Why Wouldn't We Fly Out Of Buffalo?

[AndyMcV]

I've heard of some great deals flying out of Buffalo instead of Toronto to Orlando. With us, myself, DW, DS6 and DD2 that would run us at least $2000 flying with Air Canada out of YYZ.

Why wouldn't we drive down to Buffalo and take a flight from there?

A.

 

[pollioni]

Great question. I am in the same boat. I think that there are only pro no cons on this.

 

[canucktyke]

That was the question I used to ask myself before flying out of Buffalo for the first time in May. And the answer is - besides convenience and familiarity , no reason. Buffalo is way cheaper, less crowded, very easy to get around, less hassles because you don't have to go through customs at the airport, closer parking and the local airport hotels are great.

I will never fly to a U.S. destination out of Pearson again.

 

[mom22belles]

we have found 2 cons.

1. Hard to find a direct flight.

2. The direct flights are at inconvient times.

Can we live with those heck yes!

Nancy

 

[dsneygirl]

we have found 2 cons.

1. Hard to find a direct flight.

2. The direct flights are at inconvient times.

Can we live with those heck yes!

Nancy

Have you flown with SW before? They have a great direct flight every morning. Leave about 7:30am and you are in Orlando before 10. Awesome times.

 

[mom22belles]

Have you flown with SW before? They have a great direct flight every morning. Leave about 7:30am and you are in Orlando before 10. Awesome times.

Yes we flew SW a few years back. As there are 6 of us and the fact it would mean kenneling our dog an extra night we don't want to spend the night in Bufallo.

We had found the perfect flight on Air Tran leaving at 3 pm ish landing at 5 ish. We booked it right away. Air Tran for some reason changed the flight times and no we don't leave Buffalo till after 5 landing at Mco 8;30 ish. Oh well at least we are going to Disney and getting the dinning plan for free.

 

[MECH8T7]

I've heard of some great deals flying out of Buffalo instead of Toronto to Orlando. With us, myself, DW, DS6 and DD2 that would run us at least $2000 flying with Air Canada out of YYZ.

Why wouldn't we drive down to Buffalo and take a flight from there?

A.

We just flew down via SW from Buffalo in June and it was great. It was much cheaper and very convenient. However, I can see a couple of situations where it might not be so great.

1. Specific Travel Window

Getting $49-59 per way SW fares are great if the alternative is $250-$300 each way via AC. However, if you're starting to plan your travel outside of the SW booking period (~3 months), you will not know how much you are going to pay with SW until their booking windows open. I'm not sure I'd bother going to Buffalo to be pay $160-$180 each way and, by then seats on AC, Westjet, etc. may be sold out or prices have gone up from the dates when the seats were first available on the Toronto-based airlines. I don't know enough about SW pricing patterns over the past few years to convey how much of a risk this might be but I do know that you cannot count on getting your airfare at $49 each way.

2. Snow

We've thought about using SW for March break travel but I've been concerned about having to drive down from the GTA to Buffalo in bad weather. I have visions of trying to get there in a driving snowstorm. (I'm a "glass half-empty" kind of guy). To me, this could be stressful way to start a vacation but I'm sure there are others that have flown out of Buffalo during various times in the winter and had nothing but clear driving down to Buffalo each time.

 

[snickerboo]

To me, there's no reason. When we went in April we went from Buffalo. The parking is cheaper, the flights are way, way cheaper and it's nice to fly out of a smaller airport, IMO. The only drawback I could find was that there were almost no, if none at all, direct flights from Buffalo. I would only fly out of Buffalo for the difference in price.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

You Easterners make me jealous... there's no American airports near Calgary... Thank goodness for WestJet and the Mosaik Airmiles Mastercard or I'd never get to WDW.

 

[wee-haggis]

2. Snow

We've thought about using SW for March break travel but I've been concerned about having to drive down from the GTA to Buffalo in bad weather. I have visions of trying to get there in a driving snowstorm. (I'm a "glass half-empty" kind of guy). To me, this could be stressful way to start a vacation but I'm sure there are others that have flown out of Buffalo during various times in the winter and had nothing but clear driving down to Buffalo each time.

We went last March and it was a breeze (sure there is a possibility of snow....but the same snow falls on YYZ albeit not quite as heavy.Buffalo has a reputation for clearing snow unbelievably fast). Give yourself lots of time by going down the night before and staying at one of many Parksleepfly hotels.

