how is the west islip airport

[EllenJ]

I usually fly out of Hartford but the prices are astronomical for April. I found a great price 165 on Southwest from Islip to Ft Lauderdale ( going on a cruise out of Miami).
We live in southern Ct and could get to Long Island relatively easily.
I would most likely need to get a hotel for the night before and parking.
Any insight is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ellen

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by EllenJ
I usually fly out of Hartford but the prices are astronomical for April. I found a great price 165 on Southwest from Islip to Ft Lauderdale ( going on a cruise out of Miami).
We live in southern Ct and could get to Long Island relatively easily.
I would most likely need to get a hotel for the night before and parking.
Any insight is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ellen

It is a very small and easy airport to get in and out of. Take the Port Jeff Ferry and it is really only about 10 mins. from there.

 

[klh999]

Islip is a very small airport. But still a good airport. Sometimes smaller is better. I fly out of Islip during the blackout, when all the big airports cancelled their flights, Delta still fly out of Islip with onlly a 10 minute delay. So Islip is high on my list.(I was attending a friends funeral so it was very important that my flight leave) If you are looking to stay at a hotel that is close I would recommend the Courtyard Marriot

Courtyard Long Island MacArthur Airport
5000 Express Drive South Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 USA
Phone: 1 631-612-5000 Fax: 1 631-612-5008

It is a newer hotel, close to the airport, I am sure they have a shuttle.

Please let me know if you need any other help. Since I am very familiar with Islip Airport.

 

[klh999]

You can also take the Orient Ferry. There is more of a drive to from Orient than Port Jeff, but it might be more convient from Hartford to take the Orient. Cross Sound Ferry is the company that runs out of Orient.

 

[EllenJ]

Thanks for the quick replies. The port Jeff ferry is closest for me. I am familiar with it as my companys main office is in Melville and I have to travel there several times a year and we usually take the ferry over.
This will add to the cost for me. But it is still cheaper than flying out of Hartford or even the other NY airports.

 

[klh999]

If you are flying out of NY anyhow, Did you try Jet Blue, Spirit Air, or Song Air? I found all three to be cheaper than Southwest. None of the Three fly out of Islip, either JFK or LGA, but you might even save more money. Out of the Four Southwest was my far the most expensive in my case.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by EllenJ
Thanks for the quick replies. The port Jeff ferry is closest for me. I am familiar with it as my companys main office is in Melville and I have to travel there several times a year and we usually take the ferry over.
This will add to the cost for me. But it is still cheaper than flying out of Hartford or even the other NY airports.

Is it really that much cheaper when you factor the cost of the Ferry and a motel room, food, and parking the car? The cost for a car, IMHO, on the ferry is rather high.

What is the best fare you got out of Hartford?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by klh999
You can also take the Orient Ferry. There is more of a drive to from Orient than Port Jeff, but it might be more convient from Hartford to take the Orient. Cross Sound Ferry is the company that runs out of Orient.

The OP lives in West Haven. Bridgeport is much closer than New London.

As to the Cross Sound Ferry, I love them, I used to work for them.
They are great and much nicer than the Port Jeff one.

 

[Lewisc]

The ferry is easier than driving BUT you probably won't save any time vs driving around. It's about 15 miles from the ferry to the airport. Much of that distance is on roads with traffic lights. If you're looking at a map the airport is not in West Islip. There is a new Hilton Garden hotel right by the airport.

Gail is right, between ferry, parking, hotel and gas are you really saving much $$$. The newer hotels don't really have to discount that much.

 

[EllenJ]

I would love to fly from Hartford but right now Southwest is sold out for Sat morning or over 400 pp for Friday. Delta is over 500.
I really want a direct flight (if I fly in the am) and if I have to fly on Friday I will still have to pay for a hotel, so that is a wash.
So even if the hotel is 100 and the ferry is another 100 that would bring the cost of the flight to roughly 245 pp.

I can get a flight from LGA or JFK for around 250 but again there are no direct flights and I am paranoid that I will miss my connection and miss my cruise. ( I know... what are the chances and if I am that paranoid why aren't I flying on Friday)

Thanks for the advice.

ps.. does anyone know if there is reasonable long term parking at the airport and also if any of the hotels near the airport have parking packages?

 

[Lewisc]

Economy parking is $7.50 per day
http://www.macarthurairport.com/pages/parking.shtml

I'd call the hotels directly and ask about parking. There is a Hilton Garden, Courtyard very near. I think the Holiday Inn Express also runs free shuttle service.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by EllenJ
I would love to fly from Hartford but right now Southwest is sold out for Sat morning or over 400 pp for Friday. Delta is over 500.
I really want a direct flight (if I fly in the am) and if I have to fly on Friday I will still have to pay for a hotel, so that is a wash.
So even if the hotel is 100 and the ferry is another 100 that would bring the cost of the flight to roughly 245 pp.

I can get a flight from LGA or JFK for around 250 but again there are no direct flights and I am paranoid that I will miss my connection and miss my cruise. ( I know... what are the chances and if I am that paranoid why aren't I flying on Friday)

Thanks for the advice.

ps.. does anyone know if there is reasonable long term parking at the airport and also if any of the hotels near the airport have parking packages?

Ellen,
Your best bet for that is to go to Islip's website and see what they recommend for hotels and parking. We are talking LI here, there is very little that is reasonable. http://www.islipairport.us/

 

[Lewisc]

The hotel lists from the airport site (offical site and the unofficial site Gail posted) are worthless. The newer hotels aren't listed and some of the listed hotels are nowhere near the airport.

Closest good hotels:
Hilton Garden
Courtyard by Marriot
Holiday Inn Express
There is a Hampton Inn not too far.

Also call Wyndham Windwatch hotel and Mariott Islandia. They sometimes have managers specials if bookings are low.