March Break Flights

[quandrea]

Just booked BLT for March 8 thru 16, but flights from Toronto would set us back $4000 with Air Canada and WEst Jet. Any suggestions? Should we be booking now for March? Traveled last year on points, so cost wasn't an issue. We may have to cancel if rates stay this high. Would I do better with a charter (sunwing, airtransat, canjet,etc.)

 

[Sunseeker2012]

I'm not sure how many are in your party. On flightnetwork, westjet is offering 569.55 per adult from Toronto Pearson to Orlando. On itravel2000 with United Airways 559.29 per adult. Sunwing is 761.67. I have never flown from Toronto so i'm not sure what is a good price for flights to Orlando. I would say that you have more options for prices to reduce from Toronto than we do in the Altantic. Good luck!

 

[quandrea]

I'm not sure how many are in your party. On flightnetwork, westjet is offering 569.55 per adult from Toronto Pearson to Orlando. On itravel2000 with United Airways 559.29 per adult. Sunwing is 761.67. I have never flown from Toronto so i'm not sure what is a good price for flights to Orlando. I would say that you have more options for prices to reduce from Toronto than we do in the Altantic. Good luck!

There are five of us. Are those nonstop flights. I checked out of Buffalo and that is even $3700.

 

[darwinsrule]

Southwest and Airtran have dates up to March 8th (the Friday) on sale right now. Southwest plans on putting the rest of March Break (actually into April) on sale August 27th I believe). Jetblue prices are actually quite high and there is no real savings compared to Pearson. Well financial saving anyway. There isn't any amount of money that could get me to fly out of Pearson the Friday of March Break with 100k other people (and the 1.5 to 2 hrs it will take to get through customs and security).

We booked going down March 8th the day it went on sale (Southwest) @ $170 pp. More then we generally like but we have the Fantasy booked for the Saturday. We still need air coming back however so when SW puts things up for sale at the end of the month we will be buying - quickly.

 

[keaster]

We are planning to head to Orlando March 7-16 (2 adults, 1 child), here's how flights break down so far:

Air Canada (from Toronto): $2831
Westjet (from Toronto): $1939
Southwest (from Buffalo): $524 one way (our return date is not available yet, but if it's roughly the same you are looking at $1046 return)

So any wonder people cross the border to fly?!?!??!

 

[quandrea]

Southwest and Airtran have dates up to March 8th (the Friday) on sale right now. Southwest plans on putting the rest of March Break (actually into April) on sale August 27th I believe). Jetblue prices are actually quite high and there is no real savings compared to Pearson. Well financial saving anyway. There isn't any amount of money that could get me to fly out of Pearson the Friday of March Break with 100k other people (and the 1.5 to 2 hrs it will take to get through customs and security).

We booked going down March 8th the day it went on sale (Southwest) @ $170 pp. More then we generally like but we have the Fantasy booked for the Saturday. We still need air coming back however so when SW puts things up for sale at the end of the month we will be buying - quickly.

How do you handle flights from Buffalo? do you go out the night before? I was thinking go after school on Thursday and fly out Friday am. Do you park at the hotel you stay at? How much time do you allow for travel from TO to Buffalo? What is it like at the border? Never gone thru Buffalo and always a little leary, but your comments about the madness of March Break are heard.

 

[keaster]

How do you handle flights from Buffalo? do you go out the night before? I was thinking go after school on Thursday and fly out Friday am. Do you park at the hotel you stay at? How much time do you allow for travel from TO to Buffalo? What is it like at the border? Never gone thru Buffalo and always a little leary, but your comments about the madness of March Break are heard.

We usually drive to Buffalo the night before (it's about a 2.5-3 hour drive for us). Stayed at Millenium hotel for $120 for the night, includes your parking up to 14 days and they have a free shuttle to and from the airport.

Border traffic depends on time of day, Thursday night shouldn't be too bad depending on what time. We have our Nexus cards, so we can get through pretty quick. Great thing is once you cross the border, you don't have to go through the insane customs line at the Buffalo airport like at Pearson.

 

[quandrea]

We usually drive to Buffalo the night before (it's about a 2.5-3 hour drive for us). Stayed at Millenium hotel for $120 for the night, includes your parking up to 14 days and they have a free shuttle to and from the airport.

Border traffic depends on time of day, Thursday night shouldn't be too bad depending on what time. We have our Nexus cards, so we can get through pretty quick. Great thing is once you cross the border, you don't have to go through the insane customs line at the Buffalo airport like at Pearson.

