Newbie Flying out of Buffalo

[Canada2k7]

Hi there, great site!

We are planning our first even trip to WDW next year. Our daughter is the perfect age and the dollar just broke through $1.10 as I write this, so why not!

I know flying out of Buffalo is much cheaper than Pearson (Toronto). My wife is a little edgy about it because we've never done it before.

I'm wondering if the more experienced travelers here could share some stories on what its like flying out of Buffalo, such as:

- What's the airport like in Buffalo?

- Did you have a good/bad experience flying out of Buffalo?

- Any special considerations for Canadians being non-residents of the US, or is it as simple as showing up with your tickets much like at any Canadian airport?

I really don't want to pay to fly Air Canada when we could use Jet Blue or Southwest, so any stories you can share would be helpful!

Thanks

 

[Sharptooth]

Flying out of Buffalo is a lot easier than flying out of Toronto. The buffalo airport is small and very easy to find your way around. Our first time was in Sept this year and the whole experience was very good. Will never use Toronto again.We left a day early and stayed in a park and fly hotel. No problems crossing the border i would suggest you have a passport but not necessary at this time.Its also much faster at orlando airport because you went through customs at the border.Have a great trip.

 

[Ham Ham]

Link to parking and coupon at Buffalo Airport. BUF
http://www.buffaloairport.com/airport_info/parking_availability.phtml
Walk to the terminal if possible, drop you group and luggage at the terminal prior to parking if that's an option. Avoid the shuttle if possible

Many folks drive day the day/night before and use a hotel that has a park and fly program. I never done it but I'm sure someone will post some recommendations.

When factoring drive times, borders delays are important.

For directions to BUR click below. Type in your starting address.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=e...92&spn=0.007101,0.014591&z=16&iwloc=ddw1&om=1


Depending on your starting address goggle will most likely give you the Queenston/Lewiston bridge as a suggested route.
Technically the shortest in terms of KM's from most of Southern Ontario.

Due to congestion I would avoid this span. To modify you route click and hold the blue line on the map, drag and drop it to the crossing you wish to use

Here's my strategy when crossing the border, my default is the Peace Bridge, next Rainbow Bridge.

Then if the 2 previous brides are closed and have fallen into the Niagara river then I will take the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge.

Have used Queenston/Lewiston coming back often with out too much delay.
I generally cross during off-peak times

When leaving and entering Canada tune in Buffalo's WBEN am 930.
During their news updates the status of the delays at the bridges are sometimes reported.

Border delay info
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html
http://niagarafallsbridges.com/traffic_conditions.php3
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp

Study the route become familiar with it.
Stop by CAA and get a Buffalo city map.

 

[Lavendar]

If you're heading to Buffalo during the winter/early spring months. Please note that the weather can be completely different in Buffalo, Niagara Falls ON, St.Catharines, Hamilton and ....
So don't just check the weather for Buffalo / Fort Erie to determine your drive times!

We found some hotels at ParkSleepFly.com for good rates.

When crossing at the Fort Erie / Buffalo bridge ~ pick a custom booth at the right side of the plaza. The highway to the airport is off to the right side.

 

[Ham Ham]

If you're heading to Buffalo during the winter/early spring months. Please note that the weather can be completely different in Buffalo, Niagara Falls ON, St.Catharines, Hamilton and ....
So don't just check the weather for Buffalo / Fort Erie to determine your drive times!

We found some hotels at ParkSleepFly.com for good rates.

When crossing at the Fort Erie / Buffalo bridge ~ pick a custom booth at the right side of the plaza. The highway to the airport is off to the right side.

Great tips. I really like the one about the keeping to the right at US customs.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

That was an excellent tip about keeping to the right at the Peace Bridge. I wish someone had told me that the first time I crossed. The signage in the US is usually excellent - better than what we have here in Ontario. One thing to remember is that their on/off ramps are short, very short so keep that in mind. A good addage to remember is "He who hesitates is lost."

I've been using the Buffalo airport for a few years now and unless Air Canada or WestJet starts giving their flights away for free, I'll continue to use Buffalo. The airport is a nice size, big enough to have everything you need and small enough to get around easily. The parking is very affordable. I believe I paid US$46 for 8 days last July.

Make sure you don't cut yourself too short on time. The border crossings are very busy these days and will likely be moreso with Christmas on the horizon. In July, we left home at 9AM for a 3:45PM flight. Normally that would be tons of time even with a stop for lunch. But not this time. The 401 was backed up solid with a jack-knifed truck right at our exit. Luckily we know the area well enough to detour around it. But we still had to hussle to our gate for departure.

Once you use Buffalo, I doubt you'll ever use Pearson again.

Beth

 

[Valjean13]

As previous posters have said, getting a hotel for the night before is an option so you don't have to worry about border/highway delays. I've flown from Buffalo twice, both times on a 7am flight, and we left our house around 3am. The border isn't busy in the middle of the night, and neither are the highways (unless there is a crazy accident). Of course the downside is that you get hardly any sleep the night before - but we just sleep once we get on the plane.
We found the parking lot shuttle convenient for us, it basically followed us to our parking spot and we jumped right on. Maybe that's because it was 5:30am and hardly anyone around?
Last Christmas we parked our car at Pearson for a week and it was vandalised (they stole the airbags). We decided we'll never leave our car at Pearson again, but we have no issues parking it at the Buffalo airport. I've heard so many stories of stolen cars in Toronto, but nothing bad about Buffalo's airport.

