Leaving Wed from Buffalo...Storm Coming!

[Davey-D-99]

Figures

Flight is scheduled for 7:00am out of Buffalo on Wednesday...right in the middle of a projected deep winter storm

Somehow I just knew when I booked the trip in July that this was going to happen. God, I hope the forecast changes

 

[minnie56]

Oh dear, why I never fly from Buffalo in winter! Bad experiences..
They are wrong all too often, lets hope this time too!

 

[tone.def]

Oh dear, why I never fly from Buffalo in winter! Bad experiences..
They are wrong all too often, lets hope this time too!

No different than driving from a couple hours somewhere in Ontario to Toronto or Ottawa (or Montreal, etc)... bad experiences with winter! How about we don't go anywhere in winter!

Yo Davey-D-99! Take your time and leave the night before if you can if the weather looks like it's going to take that turn. Better safe than sorry in my experience.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Some of the carriers will let your re-book before the storm when it is predicted......so check out the policy now to see what your options are. They don't like to strand/delay passengers so they will try to get you out sooner if possible.

 

[minnie56]

When I said bad experiences I was referring to a flight we took from Buffalo last Feb. We had a storm here the night prior..the roads the next day were awful. It took us almost 3 1/2 hrs to get there and we barely made the flight. When we came home, there had been an ice storm in Buffalo and my car was encapsulated. Had I not had auto start--I think I might still be there! Finally-it thawed enough to get in and then we sat and waited maybe 30 minutes before leaving..then the wipers snapped off! We vowed then and there..Buffalo isn't ideal in the Winter, they often get it worse than we do so no more. WHen I fly out of Toronto..I take a Limo to the A/P and my car stays toasty in the garage. Can't do that with Buffalo as the gateway!

If the weather looks as if it might be bad Davey-D-99 I would certainly head down the night prior and take the stress off yourself. Really though, I am inclined to think it won't be bad on Wed!

 

[dancin Disney style]

We get our fair share of nasty winter weather here in the GTA as well. So IMO, it is pretty equal risk when flying in winter. I still much prefer to use BUF.

 

[minnie56]

Absolutely we do! And often the AP closes too...I merely was relaying the story of the outdoor parking and the nasty drive to Buffalo. I am a HUGE Buffalo fan...just not in winter. Sorry!

 

[You'vegotafriendinme]

we have flown out of Buffalo early December for the past three years - and there has always been snow. We always stay over the night before and are thankful to be so close to the airport. Last December there was quite a storm; however, I can't say enough about the efficiency of the staff at the airport. They had our plane de-iced in no time at all as the runways were being plowed (constantly) with plows running in tandem. All this and our plane still left on time, 7:10 a.m. Snow is nothing new to the folks in Buffalo - they certainly seem well equipped to handle storms.
Four years ago we flew out of Toronto, WestJet during December - there was a light dusting of snow and this caused our flight to be delayed for de-icing (about an hour or so).
Here's hoping that the storm doesn't materialize and that you trip to the airport (and from it) is trouble, and snow-free.
Have a fantastic time!

 

[mickeywho?]

I have to agree that the Buffalo airport handles the snow much better than Toronto. Absolutely try to get there the night before - will save you a lot of anxiety that morning.
minnie56 - we were heading down after that storm last year. It was a massive amount of snow! The biggest problem was the parking lot - they had run out of areas to put it all and the parking lot was filled with snowbumps (apparently there were cars under all that snow) with not many spaces left for those of us trying to park after the storm. Even if a spot was open it was soooo full of snow from the last car that you couldn't get in.
I really don't think you'll have that bad luck this week though. Have an amazing trip!

 

[Davey-D-99]

Booked the Holiday Inn Express with Park n' Fly across the street from the Buffalo airport for Tuesday night

Still hoping for a forecast change though...

 

[disneyfan2]

i am gone Friday and was getting concerned. But Wed now looks like rain, and no snow til friday but doesn't seem as bad. I was contemplating going over Thursday night. but i think we will be ok

here is what i checked

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USNY0181?role=&from=36hr_fcst10DayLink_undeclared

 

[SaraMc]

I have to agree that the outdoor parking at Buffalo can be a bit much. We got stuck in the Valentines storm of 2007. Delayed a day and a half in Orlando to finally get home to our car completly blocked in by plowed snow at least 40 inches tall.
Luckily DH has a shovel in our cars trunks. But after basically travelling for two days we sooo did not love having to shovel our car out to go home.

We have actually started to change the time of year we go. While we love getting away in the middle of the winter. We had more fun in Sept with the food and wine festival and MNSSHP.

 

[SaskDisNut]

You might want to check out this thread on the transportation board.

Post #117 has a summary of all the advice given so far.

I used some of this advice last Dec. when our flight to MSP from YQR was delayed several hours due to a mechanical problem. We missed our MCO connection in MSP that night but because I had an idea on what to do I was able get us rebooked on an early morning flight from MSP to MCO the next day before we even left Regina. We ended up only delaying our trip by 12 hours.

Hopefully a storm won't delay you but be prepared for anything.

 

[minnie56]

Glad that you are overnighting..much better idea!
Can you leave your car there? I am sure their parking lot will be easier to get your car from at the end of your trip!

Safe travels!

 

[minniemomof3]

When I said bad experiences I was referring to a flight we took from Buffalo last Feb. We had a storm here the night prior..the roads the next day were awful. It took us almost 3 1/2 hrs to get there and we barely made the flight. When we came home, there had been an ice storm in Buffalo and my car was encapsulated. Had I not had auto start--I think I might still be there! Finally-it thawed enough to get in and then we sat and waited maybe 30 minutes before leaving..then the wipers snapped off! We vowed then and there..Buffalo isn't ideal in the Winter, they often get it worse than we do so no more. WHen I fly out of Toronto..I take a Limo to the A/P and my car stays toasty in the garage. Can't do that with Buffalo as the gateway!

If the weather looks as if it might be bad Davey-D-99 I would certainly head down the night prior and take the stress off yourself. Really though, I am inclined to think it won't be bad on Wed!

Similar thing happened to my family a few years ago. When we got to our van, the doors were frozen shut. We managed to finally get them opened, however, the ice ended up breaking the automatic sliding door mechanism. Definitely not a fun situation.

When we fly out of Buffalo in the winter, we always stay over the night before, the weather is just too unpredictable. Davey-D-99, good idea to stay over night, a lot less stress.

 

[Davey-D-99]

Can you leave your car there? I am sure their parking lot will be easier to get your car from at the end of your trip!

Safe travels!

Yes, we are leaving the car at the Holiday Inn Express..I got a Park'n Fly rate with a 24 hour shuttle to the airport.

Thanks for all the good wishes

Will report back in 9 days when we return Staying at CSR with FD

 

[disneyfan2]

We are now leaving on Friday morning, as our plans will not allow us to get there on Thursday. Hopefully the storm will be under control by then....

 

[mcgraws]

Hope Davey-D was able to get out!

 

[disneyfan2]

Hope Davey-D was able to get out!

Me too Wish me Luck!

 

[mcgraws]

Disneyfan I am sending positive thoughts your way too. Have a great time at Disney!