Just checked with Southwest and Airtran. Southwest one way is $1300 and AirTran is 1100 for the five of us. Which airline is better? Thanks for answering all these questions; I'm thinking this is how we might be doing this year's trip. The free parking at the hotel would save on Park n Fly as well. We're in Mississauga, so I think our journey might be shorter than yours.

 

[boundfordisney]

we are flying down on the 7th with airtran , 4 of us paid 126 each plus then you have the 20 per bag to factor in but still a good deal and its a nonstop flight at 7 55 am. Never flown with airtran , have always used southwest or jetblue in past trips. We are also waiting for the end of the month when return fares come out, buffalo airport is soooo much better then toronto! Once you fly from there you wont use toronto unless they have a really good deal. We stay the night before our early morning flight in a hotel close to the airport ,just makes things not so rushed. Travelling to buffalo is so much worth the extra drive pricewise and stress wise imo.

 

[grantclaire]

Your best bet now is flying out of Buffalo, AC and WJ released March flights quite some time ago and the prices keep rising! I was able to book flights on WJ for March 9 direct out of Pearson for 415.00 inc taxes within hours the price started to jump. We live in Mississauga as well and have a 10 min drive to Pearson so that helps.

 

[webworm]

Just booked BLT for March 8 thru 16, but flights from Toronto would set us back $4000 with Air Canada and WEst Jet. Any suggestions? Should we be booking now for March? Traveled last year on points, so cost wasn't an issue. We may have to cancel if rates stay this high. Would I do better with a charter (sunwing, airtransat, canjet,etc.)

Forget Pearson and fly out of the US. We live in Oakville and have flown out of Buffao, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, OH and Detroit. If you are flexible you can find a deal. There is also Allegiant from Niagara Falls but only booking till mid Jan at this time. We paid $496 for 4 tickets during March break from Youngstown, OH in March 2011.

 

[keaster]

Just checked with Southwest and Airtran. Southwest one way is $1300 and AirTran is 1100 for the five of us. Which airline is better? Thanks for answering all these questions; I'm thinking this is how we might be doing this year's trip. The free parking at the hotel would save on Park n Fly as well. We're in Mississauga, so I think our journey might be shorter than yours.

Yes we live in Barrie so a little extra drive for us!

We've only flown southwest and delta out of Buffalo, both are good except Delta charges for checked baggage. Never flow AirTran, so can't help you there!

 

[webworm]

Just checked with Southwest and Airtran. Southwest one way is $1300 and AirTran is 1100 for the five of us. Which airline is better? Thanks for answering all these questions; I'm thinking this is how we might be doing this year's trip. The free parking at the hotel would save on Park n Fly as well. We're in Mississauga, so I think our journey might be shorter than yours.

Rochester is only 1hr from Buffalo and you could fly into Tampa on a nonstop flight with Airtran. We have flown into Tampa a few times and driven over to Orlando as well. So for 5 tickets would cost you $684.00.

flight details
Departing: Friday, March 08, 2013 Earn 1 A+ credit $136.80 - Coach
Rochester, NY (ROC) to Tampa, FL (TPA) Flight 499
8:20 AM 11:10 AM

Total Cost of Flight $136.80
http://www.airtran.com/Home.aspx

 

[quandrea]

Airtran from Buffalo to Orlando one way is $684 for all of us today. When do I book the return flight?

 

[keaster]

I think a PP said they will be releasing the next batch of flights last week of August.

 

[greenclan67]

Yes we live in Barrie so a little extra drive for us!

We've only flown southwest and delta out of Buffalo, both are good except Delta charges for checked baggage. Never flow AirTran, so can't help you there!

We drive all the way from Manitoulin Island to Buffalo for our flights, that is an extra bit of driving! But compared to T.O we wouldn't have been able to go on vacations the last 6 years if it wasn't for flying out of Buffalo. We even did Rochester one year for $68 flights! The extra drive was very worth it!
We also check Flint, Grand Rapids, Saginaw and Detroit for prices usually Buffalo wins!
I have a flight booked on Jetblue for March 2nd to MCO right now that I got for $115, still looking for a return flight though!
Allegiant from Niagara Falls, NY, worked out well last year but after adding all of their fees in, we decided with JB!

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

Just booked BLT for March 8 thru 16, but flights from Toronto would set us back $4000 with Air Canada and WEst Jet. Any suggestions? Should we be booking now for March? Traveled last year on points, so cost wasn't an issue. We may have to cancel if rates stay this high. Would I do better with a charter (sunwing, airtransat, canjet,etc.)

We are flying with Delta..though I booked the flights in April..Try looking at flying out of Detroit?? It is usuallly cheaper.
I got 5 tickets..nonstop/roundtrip for $1800 flying out March 8 and returning Mar 20