Would you do a connecting flight?

[TreesyB]

Here are my comparisons - for 2 tickets

Westjet = $1062 (direct)

Air Canada = $842 (direct - the last sale [ not guranteed])

Expedia = $642 (connecting in Charlotte)

Here's my thing: I'm going to be on a cruise, but i'm flying in a day early. so I'm just going to be doing some supply shopping and relaxing on the first day. And the connecting flights have only 45 min. in between (so not so bad i figure).

Which would you choose?

 

[karenr518]

Is there any way you could fly out of the U.S.? It's so much cheaper that way. I only fly direct, and I find the flight prices the same as stopovers at Buffalo Airport (southwest). I've done a connecting flight only once, and my luggage was lost. Thankfully it was on our flight home, so I was ok, but I wouldn't take the chance again if I could avoid it.

 

[SAGE]

We flew AC at the end of August and had a connecting flight home in Montreal. All the luggage arrived 3 days after we were home.
No more connecting flights for us!

Also, this was our first trip and next time will consider flying from Buffalo.
AC $858. for 2 adults. was too much $$!

 

[phabric]

Try SunWing.

 

[tribus121]

We have no choice but take conecting flights we would have to drive 8 hrs to boston to get a direct flight that said we have never had any problems with conecting flights I would go with what is cheeper

 

[drag n' fly]

Flying out of Calgary we have often had to connect flights in Toronto. I would connect if you are flying in a day early. Try and pack any essentials in your carry-on...meds, swimsuit, undies etc! If you're worried about your bags being misplaced. We have had bags misplaced on direct flights...went to Houston instead of Toronto...it can happen to anyone.

 

[madonna31]

Try SunWing.

Ditto that. Book now, before their prices go up!

 

[TreesyB]

Ditto that. Book now, before their prices go up!

They don't have the dates I want.

 

[Miandrea]

I did a connection at Christmas time - toronto to Charlotte to Fort Myers - I only had 30 minutes (of course Air Canada did not leave on time) I made it but my luggage arrived 5 hours later. I would try direct because you would need your luggage for your cruise.

Have fun!

 

[laura001]

I would fly southwest out of Buffalo. If you don't have to worry about being there at a specific time, sure, fly with a connection. There are a ton of direct flights with southwest though

 

[pxlbarrel]

The last time I did a connecting flight, I made sure that I had 2 hours between flights so I didn't have to worry about making the flight if the first flight was delayed a bit. Of course, once I did that, our first flights were early! However, better safe than sorry, eh? Can you somehow arrange it so that the time between connections is a bit longer?

 

[surfer_ed]

Iwould connect but I don't think I would want anything less than 45 minutes to connect. Sounds like allot of time but if you get delayed there is not much of a buffer.

Ed

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

My dh flies down to various places in the US on buisness and quite often has connecting flights - he and his co workers have lost/delayed luggage so often that he only takes a carry on now. I'd never do a connecting flight having checked luggage - I would always pay more for direct!

 

[drag n' fly]

My dh flies down to various places in the US on buisness and quite often has connecting flights - he and his co workers have lost/delayed luggage so often that he only takes a carry on now. I'd never do a connecting flight having checked luggage - I would always pay more for direct!

It depends on how many people their are in your party. Our family of five is flying down in February. We put extra money aside for a direct flight because we would rather waste our time at the pool (time well wasted lol) than the airport. We were also concerned about connecting in Toronto...again... in February. We did not want to risk hitting one of those eastern blizzards and being stuck at an airport. A lot of time we do connect because the cost savings outweigh the hassle. A 1000.00 or more is a whole lot of extra spending money! If you are a party of one or two it does not hit the wallet so hard as flying the five of us direct from Calgary with Westjet right now is 4200.00. My dh flew into Houston yesterday with a connect time of less than an hour and had to change terminals and he and his luggage all arrived safely in San Antonio....on that note did you know it is perfectly legal to stroll up and down the riverwalk in San Antonio with open liquor! My dh hotel is right by the Disney Store...could you imagine seeing someone pounding back a brewski so they can pick up something quick for their kids? I couldn't believe it!

 

[SaraMc]

We did a connected flight from BUF, to JFK to MCO.. We made sure that there was a two hour window as well between flights, for two reasons, we always go in Feb, so there is the snow factor and just making sure that our luggage makes it there with us.

All in all we had no problems.

 

[iluveeyore]

We always fly out of Buffalo on Southwest, no connection. Flew Airtran in August coming back, they made my non-stop flight a connecting, and we were delayed two hours!
Also, if you can fly out of Buffalo, you'll probably only pay $400 tops for 2 people roundtrip - last year my sister paid $98 roundtrip each on Southwest - watch for specials! Even if you don't get a deal, non-stop is the best bet for no-stress travel.