 

[belle1627]

I have to agree with all the other posters. We always use SWA at Buffalo. Customs is done at the border and takes seconds. It is a small airport therefore easy to navigate.

It is definately the way to go. If you are going to use Southwest, download the Ding program if you haven't already. Great prices. We have payed at low as $29 -$64 each way.

Have fun!!!

 

[junebug88]

I am flying to WDW in May 08 and we are using the Buffalo airport. I have talked to many people in the area that says it's much better then the TO airport. We are staying overnight across the street at the Sleep Inn, are flight is at 7:45am.

 

[Canada2k7]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I would welcome more stories and feedback on the Buffalo airport.

We're thinking of going in April and we are planning to stay overnight before we go as the park and fly deals look very attractive. I don't want to get up at 3am and drive if I can sleep til 7am instead!

 

[OntFamily]

We flew out of Buffalo, for the first time, a couple of years ago.

We stayed over the night before at a Buffalo hotel, and booked an airport shuttle to the airport. Being accustomed to flying out of Pearson, we wanted to be at the airport 2 to 2.5 hours before the flight departed. The hotel thought we were weird as they only wanted to bring us to the airport one hour before departure time -- but they accomodated us.

When we got to the airport, we realized why we didn't need to be at the airport so early. It took us less than 10 minutes we checked our bags, went through security, and strolled to our departure gate -- over 2 hours early !!!

 

[disneyfan2]

The hotel thought we were weird as they only wanted to bring us to the airport one hour before departure time -- but they accomodated us.

When we got to the airport, we realized why we didn't need to be at the airport so early. It took us less than 10 minutes we checked our bags, went through security, and strolled to our departure gate -- over 2 hours early !!!

Same thing with us. The airport securtiy thought we were nuts when we got there 2 hrs early..

 

[dishguy1977]

I can't say enough good things about the Buffalo airport compared to Pearson. I do caution you to leave adequate time to clear airport security. I have flown out of there on a saturday 7am flight and got there at 5am and almost missed the flight because security lines were so long.

Parking is cheaper then Pearson too especially with the coupon which I believe someone has already posted here (readily available on the BUF webpage). I've never done the hotel stay over/parking thing because my kids are 2 and 4 and I think it might actually be more of a hassle and we generally pick flight times that allow us to drive sameday. The other thing that holds us back from doing the hotel thing is how do they handle car seats in the hotel to airport shuttles??

 

[mommylo]

I agree with all the posters. We flew from Buffalo last year and will not go back to Pearson unless I redeem my tickets through Airmiles. We stayed at the Sleep Inn across the street the night before since our flight was at 6:30am. Curb-side check in was wonderful. If you have little kids with strollers, they even have a designated security check!! There were at least 50 people in the regular line and 2 people with strollers Would never see Pearson offering such a service with common sense, right?

 

[dishguy1977]

If you have little kids with strollers, they even have a designated security check!! There were at least 50 people in the regular line and 2 people with strollers Would never see Pearson offering such a service with common sense, right?

Actually, the one bad experience we had at BUF was with this designated stroller line. It was the first time we flew out of there and there was a big lineup and we saw the empty stroller line so we cautiously walked up and were chastised by man there for thinking we could "skip the line"!!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We flew out of Rochester for the first time last May then we did Buffalo in august and have to agree with another poster that unless the Canadian airlines start giving away the flights for close to free I will continue to fly from the US.

In March we will be trying out Dertoit although not by choice but b/c of the flight prices to San Juan. So we'll see if it's as easy as BUF and Rochester!!

 

[nosnobunny2006]

We flew out of Rochester for the first time last May then we did Buffalo in august and have to agree with another poster that unless the Canadian airlines start giving away the flights for close to free I will continue to fly from the US.

In March we will be trying out Dertoit although not by choice but b/c of the flight prices to San Juan. So we'll see if it's as easy as BUF and Rochester!!

We live very close to each other and I've also considered Detroit. Please let us know how this works out for you. I'd be very interested in knowing.

Beth

 

[Ham Ham]

Other easy drives to US airports from GTA are Flint, MI, Pittsburgh, PA, Cleveland, OH & Akron OH. All of the airports have discount carriers to Florida.

Here's a link to one of my posts about my "math" of flying our of the states.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

No offense but for me to drive 5 hours to catch a discount flight makes no sense. It has to be within a 2 hour drive from home, which in my case is SW Ontario.

Beth

 

[Ham Ham]

No offense but for me to drive 5 hours to catch a discount flight makes no sense. It has to be within a 2 hour drive from home, which in my case is SW Ontario.

Beth

Just trying to show folks how to save some money and visit Disney often.

When traveling alone or with one other person it may not make sense $$$ to drive a few hours to save money.

I fond it odd more folks, who have US airports within easy an easy drive, continue to pay huge airfares out of Canada.

The 4 of us are flying this March break out of Buffalo. First time using BUF and looking forward to it.

We saved almost $1600 flying out of Buffalo opposed to Toronto Pearson.
I'd drive 3 more hours if my only choices were Pittsburgh or Cleveland to save that much.