COMINGANDGOING

FERRY TALES

Ship Out to Toronto

CoGo has long advised travelers to Toronto to consider flying to Buffalo -- round-trip fares from the D.C. area are as low as $116 -- and renting a car for the rest of the trip. Now CoGo has a new favorite way to Toronto: Fly to Rochester, N.Y., and take the new Spirit of Ontario ferry.

Round-trip airfares from Washington to Toronto begin at about $240. To Rochester: about $136. The ferry: $56 round trip for adults, $20 for kids ages 5 to 17, under 5 free. Rochester's airport is about 15 minutes from the ferry; a cab costs less than $20. The ferry docks in downtown Toronto.

That's $260 for air to Toronto plus cab vs. $186 for air to Rochester plus ferry.

The ferry takes 2 hours 15 minutes, not counting connections and customs lines. It has a small playroom, a cafe and a duty-free shop.

For details on the ferry: 877-825-3774, www.spiritofontario.com. For info on the newly linked cities: www.visitrochester.com and www.torontotourism.com. As long as you're in Rochester, check out the Strong Museum for kids or the George Eastman House, with its collection of silent films and the works of more than 14,000 photographers.

UPRIGHT AND LOCKED

When Babies Fly, Cont'd

CoGo and the Federal Aviation Administration were surprised to learn recently that Icelandair bans safety seats for children under 2 during takeoff and landing, even if the parent has bought the child a seat.

Then reader Evelyn Wring of Washington alerted us to another surprise: Alitalia bans safety seats altogether for kids under 2, even those with a ticket. The child must be held throughout the flight.

Hearing this, CoGo hit the phones and learned that other foreign carriers have what seems to be outdated rules. Lufthansa has the same rules as Icelandair. Cathay Pacific allows airline-approved seats if a child's fare has been paid, but the seat must be forward facing -- and, of course, many infant seats are not.