Those of you who fly to/from/within Canada know how outrageously expensive it is in comparison to domestic travel in the US. The easy solution for us Torontonians, to the best of my understanding, is to travel by land out to Buffalo airport, just across the border, and fly out of there - often for less than half the price. Here's my planned itinerary for a weekend in Washington DC, about 10 days from now:
Outbound flights: BUF-DTW-BWI, roughly 3.5 hours including connection time in Detroit.
Actual travel: My place > Public transit to bus depot > Bus to Buffalo > Public transit from bus depot to airport > BUF-DTW-BWI > Public transit from Baltimore airport to my friend's place in DC.
Total travel time, door to door, including wait times: close to 11 hours. :eek:
Similar itinerary on the way back (flying via Cleveland, shorter flights and connection, but longer bus ride back to Toronto).
Total cost (roundtrip): $161 airfare (NW and CO) + ~$45 bus fare + local transit = ~$210.
Alternative: Direct flights YYZ-BWI or YYZ-WAS at about $400 :td:, should take around 4-5 hours each way, door to door.
What do you guys think? Has anybody from Toronto ever used the BUF airport for domestic flights in the US? Any relevant tips?
Did you price the BUF-BWI roundtrip on Southwest? They offer several daily nonstops in that market. They are currently offering a $59+taxes/fees one-way fare, but it requires a 14-day advance purchase.
Did you price the BUF-BWI roundtrip on Southwest? They offer several daily nonstops in that market. They are currently offering a $59+taxes/fees one-way fare, but it requires a 14-day advance purchase.
That would've made things easier, eh? :) Well I usually search on expedia (searching individual airlines' websites is often very time-consuming, and expedia shows most of their online-available fares anyway), and Southwest isn't coming up on that search. My base fare is $103 R/T I think (+tax), with NW outbound and CO inbound, plus I'm SkyTeam Elite and miles are important, so I doubt I would've done it had I known of the possibility...
So where is that fare available? On their website?
guv1976
Feb 3, 08, 12:45 pm
That would've made things easier, eh? :) Well I usually search on expedia (searching individual airlines' websites is often very time-consuming, and expedia shows most of their online-available fares anyway), and Southwest isn't coming up on that search. My base fare is $103 R/T I think (+tax), with NW outbound and CO inbound, plus I'm SkyTeam Elite and miles are important, so I doubt I would've done it had I known of the possibility...
So where is that fare available? On their website?
Yes, at www.southwest.com. I don't think that Southwest participates with Expedia.
While miles are important, if you're going on a weekend trip, having more time at your destination is important too. Have a good trip!
All That Jazz
Feb 3, 08, 1:41 pm
Yes, at www.southwest.com. I don't think that Southwest participates with Expedia.
While miles are important, if you're going on a weekend trip, having more time at your destination is important too. Have a good trip!
I agree. However, I'll be spending the vast majority of my travel time getting to/from BUF. My flights are with fairly good connections, but on my departure date, it should take me around 6 hours between when I leave my place and when I board the plane. That's also the part I'm most concerned about - I've never crossed a border to catch a flight... (except in Europe but everything works way better there in that respect).
davidcalgary29
Feb 4, 08, 12:55 pm
I used to bus it to BUF in the early '90s when I was in university and cost trumped all other considerations. :)
My only suggestion is that you leave AMPLE time at BUF to make your flight. Border problems can cause unexpected delays and the bus terminal isn't exactly right next door to the airport. Your time estimate seems to be on-the-mark to me, but things might have changed since 9/11.
All That Jazz
Feb 4, 08, 1:08 pm
I used to bus it to BUF in the early '90s when I was in university and cost trumped all other considerations. :)
My only suggestion is that you leave AMPLE time at BUF to make your flight. Border problems can cause unexpected delays and the bus terminal isn't exactly right next door to the airport. Your time estimate seems to be on-the-mark to me, but things might have changed since 9/11.
Hmm.
Well, the bus is scheduled to arrive at Buffalo at 12:45 and my flight leaves at 3:20. I'll be checking in online (so no waiting in line) and have priority boarding plus I bought trip interruption insurance, just in case... I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes ;)
rankourabu
Feb 4, 08, 6:36 pm
Hmm.
