I haven't seen this discussed here, but it was recently brought to my attention that MegaBus is running a service from downtown Toronto to BUF. It is part of their Toronto to New York service. Several buses a day, and apparently very cheap. Could be excellent for MRs out of TO.

http://www.megabus.com/us/schedules/...aloairport.php

Thanks, it is a useful option, though always subject to weather issues at this time of year. Though more expensive, I do find VIA/Amtrak a good option since the rails don't get tied up in traffic on this route, and while the customs wait is longer one remains comfortably at one's seat and there's no need to go through the "perp walk" at customs/immigration (complete with the dogs sniffing through the luggage)!

until they hold up the whole train just cos someone forgot to bring ID or got caught with something or other, not to mention if there is an issue with the railway lines, trains broken down etc�

twice to NYC via Via/Amtrak and twice delayed once over 8hrs and the other over 3hrs.

if you take the train... do you take a cab from the train station to the airport?

I did the train once from BUF, I took the bus (#24?) to the Amtrak station.. that was quite an adventure as it goes thru some less desirable Buffalo neighbourhoods. The train was late an hour, and spent 2 hours at the border. Arrived in Oakville about 1.5 hours late. Never again I thought to myself.

I also took Greyhound once (before Megabus) from the downtown station, took the express bus there from the airport (#204?), that was much better and faster. Greyhound was fine, but did take 4 hours to Toronto, not because of the border (which was quick), but because it stopped in what seemed like in every single town between Fort Erie and Hamilton

I havent done Megabus but friends are going Friday ($7 tickets!), but I think the advantage of Megabus over Greyhound/Train is the lack of stops and the fact it goes directly to the airport.

It shows USD $17 per person for me on Dec. 17th, how did you get $7?

They booked a while ago, they got the $1 tickets on the return actually in January. The prices are incremental on Megabus, starting at the silly $1.

Doesn't the "of interest to Canadian travellers" exception still apply to the AP Forum? Have I been away that long?

The Megabus schedule was very unrealistic with respect to the border when we used it. They were scheduling only two hours from Toronto to BUF. The border crossing and traffic added an hour in each direction. The bus was on time leaving Toronto and BUF. They now have added more trips and increased the scheduled time to 2:45, which is more realistic. It is run by Coach Canada and they interchange equipment. If the schedule isn't good, look at the regular services to the NFTA Buffalo terminal. There is a transit bus to the airport from there.

The fares increase as the bus sells out, but I've gotten the $1 tickets a few times. Megabus accepts reservations about two months out, and you'll pay less if you buy in advance. You can also cancel and rebook up until the day of travel; you'll pay any applicable fare difference and a $1 penalty (well, not really, but you'll pay two $0.50 booking fees). So, sometimes it might be okay to book something on speculation, then come back and move the trip around as needed.

So far, I haven't found the Megabus schedule to be very attractive for those going BUF-Toronto, but it might work for Torontonians traveling out of BUF. The NFTA express bus to the airport is rather inconveniently infrequent, as well -- once tried to construct a BUF-downtown Buffalo-downtown Niagara, NY-Niagara, Ont.-TO route (partly for the adventure, partly to take advantage of quick on-foot border crossing, partly to take advantage of the plentiful TO-Niagara services), but it added nearly an entire day to the itinerary.

Just look at the Porter thread which got banished to the other airlines forum as soon as it became apparent that it will be a successful airline.

My friends took Megabus last Friday, there was only 12 people on the evening departure, the bus they said was great, and it took 2:30 to get to BUF airport, where they stayed overnight for the morning flight. In this case, even with hotel, savings were substantial on their trip to warrant it, but I do agree, some of the schedules (especially returning) are not most convenient