When should I leave?

[Tinkermom76]

I just got my airfare for december and I have never flown out of Buffalo before. My flight leaves at 11:55AM on a Friday. I am leaving from Brampton which is 20 min west of Toronto. It usually takes me an hour and a half to get to Niagara Falls. I know I will need to add time if there is snow but about what time do you think I should leave my house and what bridge should I cross at?

Thanks
Natalie

 

[Jejual]

I am very cautious when it comes to timing so I would leave by 7am in case there is lots of traffic. The best bridge to take is the peace bridge between Fort Erie and Buffalo.

 

[formill]

I'm even more cautious and would get a Buffalo hotel and stay over the night before. We've had too many waits on bridges/traffic/car issues......we also cross at Fort Erie. We've used priceline to get a hotel-like already being there- get up and have included hotel breakfast.

 

[bunnybee]

Look into hotels near the buffalo airport - they offer a hotel night/parking for the time you're gone and a shuttle to and from your car - typically for not much more than a hotel night.

We've done this twice now and it saves the worry of getting there, traffic, waiting and also in case of weather. Coming home, we drive right away.

The Peace bridge is the best one - it usually has shorter wait times and it will take you about 1.5 to 2 hours - it's 20 minutes from Niagara Falls.

if you choose to drive, I'd leave really early - I'm paranoid - for an 11 AM flight, I'd probably leave before 6 and then if I got there early, go for breakfast

 

[Tinkermom76]

we can't leave the night before since my mom will be at work till 11pm.. I am thinking I will be safe with leaving at 6am

 

[bbrnca]

I have stayed the night before and also left really early in the AM to catch the flight....

last trip in June flight was 8:30am we left burlington @ 4am we arrived at 5:30 at the airport
I like to always be at airport 2.5 - 3hrs before flight have seen the TSA security check can take anywhere from 5min to almost 2hrs..... arrive early enough and you should have no problem.... i always say it is better to be sitting at gate for a while when they announce boarding then in TSA line 200 people deep when announcing

 

[dancin Disney style]

I also fall into the better to be too early camp.

We will decide what time we want to be at the airport...usually 2 hours before the flight. We then leave home 2 hours before that. A normal drive for us to BUF is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. So by giving ourselves 2 hours we have 30-40 minute cushion. Everytime we have done this we find that exactly 1hr and 30 minutes after leaving home we are parked, in the terminal, checked in and either in the security line or already through it.

 

[Tinkermom76]

so I think as long as we are on the road by 7am for a 11:55 flight we are good

 

[Alderbrook]

so I think as long as we are on the road by 7am for a 11:55 flight we are good

I would leave at 6 am, have you seen the traffic on the QEW lately? The construction is BRUTAL from Ford Dr to the Niagara cutoff! Took us 2 hours to get home from downtown TO & it usually takes 45 mins. Can you take the 407 from your house?

We have a 2 pm flight from BUF & we're leaving our house, just outside Hamilton, at 8 am.

 

[Spoonful_Of_Sugar]

We are going a day before and spending the night, I got a room from priceline.
If I were you I would go at 11pm after your mother is off work and then sleep in a little. This way you don't have to worry. If you can not do this I would leave by 6am.

 

[gem21]

Personally I think 7am is cutting it a bit close... from what I gather if it's 1h 30 to Naigara Falls, it's probably close to 2h to Buffalo, but throw in 1h at the border (just to be on the safe side, especially on a Friday morning, could be more busy than usual although it's really hit or miss, but like I said I'd rather be safe than sorry. I just got back from the US, left Canada on a Tuesday morning(!!) and it was 30-45min wait into the US). So that's a three hour drive.... arriving around 10am.

So its up to you how comfortable you feel, my suggestion would be to check border wait times/traffic early in the morning. If it's bad leave earlier...

 

[Tinkermom76]

I would leave at 6 am, have you seen the traffic on the QEW lately? The construction is BRUTAL from Ford Dr to the Niagara cutoff! Took us 2 hours to get home from downtown TO & it usually takes 45 mins. Can you take the 407 from your house?

We have a 2 pm flight from BUF & we're leaving our house, just outside Hamilton, at 8 am.

maybe 6 would be better and I will be taking the 407 just because of Ford Dr so that cuts a lot of time

Personally I think 7am is cutting it a bit close... from what I gather if it's 1h 30 to Naigara Falls, it's probably close to 2h to Buffalo, but throw in 1h at the border (just to be on the safe side, especially on a Friday morning, could be more busy than usual although it's really hit or miss, but like I said I'd rather be safe than sorry. I just got back from the US, left Canada on a Tuesday morning(!!) and it was 30-45min wait into the US). So that's a three hour drive.... arriving around 10am.

So its up to you how comfortable you feel, my suggestion would be to check border wait times/traffic early in the morning. If it's bad leave earlier...

I think I will be up around 4 to shower and pack the car so I will check the bridges then