Brilliant ideas needed - cheap flight to NYC
 

I thought I'd post this question, although I'm not sure it's answerable. My daughter lives in NY and will be having a baby very soon. I want to fly down from Toronto as soon as possible after the birth, ideally to Westchester Airport which is near their home; the second choice would be LGA. I can get a good rate from Air Canada ($344 or thereabouts) if I book 14 days in advance, but I don't really want to wait that long. Jetsgo doesn't require advance booking, but flies to Newark which is almost prohibitively out of the way, in terms of how much extra travel time/inconvenience it adds to the trip. Other airlines make connections in cities like Detroit or Cleveland, which make the trip 5 to 8 hours long (!)instead of the 1 hour it usually takes from here. Most of the discount websites don't have flights that originate in Canada. Do I have any choices that I haven't thought of yet?
Thanks for any ideas!

Site59.com offers last minute packages with hotel to cities all over the world. Toronoto is on there and as of today (Wed), there is a last minute package of $280 which includes a hotel.
I'd use that since it's based on last minute travel.

Thanks, Syd1, but I can't use a package. I'll be staying with my daughter at her home in Pelham (that's why I'm going). Site 59 only offers packages.

how about cheaptickets.com or priceline?

I would not rule out the Newark arrival. It is not all that far from Pelham, probably an hour trip from there.

Also there are shuttle services that go from LGA to Westchester, your daughter should be able to get you more info on those.

Another option would be to fly into Newark and take the bus into the City to Grand Central and then take the Metro-North to Pelham. Yes it will add more time to your trip but if you are traveling litely, it should not be that much of a hassle.

Congratulations on the almost new arrival.

Cheaptickets offers those trips that connect through various cities, making the trip really long. Their prices aren't all that spectacular either when you convert them to $CAD. As for Priceline - I'm a bit nervous about that one, to be honest. I've never used them. My concern is that I'd end up paying a good rate but getting those 8-hour-long travel days. Sorry I'm being so picky - I think I need to win the lottery and just pay for a ticket! :)

Thanks, Wantsomesun - I think I might just do what you suggest. Jetsgo is remarkably cheap and I'm familiar with the Metro-North - they live right across the road from the train station in Pelham, actually. That's probably my best option - at least that's what I've been thinking.

Meesthare,
You can choose a "flight and car" option on site59. That's the one that was also $280. Might be worth a last minute check. Not that you want to deal with a car, but hey, you can do the run to Buy Buy Baby on 23rd and 7th Avenue without taking a cab! Could come in handy...
(that's what my mom did :) )

Meetshare.....You can purchase the "package" and not use the car.Thats what is called a "throw away".Who cares if you don't use the car or hotel??? You just pay for it go on.....

The chances of getting a bargain airfare to Westchester Airport are not great. So, you're probably best off trying for Laguardia. (Also, I'm not even sure that you can easily fly from Toronto to Westchester, regardless of cost.)

Howard - I can fly with Air Canada for the same price to Westchester as to LGA, but that's the only airline that flies direct from here. The rate is actually very good, and this week they've got a websaver that's even cheaper. The problem is that to get the good rate I have to book well in advance, or hope that the websaver special is offered when I want to go.
What a happy dilemma this is!
Thanks, everybody, for all your suggestions. I'll let you know what transpires. The baby is due in early November - my daughter has tickets to a concert on the 6th, so she has announced she won't be going into labor until after that. :)

I don't know the distances, but could you fly into a Connecticut airport?

My kids have requested that I fly into either Westchester or LGA, because it's easy for my son-in-law to pick me up at either of those two airports. I could make my way from Newark, although I get the sense that they would like to come and get me, and I want to make it as easy for them as possible.

I'd fly into Newark and then take the train into Penn Station. From there, you can make arrangements with them to pick you up at a destination.