Well, the bus is scheduled to arrive at Buffalo at 12:45 and my flight leaves at 3:20. I'll be checking in online (so no waiting in line) and have priority boarding plus I bought trip interruption insurance, just in case... I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes ;)
I use BUF frequently as its an awesome option for travel out of overpriced YYZ.
I took the train back once, and the Greyhound back a couple times as well.
Couple notes about public transport from the Greyhound station, try to take the Express bus (240?), its much faster (have exact change as well), the 24 takes a really long time and goes through the less desirable parts of town.
There are schedules for both online on the Buffalo Airport website.
The bus can be fast or painfully slow, check if yours goes via Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, etc, if so, its very prone to delays, if its the express, it could be faster. Of course the border is always a gamble, but the bus usually gets through quickly, but it does wait for everyone, so if there is one "troublemaker", you wait as well.
The security line at BUF at some times of the day is horrendous (I ve been in line for 45mins before), there is no elite bypass.
All That Jazz
Feb 4, 08, 9:41 pm
I use BUF frequently as its an awesome option for travel out of overpriced YYZ.
...
The security line at BUF at some times of the day is horrendous (I ve been in line for 45mins before), there is no elite bypass.
Yeah, YYZ IS overpriced, eh? What's up with that?
As for security - you know what, where I come from (Israel), airport security procedures are about ten times as strict as they are here in North America; and yet, I've never had to wait longer than 15 minutes (usually just a couple of minutes, really, but sometimes it gets busy). Either way I'm not planning to miss my flight due to security ;) I'll just go to the front of the line if I feel it's getting too tight and elbow my way through.
Thanks for the tips though! That was helpful! ^
rankourabu
Feb 4, 08, 10:53 pm
Yeah, YYZ IS overpriced, eh? What's up with that?
Few factors, often discussed in the Air Canada forum
1. Much higher taxes on tickets in Canada (GST, NavCan, etc)
2. Air Canada's monopoly in Canada
3. Buffalo's perceived lower economic status as a market
4. Jetblue/Southwest/Air Tran all have a presence in Buffalo
5. YYZ being one of the most expensive airports in the world to land a plane
6. The limitation of BUF to short/medium haul domestic flights
You should make your flight no problem assuming the Greyhound is on time.
You can always take a taxi if need really be, its about $25 to the airport.
flyingstudent
Feb 4, 08, 11:00 pm
You should also consider driving and parking your car in Buffalo. Saves time.
All That Jazz
Feb 4, 08, 11:16 pm
You should also consider driving and parking your car in Buffalo. Saves time.
Yeah, I've considered that - given that I don't have a car (I live in Toronto, owning a car here isn't very wise) it'll be a little difficult. I've also considered renting a car and leaving it at BUF, but it's going to cost more than simply flying out of YYZ...
As for the comments above - I just hope that some day, someone will wake up and say: "you know what? maybe it wasn't a good idea to let AC buy out ALL of its competition."
Just a thought. @:-)
sadiqhassan
Feb 4, 08, 11:19 pm
My mom had a similar dillema - YYZ-IAD-YYZ was coming out to a mere C$603 for her dates in late March. Luckily we had avion miles to spend; it cost a dear 30,000 but that isn't bad considering a C$650 ticket to Europe would cost 60,000 miles to redeem.
Few factors, often discussed in the Air Canada forum
. . .
6. The limitation of BUF to short/medium haul domestic flights
What limitation is that? Even before the recently-completed runway extensions, BUF could accommodate transcontinental nonstops, and in fact had them years ago when they were economically feasible.
What limitation is that? Even before the recently-completed runway extensions, BUF could accommodate transcontinental nonstops, and in fact had them years ago when they were economically feasible.
You have a thing for proving people wrong, don't you? :eek: You don't do it in a very pleasant manner... Just sayin' ;)
What limitation is that? Even before the recently-completed runway extensions, BUF could accommodate transcontinental nonstops, and in fact had them years ago when they were economically feasible.
