TIPS: Flying out of Eastern Ontario / Western Quebec

[Minder]

Hey guys

I thought I would start a thread where everyone can post their tips on Flying out of Eastern Ontario or Western Quebec

I’m thinking primarily of the Ottawa to Montreal area, but that’s kind of a soft boundary. You can decide if your close enough to that area.

OK The biggest tip that I have is DON’T FLY OUT OF CANADA !!!

It’s Stupidly expensive and there is no need for it. Find the closest American city (For me its Syracuse) and check flight prices for the same day.
On average we save $250 per ticket by driving down to Syracuse. (That’s $1000 for a family of 4)

Parking in Syracuse. Check the local hotels for the “Park and Fly” promotion. By staying 1 night they will allow you to park 14 – 21 days and give you free shuttle service to the airport. Average cost for this is $100 - $150 for a single night stay. So drive down the night before, stay overnight and fly out on the earliest flight the next morning.


Thats my tip ..... Whats yours ?

 

[abirdd]

Always check the WestJet DIRECT flight from YOW to MCO. Since 2006, even with the increase in airport fees and taxes from Canada to the USA; it has still remained cheaper than paying for gas/mileage to Syracuse, and most likely a night in a hotel and/or parking fees.

Never discount your local Canadian airport - you never know what fares might just turn up!

Oh, and since someone asked for this via PM. My January 2009 trip for WestJet direct return flight: $390.94 Canadian total for 3 "adults".

 

[Minder]

Hmmmm

You have given me food for thought.

I just checked your suggestion and the price is $292 Direct for 2 people

The best price I am getting on other carriers is over $550 (Which is what makes Syracuse a good choice)

But i may need to rethink here.

Thanks.

 

[Minder]

Nope Check that.

Westjet from Ottawa for 2 people

Departing: Sat, Dec 12, 2009

Returning: Sun, Dec 20, 2009

Total Cost of Flight$1,435.52 CAD

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Jetblue Same dates for 2 people
Total Cost of Flight $ 459.60 USD

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There is no comparrison. Go to Syracuse

The 292 price was per person each way + taxes and fees, when I went to book the flight it said $1,435.52 CAD please, and i says Pardon???

 

[abirdd]

$292 is the default full fare on WestJet right now for YOW to MCO. You need to wait until the sales start being posted for your chosen travel dates; and ultimately need to book when you are most comfortable with the fare. WestJet is known for modifying their pricing several times a day during the discount periods - so it's a case of waiting and playing. Also, WestJet tends to only offer discounts on US travel on Tuesday and Wednesday; and occasionally an additional day of the week. The sale fares are almost always on the DIRECT flight (yah!!).

Currently, WestJet has seat sales going until Oct 31st. Anything after this date will likely be posted in the coming months. If past experience is anything to go by... my December tickets will likely be booked in August or Sept.

 

[Minder]

Ahhhh

So its all about personal comfort level then.

If you are willing to wait to book until the specials are released, and run the risk that there will be no special on your dates, or worse yet that the flights will book up, then you could save a bundle.

If you are like me and like booking a year in advance so everything is set in stone and there are no surprises, then Syracuse is the way to go.

 

[abirdd]

I'm a compulsive organizer - but I refuse to shell out money to drive/stay in Syracuse to take a flight. Especially when there are decently priced direct flights out of Ottawa. You just have to learn the methods to WestJet and A/C's madness. Or essentially, you must the magic that is Canadian airline discounts...

If the direct flight option should ever change, then we might consider the road trip. As my hubby says - the 3 hour there/3 hours back in itself is worth the extra money for a flight out of Ottawa when our kiddos are in tow. And when it comes to Disney, we are all about going as a family (at least for now )

Also, you mentioned Syracuse flights being set in stone. Many of the DIS'ers will tell you Syracuse is MUCH worse for last minute flight changes or cancellations than out of Ottawa. In fact, we've had more flight changes/cancels out of US airports than we ever have here in Canada.

 

[2forMe]

Always check the WestJet DIRECT flight from YOW to MCO. Since 2006, even with the increase in airport fees and taxes from Canada to the USA; it has still remained cheaper than paying for gas/mileage to Syracuse, and most likely a night in a hotel and/or parking fees.

Never discount your local Canadian airport - you never know what fares might just turn up!

Oh, and since someone asked for this via PM. My January 2009 trip for WestJet direct return flight: $390.94 Canadian total for 3 "adults".

Wow that is great... I wish I could get a price like that.. However anytime I have looked the prices to leave from Ottawa have been approx 1200 for 3 people... so flying for less than 600 US would still be cheaper for me, even with gas and 1 night hotel... although truthfully not that much cheaper and when I used to travel with 4 people it made a much better difference.. but now with 3, the few hundred $$ extra to fly right from home might be worth it!

Also I have found that I could get good deals out of Rochester and Albany as well... direct flight too! A little further away.. but marginally.

 

[ottawamom]

We could never get the flights we wanted out of Ottawa. We have flown out of Syracuse a couple of times and our most recent trip we drove to Albany and flew Southwest. I got flights for 5 of us $768US total all taxes in. For us it was worth the drive to save the money we did. The road trip just became part of the journey. It also saved on having to get passports (at the time). I hate paying all the taxes we do to fly in Canada.

