More Advantages flying out of Buffalo....

[emmalgin]

Decided to spend the night at the Airport for Sunday 8:00 am departure. Many of the Hotels have park and fly specials.... There should be some decent hotels for $70-$90. Have a provisional reservation for $109, which is a Suite and includes Jacuzzi, Breakfast (nothing on SouthWest) and parking. Can go cheaper and may be will, but yet another reason to go through Buffalo. Parking at Airport is $30/wk.

 

[sammi]

Yep I know what you mean! I think the Canadian fares must come down to get us to fly again out of Toronto!

 

[Baboo]

On Canada AM on Friday they were talking about this, and they said that it was so much cheaper to go out of the States. When they asked Air Canada about it they said that they were not in the business of discount fares! Well DUH! Maybe they should be if they don't want to lose a HUGE chunk of their business. Not only are the fares themselves cheaper, but they don't add on the huge safety and gas surcharges.

 

[emmalgin]

Yes they don't care too much. Like Air Miles you save plenty of points and they are almost useless when taxes are more then the air fare.

Have decided to pay extra and stay the Saturday night at Hawthorn Suites Buffalo Airport. The price for a 1-BR suite is $109, but will include parking ($38/week at the airport). Room includes one of those oversized Jacuzzi in the living area. Kids and us will have a relaxing Saturday night. Then get breakfast before the flight and take some yogurt and fruit for the plane.

Can get cheaper, but have decided to start the trip off on the right foot. Check Airport hotels for Park and Fly rates, another great reason to fly out of Buffalo.

Add to that no customs concerns, curbside check in and smaller airport so smaller crowds.

 

[MichelleTO]

We love flying out of Buffalo. Besides the cheaper flights you are correct about the parking $30 a week(so $50cdn) and the spots are still very close to the terminal. We parked there and walked with the three kids and all the luggage without a problem. The airport is clean, well organized and is smaller than Toronto, which is nice! We live in Niagara so it is close for us, under 40 minutes to the airport. I think if I were in Toronto I would be tempted to do the drive or stay overnight to save the $$$$. I was looking at the Air Canada websaver fares this morning and what a joke. The taxes and surcharges are as much or more than the flights. Thats what we get for having only 1 major airline! The best thing about flying out of Buffalo is the customs, you cross in your car at the border so you do it there(usually 3 mintues!). It makes the airport time so muchq uicker, and then on the way back you don't have those brutal delays going through customs at the airport with tired kids! The only caution is don't cut your time too close for going over the border. Sometimes the bridges get backed up. We usually use the Queenston/Lewiston crossing and head to the airport that way(faster than over the peace Bridge).

 

[Tink42]

We also use Buffalo. We are in Waterloo so T.O. is closer but.....the amount of $ saved especially when there are 4 of us. Plus I just like the airport better. This past spring break my two teens flew to Florida to spend the week with my parents. They flew Southwest for about $300 CDN which is pretty good for March Break. but the nice thing was we had no problem taking them....they actually let me go to the gate with them to make sure they took off okay and them meeting them when they got back was so easy because the airport is so small.

I think when taxes are as much as, if not more than, the flight, then the problem is also with the government, not just the airline. I will sometimes see flights to Orlando with Air Canada that are not too bad but I know they will be double once the taxes are added.

Tink

 

[emmalgin]

As said with my tight wallet (LOL) even I am not thinking about staying overnight. As said above the Airport parking is now $38/wk. The hotel room is $109 including upto 2 weeks parking. It is .8 miles from airport, so we can leave at 6:45 am for 8:00 am flight. Add breakfast in the morning and everyone should be happy.

Just hope flight is on time.....

 

[emmalgin]

Sorry one more point. Have family (in-laws) in the Falls and could have stayed over night. However want to be relaxed and not rushed.

My spouse is shocked at my new view......

 

[RuthAnne123]

Kingston area people fly out of Syracuse. I got 98.00 dollar round trip from there and the same flights out of Ottawa were almost 400.00! I couldn't figure out why until I read these posts! Kingston now has several shuttle services that will drive you down door to door service.Too bad Air Canada can't compete for our dollars.

Ruth