You have a thing for proving people wrong, don't you? :eek: You don't do it in a very pleasant manner... Just sayin' ;)
Not sure what you found unpleasant about my post. Some airports, like LGA and DAL, do have legal restrictions on destinations that can be served by them. I don't think that such a restriction applies to BUF, but am certainly willing to be educated by the poster. Perhaps he just meant that current economic realities limit BUF's air service, or perhaps he meant something else.
Not sure what you found unpleasant about my post. Some airports, like LGA and DAL, do have legal restrictions on destinations that can be served by them. I don't think that such a restriction applies to BUF, but am certainly willing to be educated by the poster. Perhaps he just meant that current economic realities limit BUF's air service, or perhaps he meant something else.
Absolutely meant the economic realities and the fact its a non-hub city. There is no way of getting very far from BUF non-stop, its just how it is, being a regional airport. Limitations being that one can go YYZ to many European and Asian cities it non-stop while flying out/into BUF requires connection.
I am certainly aware that BUF's runways could accomodate large planes and long haul flights, but somehow I dont see a BUF-LHR happening anytime soon.
Absolutely meant the economic realities and the fact its a non-hub city. There is no way of getting very far from BUF non-stop, its just how it is, being a regional airport. Limitations being that one can go YYZ to many European and Asian cities it non-stop while flying out/into BUF requires connection.
I am certainly aware that BUF's runways could accomodate large planes and long haul flights, but somehow I dont see a BUF-LHR happening anytime soon.
Thanks for the clarification.
FWIW, I think the longest nonstops currently available from BUF are Southwest's flights to LAS and PHX.
rankourabu
Feb 6, 08, 7:34 pm
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)
Thanks for the clarification.
No prob.
Getting OT here, but did BUF really have transcontinentals back in the day?
Thats pretty interesting! How long ago was it, what airlines?
I myself am going back down to BUF in 4 weeks for a trip to Germany,
from BUF - $263 via IAD, from YYZ, $817 via JFK, $1200 nonstop.
A no brainer even with parking and gas.
There is a coupon one can print out from the buffaloairport.com website, good for 10% off parking too :)
Getting OT here, but did BUF really have transcontinentals back in the day?
Thats pretty interesting! How long ago was it, what airlines?
IIRC, it was BUF-LAX, operated by UA, in the 60's or 70's. I think I saw the flight listed in a timetable, and it stuck with me because I considered it an odd city pair. Not sure of the aircraft type. Would a 727 have had sufficient range?
guv1976
Mar 27, 08, 11:11 am
Hi all,
Those of you who fly to/from/within Canada know how outrageously expensive it is in comparison to domestic travel in the US. The easy solution for us Torontonians, to the best of my understanding, is to travel by land out to Buffalo airport, just across the border, and fly out of there - often for less than half the price. Here's my planned itinerary for a weekend in Washington DC, about 10 days from now:
Outbound flights: BUF-DTW-BWI, roughly 3.5 hours including connection time in Detroit.
Actual travel: My place > Public transit to bus depot > Bus to Buffalo > Public transit from bus depot to airport > BUF-DTW-BWI > Public transit from Baltimore airport to my friend's place in DC.
Total travel time, door to door, including wait times: close to 11 hours. :eek:
Similar itinerary on the way back (flying via Cleveland, shorter flights and connection, but longer bus ride back to Toronto).
Total cost (roundtrip): $161 airfare (NW and CO) + ~$45 bus fare + local transit = ~$210.
Alternative: Direct flights YYZ-BWI or YYZ-WAS at about $400 :td:, should take around 4-5 hours each way, door to door.
What do you guys think? Has anybody from Toronto ever used the BUF airport for domestic flights in the US? Any relevant tips?
Thanks! :)
If All That Jazz or others in the Toronto area plan to travel to BUF to take advantage of low airfares in the future, be aware that Megabus is planning to start service between the Toronto Royal York Hotel and the BUF airport in late May, 2008. One-way fares are as low as free (plus a 50-cent booking fee) during the first week of service; I've found a $1.00 (plus 50-cent booking fee) fare available for a one-way in July!
I've never used Megabus, so I cannot vouch for them, but if this works out, it would be a great deal for you Torontonians trying to find an economical way to get to and from the BUF Airport. Here's the website: www.megabus.com