Also on the plus side the wait to get back on a domestic flight at the Orlando end was much shorter than the wait to get on international flights.

As for a tip. If you are thinking about flying Southwest, I would drive to Buffalo via Syracuse. It is 15min. further but the ticket prices are way better and they have more flights.

 

[2forMe]

We could never get the flights we wanted out of Ottawa. We have flown out of Syracuse a couple of times and our most recent trip we drove to Albany and flew Southwest. I got flights for 5 of us $768US total all taxes in. For us it was worth the drive to save the money we did. The road trip just became part of the journey. It also saved on having to get passports (at the time). I hate paying all the taxes we do to fly in Canada.

Also on the plus side the wait to get back on a domestic flight at the Orlando end was much shorter than the wait to get on international flights.

As for a tip. If you are thinking about flying Southwest, I would drive to Buffalo via Syracuse. It is 15min. further but the ticket prices are way better and they have more flights.

Really I had no idea it was so close... I will have to keep that in mind

 

[ottawamom]

I meant to say 15 min further than driving to Albany. It is about 2 hours west of Syracuse.

 

[cey]

We love the JB direct flights out of Syracuse! Travel time is 2 hours from our door to the airport! We usually spend the pre-flight night at Comfort Inn and Suites and use the Park and Fly option. This way we start our holidays a day earlier and can do some US shopping, visit the Duty Free and leave our purchases in the car. That way, we don't have to stop on the way home and we don't have to worry about the stores being open when our flight lands! Have done the Canadian flight thingey and absolutely hate the customs process! This way, you drive through customs at the border and touch wood have never had a problem!

This year we are driving down as we have planned a month long pre-retirement trip! Can't wait!

 

[kathymuggle]

Another vote for Syracuse.

I have scoured the flight info and could not get a decent rate out of Montreal or Ottawa. And I tried hard.

Syracuse is a small airport - there is much less time spent in lines, etc. It is actually kid of boring - but oh, so easy.....

I took a flight out of Montreal last yar - I swear I walked a good kilometer both at departure and arrivals - and the place was a zoo.

Kathy

 

[Siebel]

We are from Montreal and we booked our flights for the second time with Jetblue from Burlington.

It is so convenient to go there from Montreal 1:30 hours.

I don't have the traffic around the PET airport which is crazy with the construction.

I clear custom in the car which is a breeze compore to PET aitrport.

The price is so good with Jetblue.

 

[PrincessMom4]

I vote driving. We have driven 4 times to Florida (3 of them to WDW) with 4 kids under 10. Once we went with a 9month and a 2 year old. Everyone was so well behaved it was not funny. The cost for all of us to fly is outrageous. I have heard Burlington is cheap to fly out of and so is Platsburgh, NY.

 

[Minder]

Driving.

My Inlaws have driven a number of times. It takes about 24 hours from Ottawa to Orlando.

It really depends on you, 24 hours driving with 2 drivers sleeping in the car is dooable. 2X12 hours with a stopover is also really dooable, and 3X8 hours prety much anyone can do.

Lets look at cost.

Gas in an average mileage car is $225
A decent Cheap Motel $100
Food is variable, but lets assume breakfast is free at the hotel, and your simply doing Dinner for 2 adults and 2 kids = $100
Lets also assume that you are bringing your own snacks and sandwiches for the 1 day trip.

So the costs (EACH WAY) are
1 Day = $225
2 Day = $425
3 Day = $625

There are lots and lots of variables, and in the end it really comes down to what you want to do.

1. You can Fly from canada and pay WAY TOO MUCH
2. You can wait for a seat sale to fly from Canada and take the chance that you wont get a deal or wont get a seat.
3. You can fly from the closest USA city and get a good deal, but you will need to drive down, and either pay for parking, or use the Park and fly option at a local hotel
4. You can drive down. It CAN be the cheapest way to travel, if you can take it. (I cant)

 

[PrincessMom4]

Decent hotel is $69 per night times two nights. Free breakfast. Lunch is sandwiches and lots of healthy snacks($20 for the 2 days) and dinner out for 2nights ($90 for 6 people-2 adults+4 children). Our total gas prices (there and back from Prescott,ON) is $500CAD.

 

[2forMe]

THe thing is that ifyou are driving you are only calculating the cost.. but not the cost of your time. Not everyone gets paid vacation and then also those that do might not get more than 2 weeks per year. So it can be more costly or shorten a vacation.. both of which I am not so keen on. So for me, while if I could drive and have it done in 24 hrs.. well that would be OK.. but it is not a reality.
ALso when I fly out of the US, yes I normally stay the night before in a hotel, but not on the way back.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

Another thing to consider is the cost for luggage! Air Canada & WestJet have 2 free per passenger (including lap infants). Southwest does as well, but they are out of Albany...

Last year we almost flew out of BTV, but then a deal came through and AC was cheaper than BTV and WestJet! Buying airfare on Wednesday also seems to be the cheapest, but not sure exactly why.

 

[Debbs]

We went to Disney Dec 18-Jan 1 in 2007-8. I didnt book any airfare until fall, which i'm glad I didnt. I got airfare for 4 return Ottawa-Orlando with Air Canada for less than 1600.00 taxes included.