To Hawaii via Canada (driving from US)

[clsmit]

We're booked in Maui at the Westin next summer. Plane tickets from Cleveland are running US$1100+ . Pittsburgh, Akron, and Columbus aren't much different. But if I fly Air Canada from Windsor, Ontario, a 3 hour drive, or from Toronto, a 5-6 hour drive, the cost is $US750. The flights go thru LAX. I'm willing to consider a border crossing for that cost savings x 4. Anyone have any thoughts or things to consider that I'm missing? We all have passports so getting into and out of Canada won't be an issue. The flight times are such that we'd go to Canada the day before and spend the night in Canada before flying out.

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[Jbart74]

Well, you win the prize for most eye-catching Subject of the day. :hysterical:

 

[charford]

People in Ontario cross the border all the time to take advantage of lower airfares. Allow yourself at least 2 hours at the airport since you will have to pass through U.S. immigration at the Windsor or Toronto airport.

 

[BevL]

I'm shocked that you can get a cheaper flight from Canada, our taxes are such that we almost always cross the border FROM Canada to Washington State to fly on vacation.

This is old hat for us. If you look at ParkSleepFly.com you can find a list of hotels near the airport that will have a package where you can get a room and leave your car at the hotel for the duration of your trip, assuming it's a week or two.

A bit of a bummer when you get home and have a drive, but sounds like the savings are definitely worth it.

Bev

 

[dioxide45]

Is that $750 US inclusive of all fees? My parents live in Canada and fly to Calgary to visit my brother. They always tell me that the prices advertised sound great, but once all the airport and other fees are added it can add 50% or more to the advertised prices.

 

[amanven]

I agree with the other poster who advised you check the cost to see if it includes the taxes and fees. Pearson International Airport in Toronto has some of the highest landing fees in the world so I find it hard to believe you can get a better deal out of Canada. We are two hours away from both a major Canadian and US airport and we always get a better deal out of a US airport. The one thing that is working in your favour is the strength of the US $ against the CA $ right now. US currency is currently worth about 25% more in Canada so that could be what is making a difference. I would suggest though that you do a little more research before you go booking through Canada.

 

[AKE]

It seems to vary - we live in Canada and about half the time we fly out of the states - the fares seem more airport location and airline dependent than anything and they seem to change on a daily basis. As an example, I was looking to fly from Ottawa (Ontario) to New Orleans. Until a few days ago the Canadian fare was running arounf $600 versus $250 for the same airline, but out of Syracuse (NY). Today the Canadian fare is the same as the US for the same airline and same date (so it will save us a 3 hour drive - )

 

[steved2psi]

Try this option

Look at Southwest from CLE to LAX and then Hawaiian Air from LAX to OGG. I just got a Nashville to HNL with a return fom Kauai to Nashville using a combo of Southwest and Hawaiian for under $550 RT for March. I will have to get bags in LAX and recheck and hope the SW flight is not late but otherwise I was looking at airfare of about $1,000.

 

[LisaRex]

Isn't Cleveland one of the cities that Hawaiian Air uses?

If not, consider getting a cheap flight to Las Vegas and flying Hawaiian Air from there.

 

[steved2psi]

Yes, but Hawaiian code shares with CO at CLE

I checked all the west coast gateways for Hawaiian that I could get a non-stop on with SWA as well as the Bay Area. The Cleveland RT was slightly over $950 plus whatever SWA would have been from Nashville to Cleveland.

 

[lprstn]

There is NO way I would do that. You will need a vacation from vacation. Some things are just worth paying for. If you can't afford the airline tickets just save that trip for another time. Trust me, I drive 12.5 hours to FL every year and there is no way I would be able to handle a time change, and a long flight on top of a long drive. unless I was staying at my destination 2 months.

By the time you add in:

- Time
- Gas
- Food cost while driving

is it really saving you anything?