Is this nuts?

[Kath2003]

Air Canada will do us a flight for the Easter holidays for £435 return, with 1 stop each way. The catch is that on the way there, we'd land late in Toronto, stay the night then catch and early flight to Orlando the next day. Is it bonkers? 2 adults, no kids.

Even taking into account the hotel cost for the night in Toronto, it still works out £50+ cheaper each than flying there in just one day.

 

[queendisney]

I think I would have to pay the extra to fly direct. I would rather have more time spent in my destination then so much time taken up travelling. Plus the stress of connections and checking in again at the airport etc. I think the £50+ is small money to pay to fly direct.

Don't think its nuts but you really aren't saving that much in the scheme of things.

 

[Ware Bears]

I don't think it's bonkers but I'd rather pay the extra and go direct. I'd only consider it if the direct prices were way out of my budget.

 

[wayneg]

Sounds to me like you still mean indirect flying there within the day. I can't imagine for a minute you are talking about direct flights for that kind of money. VA are quoting £1,303pp for cheapest economy Easter 2012.
I would look at all options but definitely consider the stop over if the price is right, we once did 4 days in NYC on our way to Florida, just after Sept 11th they were trying to attract people back, spent £600 on hotel for 4 nights and it was still cheapest way to get to Florida.

Have you checked BMI on Lastminute.com they were just showing good prices for dates I checked(£448). Slightly cheaper into Tampa(£421)

 

[Kath2003]

Yes, absolutely - there's no way we're paying to fly DIRECT (Virgin's flights cost more than our entire holiday if we fly with Air Canada!).

Our two "options" really are:

A) Fly Air Canada with the overnight connection in Toronto (on the way there only; on the way back we'd have a 2 hour connection). This would give us 10 nights in Orlando + 1 "night" in Toronto. We would arrive in Orlando early after our connection in Toronto, giving us essentially 10 full days in Orlando.

B) Fly American Airlines with connections somewhere in the US. Due to flight prices, we'd need to cut the trip to 9 nights in Orlando. This would cost us £50 more, but give us only 8 full days in Orlando.

That said, our park tickets would be for 7 days only.

In terms of connecting, we fly with hand luggage only so we wouldn't be faffing with bags.

Wayne - lastminute shows the cheap bmi flights but when you tell it to book, it tells you they're no longer available and tries to flog you an Air Canada flight

I'd actually be kind of tempted to get some kip at the airport - given that we'd not be able to leave for the hotel until 11pm and need to be back for 6am...

 

[wayneg]

Never flown with Air Canada but I could be tempted if I had those options.

 

[paulfoel]

I really dont understand why some people have such an issue with indirect flights. Its really not that bad.

I'd rather spend 12 hours on two decent airlines planes (i.e. most of the US carriers) than 9 hours crammed on a completely rubbish Monarch flight.

But then I guess thats how people like Monarch get the British to put up with such low standards of service because they dont like to change planes.

OP- Yes, I'd deffo do. No problem at all.

 

[Kath2003]

We have no problem with connecting flights (have connected in various US cities on my last 3 trips); it's just that this is a very long connection which will involve us spending our first night in an airport hotel in Canada...

 

[paulfoel]

We have no problem with connecting flights (have connected in various US cities on my last 3 trips); it's just that this is a very long connection which will involve us spending our first night in an airport hotel in Canada...

Sorry Kath. Didnt mean to sound like I was having a go at you....

I just meant in general. I'd do it - you might get chance to look around a bit as well....

I was just pointing out that some people wont even consider this sort of thing and are willing to put with the poor uk charter airlines...

 

[Kath2003]

Sorry Kath. Didnt mean to sound like I was having a go at you....

I just meant in general. I'd do it - you might get chance to look around a bit as well....

I was just pointing out that some people wont even consider this sort of thing and are willing to put with the poor uk charter airlines...

Oh I know, Paul, no worries. I am frequently told I'm nuts on this board for flying indirect (shocking, adding 3 hours to your journey time to save £350...), staying offsite, not being prepared to pay the prices Disney want for their park tickets and, most horrifyingly, not hiring a car and using the bus!

The winner for us is that our entire holiday (including the cocktail budget ) comes in at significantly less than the cost of some people's flights We would rather go three times and do all of the above than go once (with direct flights, onsite at Disney, Disney tickets and a car).

 

[bdoyledimou]

I live in Toronto (well just outside) and know this airport and it's "procedures" well..

Keep in mind you will have to go through Canada Customs when you arrive (could be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours !!) and then US Customs when you leave-- If you fly Air Canada it's in Toronto, NOT Orlando as is the case with other airlines flying out of Toronto) Make sure you budget time for that!

It May be worth it just to hunker down in the terminal. It's really nice, with a lot of seating and free wifi -- but nothing open to eat at that late hour.