Questions About Flying Out Of Buffalo

[AndyMcV]

Hi Gang

Just curious as I've seen some posts about driving to Buffalo and flying to Florida/MCO from there. We live an hour east of Toronto so it takes us about what 3.5 hours to get to Buffalo? What are the flight prices out of there? What are the parking prices too? For us to take Pearson to Orlando it's about $400 - 600 each. For a family of 4, ouch!

Andy

 

[maryliz]

Hi Andy. Depends on what time of year you're going. Right now, there aren't any of the "great deals" out there. We flew out of Buffalo in January for a total of $700 US for my family of 4 on SWA. We got the $79 each way fare. They did have $59 each way, but we weren't fast enough We booked last Aug. However, I do know that some people here got the $29 each way fare which is absolutely incredible!

We parked in long-term preferred and it was $48 for a week -- we had an extra 2 days so ended up being around $70 total for the parking. But we could walk from the terminal to our van.

I'd keep checking their website ... Ithink someone said that specials for SWA come out on Tuesdays??? Not sure though.

It's a nice smaller airport and I'd fly from there again. We are in London so it's about 3 hours for us.

MaryLiz

 

[chasbos]

We flew out of Buffalo in January - $451 for 6 of us return. We are also 3.5 hours away so we stayed the night before at the Comfort Suites ($100 - slept 6) and they shuttled us to the airport and back.

It is a much more relaxed airport than Pearson and you do not have to clear customs - that is a huge bonus when you are travelling with kids.

We booked at a higher price ($811) but when the sale came on I just called SWA and they credited me the difference. Gotta love that too about an airline.

Keep looking and give Buffalo a try!

 

[alohamom]

I will always try to fly out of Buffalo first before Pearson for the above reasons MaryLiz and Chasbos both give. Also, we had one year we were leaving our house(then in Mississauga) for Pearson which without traffic was about a 20/25 minute door to door drive. I never chance that there will be no traffic so I always give myself more time so we had left 1 hour prior to the time we wanted to be walking into Pearson. Thanks to an early afternoon traffic tie up, we were very late and ended up running to our gate! That is not the way I like to start my trips.Right now, we live in Campbellville, just west of Milton so to Pearson on a good traffic day it takes about 40/45 minutes. With traffic, who knows. To Buffalo airport from my house takes approx. 1 1/2 hours depending on how busy the border is. For us, it just seems to make more sense to save sooo much $$$ without having to sacrifice anything else. For example, right now I am looking at a flight to Maui from Buffalo in April for 511 USD each seat. The same flight out of Toronto is 1054 CND BEFORE TAX!!!!!! That happens to be a sale and the real bottom line savings are the taxes you do not have to pay departing from US airports.

 

[surfer_ed]

We have flown out of Buffalo on a couple of occassions. SWA and JetBlue. Worked out to about $270 CAD per person plus the cost of parking.

Check the airline sites directly and don't rely on expedia etc., sometimes the airline site has a better price.

We live in Oakvile so it was not a big deal to drive but if you are driving 3.5 hours than you need to make sure you get a good deal. JetsGo and Canjet have some good deals as well so depending o the time of year it might not be worh the drive.

One idea might be to drive down the night before and saty at a hotel that offers the "stay and park for free" option.

One downside is that because your travel does not orginate in Canada, some of the gold card trip cancellation does not apply but the refund policies of the airlines are pretty good now days.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

We were one of the lucky ones and got the $26 airfare on Southwest. The total including taxes for the two of us was $170US about $210 on my credit card. It was an amazing deal. We stayed the night before our flight at Comfort Suites and they shuttled us to the airport and then picked us up on the way back. We left our car at the hotel and it was fine. No problems at all. It was definately worth it for us to fly out of Buffalo.

 

[dsneygirl]

For example, right now I am looking at a flight to Maui from Buffalo in April for 511 USD each seat. The same flight out of Toronto is 1054 CND BEFORE TAX!!!!!! That happens to be a sale and the real bottom line savings are the taxes you do not have to pay departing from US airports.

We have done Buffalo to Maui twice. Both times we did SWA to LAX then United to Maui. This past October I believe it was $500 per person cheaper than from Pearson. Then we also managed a stop over at Disneyland!!

 

[mousy_in_canada]

We too got a great deal with SWA .. 27.00 each is AMAZING! with the taxes it was 75 return.. can't beat that!! I am thinking of going back next February and I will gladly fly out of buffalo again!
We stayed at the Holiday Inn express and the room was beautiful, had no issues at all.. called them as soon as we got back to BUF and they were there within 5 minutes to pick us up.
keep checking a good deal is sure to pop up again.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Ditto to mousy's post, only difference for us was we stayed at the Homewood Suites, but they were great too - shuttled us there etc etc. For us BUF is the way to go.

 

[kington]

I would definately agree with all of the above about the ease of using Buffalo airport! Not only the good airfares but crossing the border in a car is much easier and simpler than customs at Toronto airport. We just showed some ID, told them where we were going and we were done! Returning was also very easy. The Buffalo airport is close to the border, small and easy to move through. I'd highly recommend it.

 

[ciniagara]

Hi AndymcV We are leaving next Friday the 11. We are paying 250.00 each for the four of us on Delta. I live in Niagara Falls so it is only 45 min to Buffalo airport and I am saving a bundle too. Definately worth the drive and not having to go through customs in Orlando

 

[Hockeychic]

We flew last September from Buffalo under $700 Canadian for 4 of use everything included. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for $100 left the van there for 15 days no extra cost. Since we had a early flight they even gave us a breakfast bag to go. The Buffalo Airport is very small and easy to move through and to check in and out. SW even has curbside check in.

Can't beat it!!!!

 

[Tabetha]

Loved flying out of Buffalo. It was cheaper for both of us to stay in a hotel in Buffalo for one night (14 days free parking included), fly Soutwest, and take a towncar service to the hotel than it was for ONE airfare on Jetsgo.

Also - a domestic flight is SO much easier.

 

[penjen]

If you print your boarding pass at home is there a line at the Buffalo airport for just checking the bags?

thanks!

YEAH 2 MORE DAYS to go!

 

[princess aurora]

I'll second all the above statements. We booked our trip end of January or early Feb for an April 25 - May 2 vacation. I actually found a good deal through Expedia.ca (b/c they deal in CDN $) and we were able to fly out of Buffalo return for $645 for 4 on Delta. The only down side is it was not a direct flight. We flew SWA a few yrs before out of Buffalo as well with no problems and I remember that flight being $189 ea all in.

Like many others we stay over at a hotel. This last time was Comfort Suites. Your $100 per night stay includes continental breakfast and your car parked there for up to 14 days plus the shuttle to and from the Airport, which is literally 5 minutes away or less. We've done this twice with no problems with our vehicles. I think they give CAA or AAA discounts?

I'm looking now for a trip this Novemember and there are not really any good deals and I'm getting a little bummed out. I was so hoping to catch one of those awesome SWA cheapo flights. No such luck yet but they are only taking reservations until Oct 28th right now. Someone mentioned the closer it gets to your date the cheaper the flights get.?? Not sure how long to wait though?????

I can not believe that that one person got a credit for the difference on a sale of their tickets. That's just insane .