving yourself enough time there. Even if everything goes perfectly, you'll still be rushing. What happens if you don't make that flight? The airline won't rebook you on another flight for free, you would have to pay to book a last minute fare yourself and that would be super expensive. In my opinion, I would never put myself through that much stress!

The connecting flight is fine but are there no other options for nonstop flights? Often times a nonstop flight leaving later will get you there around the same time or even earlier. Connecting is really not a big deal at all, the airline will move your baggage between flights but there is always more risk with connecting flights that your baggage gets misplaced somewhere along the way.

There are a couple of direct flights, but the 5am and at 11:35 am are both $500 one way per person, The connecting one is $300 pp and would get to Orlando at 11:30.

 

[HunterBoo]

Where are you coming from? Wondering if you could use Swoop or an alternative...

What is Swoop may I ask?

 

[HunterBoo]

I would call in sick on the Friday and take that flight.
Ha ha jk....
I'd take the 6 am flight the next day. You will be too stressed trying to make it in time for the late Friday fight. Anything can happen to throw off your timing.

I seriously wish I could. Lol ... even just the afternoon or changing around my planning time, but it isn’t allowed and I’d be asking for trouble.

I think I will go with the 6am flight. I just really needed others’ opinions! My girls want me to go at night, but I know I’d be in a complete panic leading up to the flight!

 

[StarSeven7]

And like a PP said, I would recommend driving to Buffalo the night before and staying at an airport hotel with a shuttle so you don't have to do any driving in the morning! And FYI, Swoop is Westjet's low cost carrier.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That's a lot of 'what ifs' for the trip to the airport. What if you're 'randomly selected' at the border for a thorough search? Add another half hour to your trip. If you were just driving to somewhere in Canada, I'd be less concerned, but because there is a border to cross, that's a big unknown. I wouldn't like the connecting flight, but being in the country well before your flight sounds like a good plan.

Any chance you can get the principal to give you half a day off? Half your class will probably be on vacation anyway and you won't actually be teaching anything, I bet.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

What is Swoop may I ask?

Swoop is Westjet’s budget airline... they fly out of Hamilton ON to MCO.

Pricing (base) is good, everything is an add on - think Frontier Airlines in the US.

They fly at least twice a week, not daily, so if you have a weather cancellation.. the next available flight out of Hamilton will not be same day & possibly not the next day either. That said, with your travel times being over the March break, there may be more flights available.

https://www.flyswoop.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh__zwIHx3wIVGnZeCh0Krg1WEAAYASAAEgLksPD_BwE

**edit** I just checked March break - flights are Wednesday’s & Saturday only - direct/non stop —- Sat to Sat all taxes & surcharges on the base and it comes in at $353.45 CDN per person.

 

[HunterBoo]

That's a lot of 'what ifs' for the trip to the airport. What if you're 'randomly selected' at the border for a thorough search? Add another half hour to your trip. If you were just driving to somewhere in Canada, I'd be less concerned, but because there is a border to cross, that's a big unknown. I wouldn't like the connecting flight, but being in the country well before your flight sounds like a good plan.

Any chance you can get the principal to give you half a day off? Half your class will probably be on vacation anyway and you won't actually be teaching anything, I bet.

No luck with asking for time off. We just aren’t allowed. I likely won’t have many away as we aren’t a high socioeconomic area. You are correct that we will have a low key afternoon for sure


I’m leaning to the connecting flight, to my girls’ dismay. They’d like the night flight (but teens are nighthawks lol). I never even thought of a more thorough search at the border, but I guess those things can happen!!!

 

[kuhltiffany]

I would go the night before, often you pay almost the same for the hotel and have your parking included for the week anyway!

 

[MichelleCanada]

I don’t think connecting flights should concern you. We live in Calgary and have to take connecting flights for 70% of our vacations. I agree with going out on the 6 am - too many things that could hold you up on the Friday.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I never even thought of a more thorough search at the border, but I guess those things can happen!!!

Can and do... even to families. We got searched last March and we are a family of 4... two teens.

 

[michelb]

FWIW, we have been detained for more than 1 hour at the border in the past but typically, we cross in less than 10 minutes including the lineup. If you have return tickets, they are usually pretty understanding and things go smoothly although with border entry, you can never know for sure. Even if you are selected for secondary inspection, it will probably still fine less than 30 minutes. At the airport, if you are late for a flight, they will typically let you cut the security line (just ask an employee). If it was me, I'd probably risk the 8:35pm flight but that's me (I think as long as you get there by 7:40 you are fine so that gives you 4:30 hours once school finishes).

That said, I don't know how busy your border crossing is or your airport is (keeping in mind that it's a domestic flight so you're not going through customs at the airport).

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Something else to consider that has not been a factor in the past — the shutdown of the US government - including border agents/services and TSA agents.

Could be a non player by March — but def something to keep in mind for anyone crossing the US border anywhere if it is ongoing...

 

[HunterBoo]

Thank you for everyone's thoughts ... it really did help me make my decision!! We (much to the disappointment of my daughters!)We are going to fly on the Saturday morning. I can't stress about getting there leading all the way up to the actual flight. So we are heading out at six am and flying to Chicago and then on to Buffalo. Guess we will see what a connecting flight is all about