 

[connorsmom911]

Not sure why there are so many complaints of non-direct flights...I have always found SW to have direct flights, usually at least twice a day, first thing in the am and then later in the afternoon. I've never looked at any other airlines, although my dh and sister flew Jetblue to NYC and liked it. Not direct to Orlando though.

 

[mom22belles]

Not sure why there are so many complaints of non-direct flights...I have always found SW to have direct flights, usually at least twice a day, first thing in the am and then later in the afternoon. I've never looked at any other airlines, although my dh and sister flew Jetblue to NYC and liked it. Not direct to Orlando though.

I believe SW is the only airline with daily direct flights. Air Tran only offers 2 a week both on Sat.

If I'm wrong I would love to know
Nancy

 

[F4disneyfan]

Our reasoning is because with a family of 5 it is much much cheaper to drive than to fly from TO or Buffalo or even DTW makes no sence to us to spend over 500 US or more out of the US when we can drive for less than 300.00 and with a lease vehicle who cares about maintenance and wear and tear as we turn it in when the warranty is up.

 

[Claud26]

We went in December 12/03 to WDW and flew out of Buffalo.
Since I was a bit worried about the weather in December we left for Buffalo on Friday after lunch ... took about 2hrs to get to Buffalo from Downtown TO checked into the Holiday Inn Express (GREAT !! ) went for lunch at Olive Garden, then hit Walden Galeria Mall... Back to the hotel for an early bed time... our flight was at 6:40 AM on Air Tran... Left for the Airport at 5am... was sitting at the Gate at 5:30AM !! ... 45min Stop over in Atlanta (with ds 2 1/2 & DD 5 1/2 ) NO PROBLEM !! Got to Orlando at ??? can't remember but at 1pm we were at the WL by the pool having lunch !! the Cost of Hotel & Flight $1000.00 CDN ... I just could not justify flying out of Toronto for $1000.00 more... just did not make any sense.
I hope next time we go (Nov 2007) AirTran will have Airline check in at the hotel... that would be icing on the cake !!

 

[madonna31]

1. Hard to find a direct flight.

2. The direct flights are at inconvient times.

Southwest does indeed have direct flights and they usually have 2 departure times available on the direct itinerary.

1) Depart Buffalo 7:20am arrive Orlando 10:00am
2) Depart Buffalo 6:30pm arrive Orlando 9:00pm

A lot of people, book a day earlier at Disney, drive down to Buffalo to get on the 6:30PM flight. Granted you arrive late, but you are in WDW for your real first day there!

Even with the extra night stay at Disney, it STILL works out cheaper to fly out of Buffalo.

 

[Scratch42]

I can think of one CON..............

We go do some shopping in Buffalo and spend the money that we saved by flying out of Buffalo!

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

Our reasoning is because with a family of 5 it is much much cheaper to drive than to fly from TO or Buffalo or even DTW makes no sence to us to spend over 500 US or more out of the US when we can drive for less than 300.00 and with a lease vehicle who cares about maintenance and wear and tear as we turn it in when the warranty is up.

I wish that our vehicle had as good gas milage as yours! And our vehicle is really good on gas! We drove to Disney & back in Feb and gas alone was $450, and then there was of course food and accomadations for the trip there and back And we are also a family of 5.

 

[zenkatt]

Heres a tip if you want to take the early southwest flight(we are in september) Drive down the day before(so you are not rushed) and do a park and fly at one of the hotels nearby. We reserved a room at the ramada for $69 which includes the overnight accomadations, small breakfast, shuttle to the airport and parking for the week(not bad considering airport parking would be close to $50 for the week anyways). Like this you are not rushed(in case the border is slow) and you can get that early non-stop flight.

 

[AndyMcV]

Hi zenkatt

We've done that at YYZ the last 2 times we went to WDW. We stayed at the Shearaton in YYZ. Super convenient especially with a 6 and 2 year old. If we do fly out of Buffalo I'd stay at the Holiday Inn Express or simular. I'm not sure what the best hotel is at or around the Buffalo Airport.

A.

Heres a tip if you want to take the early southwest flight(we are in september) Drive down the day before(so you are not rushed) and do a park and fly at one of the hotels nearby. We reserved a room at the ramada for $69 which includes the overnight accomadations, small breakfast, shuttle to the airport and parking for the week(not bad considering airport parking would be close to $50 for the week anyways). Like this you are not rushed(in case the border is slow) and you can get that early non-stop flight.

 

[donnyreturns]

buffalo is a small airport with reasonable prices