OT: CFTO News is doing ...

[cabmom]

a News special at 6:00pm about Canadians flying out of Buffalo Airport.

Pat Foran is doing the special.(I think that's his name)

Marilynn

 

[princess aurora]

Didn't see the program. Waht did thay say? We got our flights for $645 CAD for a family of 4. You just can't beat that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not a direct flight but still for that price it's worth it!

 

[alohamom]

Did the preview have a negative or positive feel to it? My daughter has dance tonight I will have to miss it. If anyone does watch, can you post back and let me know the gist of the piece. Thanks...

 

[cabmom]

The News special is on tonight. I'll let you know what they say.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I am interested in knowing what was said too.. Did anyone watch it?

 

[cabmom]

Pat Foran compared two "larger" airlines prices. He compared Continental to Air Canada. They said it was cheaper and easier to fly out of Buffalo. But, we already knew that!

That was pretty much it. They interviewed some people at the Buffalo airport that were from Toronto. He walked thru the parking garage to see all the Ontario license plates, and there were lots!

Marilynn

 

[chasbos]

It was a rather short piece and for anyone who has flown out of Buffalo it was nothing new. The mentioned how much easier to clear customs (because you do not have to!) when you land in Orlando. The showed some comparison cost for Buffalo and Toronto and there was almost $3000 difference each time for a family of 4. The used AC and Delta from T.O and Airtran out of Buffalo (did not even mention SWA).

The only thing I did not agree with what he said was that most of the time you cannot get a direct flight from Buffalo to Orlando - we have had no problems. They also did comparisons to Miami.

The manager of the airport there said he just loves Canadians and hopes to see more of us.

When we flew in January it only cost us $500 canadian for 6 of us to fly direct - we will definately fly from Buffalo again!

 

[Hockeychic]

But now everyone knows our secrets....

 

[RoyalCanadian]

But now everyone knows our secrets....

True 'nuf -- however, for some strange reason, I don't think we'll see a great surge of Canadians abandoning YYZ in favour of BUF. In regards to travelling out of YYZ, two adages hold true: "Human beings are creatures of habit" & "Misery loves company."

 

[princess aurora]

Well I'm just glad I'm breaking free of my habit shell and I like being where the happy ppl are

 

[sapiendut]

For me, too much time and $$ to get to buffallo and back. That's a minimum of 4 hours turnaround time (including border crossing), an almost full tank of gas (about $40), parking for the entire week (or more), chance of my car being broken into (which then will jack up my insurance rate).

Just from the time alone, that's like the entire time taken for me to fly from Toronto to Florida. It's not worth the saving, IMHO.

 

[hockey mom]

Sapiendut- the time Toronto requires you to stand in all there line ups is the same amount of time it takes to drive to Buffalo and whip threw that airport. A tank of gas and $35 to park your car is a far cry from the savings. I have flown 4 times out of Buffalo and once out of TO- I was worried about leaving my car in TO not Buffalo. For me with a family of 5 the 1000 I save and less hassle with kids in Buffalo is well worth it. If you were travelling alone I could see where it might not be as economical.

 

[chasbos]

For us the time to get to Toronto or Buffalo is 3 hours - no difference there. Time it takes to get on and off the plane and get off our bags - HUGE difference. In Buffalo it only took 15 - 20 minutes to get our bags and out of the airport. Toronto it is a nightmare waiting for bags and then clearing customs (and with 4 very tired kids - vacations will do that to them). Buffalo wins this one hands down.

As for the vehicle being broken into - we have crime in Canada too!

I guess Buffalo is not for everyone, but for some of us it has been wonderful. I look at the airfare prices first: Buffalo - $500 CAN for 6, Toronto - $3000 for 6. For that there is no debate in our house where we will travel from.

 

[maryann4086]

We have been flying from Buffalo to Orlando for about 8 years now. There is no way we would return to the hassles of the Toronto airport. Depending on border time we are approx, 45 minutes away from the airport. Southwest is wonderful, an early morning direct flight, gets us to our hotel by noon. Now if only the southwest flights would open up to the beginning of September , I would be thrilled, I do hate the wait haha.

 

[sapiendut]

OIC.

The situation is a tad different for me. Going to and from Pearson costs me $0 (family and friends are always willing to drop me off and pick me up) and it usually only takes about 45 minutes for me to get through check-in and yes, I usually go by myself.

 

[chasbos]

sapiendut - Now I see where you are coming from!!

 

[dsneygirl]

We have been flying from Buffalo to Orlando for about 8 years now. There is no way we would return to the hassles of the Toronto airport. Depending on border time we are approx, 45 minutes away from the airport. Southwest is wonderful, an early morning direct flight, gets us to our hotel by noon. Now if only the southwest flights would open up to the beginning of September , I would be thrilled, I do hate the wait haha.

Ditto. My ILs live in Port Colborne so it is easier to get one of them to drop us off then someone to take us to Toronto.

My DH was in the UK on business earlier this month and it was an hour and 10 minutes between when his flight landed to when we got his luggage. Then we still had a 35 minute drive home. He was even in the new Termial 1 and said it was still a nightmare. Give me Buffalo any day!

Plus you can shop at Target on the way home. I can't imagine anyone convincing me that it is worth it to pay $400 a person to fly from PIA.

 

[GrannyEv]

Well last time I went I flew out of Detroit. Even with paying for the Robert Q shuttle bus it was over $500 cheaper. Didn't have to worry about gas, parking, etc. They even picked us up right in front of my apartment door.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Just for the two of us it saved us a bundle to fly out of Buffalo. We got the great $26 rate on Southwest so it was $200 Cdn return. I checked Air Canada and it would have been $800. For $600 we can drive 2 hours and whip through the Buffalo airport. Couldn't believe how fast everything was. Our bags were waiting for us by the time we walked to the baggage claim area. We will fly out of Buffalo again in a heart beat.

 

[GrannyEv]

Yes, although the Detroit airport was not the greatest airport in the world to spend 3 hours with a ten year old (grandaughter)it was so much easier. Not that busy, no problems with customs and getting our bags quickly. We flew Spirit Airlines (no meal but it's only a 2-1/2 hr flight). Would do it again if I had to fly. We will be driving this time with two more grandkids in tow.