Is $209.50 for air fare a good price?

[Fantasia_]

I tried calling some airlines and even checked their website, the best rate I can get is $209.50 w/tax per person. Is this a good rate? Thanks!

Where can I get a bettter deal for our trip in late Sept/early Oct? Thanks!

[DMickey28]

I spent $210.00 per person for two adults on US AIR from Providence to Orlando non-stop at pretty good hours, I think. June 2-9th. I think it is a fairly good rate, depending on where you are coming from. From PVD it's a good deal...it is such a nice small easy access airport.

Good Luck!!!


:bounce: Only three more days left!!!:bounce:

[travelcoupons]

I'm assuming you are talking about Detroit - Orlando, It's a fairly good rate. I would be willing to bet you could do better between now and late July if you keeping checking. Detroit and Minneapolis have similar fares to Orlando normally as they are both Northwest hubs and have a little competition from low-fare carriers.
I am quite familiar with Minneapolis fares and I normally shoot for one in the $150-175 range as being a good sale. I can find $199 quite frequently with the low to mid $200's being the normal non-discounted advance purchase fare. So if I were in your shoes, I'd wait for anything under $180 and purchase as soon as I see it....or if your ultra-conservative, purchase the $210 fare and keep checking for lower ones for the same flights, if it happens to go lower, get a voucher from the airline for the difference. You can use the voucher on future purchases.

[Fantasia_]

DMickey, thanks for sharing your rate.

Thanks travelcoupons for giving me a heads up! Thanks for your advice! I sure could use some discounts!

Yes, we are planning to fly from Detroit to Orlando.

If I see a lower price on the thier site or on the newspaper, can I just call the airline and have them send me the voucher? Can they just refund me the difference instead of the voucher? Sorry, I'm not familiar with this. :confused: Thanks!

I will defenitely wait til the end of July to see if I can get a better deal, if not then I will purchase the $209.50 that is if it is still available. Thanks so much for the infos! I sure could use all the help I can get!!

[TravelSheryl]

If $209.50 is for non-stop flights, I would definitely buy now. I seriously doubt you will get a better fare for non-stop flights if you wait. I think the chances are greater that the fare will be higher.

As to refunding the difference if the fare lowers, the lower fare must be available on your exact itinerary, not just the route in general, and no, they will not refund the money, only a voucher for future use on that airline, good for one year.

[travelcoupons]

Originally posted by TravelSheryl
I seriously doubt you will get a better fare for non-stop flights if you wait. I think the chances are greater that the fare will be higher.


She's right about the non-stop part.
I do think you will find a lower fare on a Northwest competitor (other than Spirit). They will usually have at least one connection, however. Airlines like to discount routes from their competitor's hub cities. Once in a while Northwest will match these low sale fares and in those cases you'll luck out and get a non-stop.The key is these lower fares do not last long and usually are available only on midweek or Sat. flights with a sat. night stay. If you cannot be flexible or check fares daily, then I'd purchase now.

[Beverly Lynn]

actually the fares will go down again with more sales coming up. and yes you will be able to get non stop flights as well. every time they detail a flight they check inventory and new seats pop up all the time. (its hard to explain) you can buy it now at the fare you found and hope that you can get a voucher for the refund or you can wait. you're not going during a major travel period. no big holidays and all that. non stops do book first and you may have to juggle your times around but don't forget that during the jul sched change there will be aircraft switched and new seats added and new sales coming out as well. and there are people that have ressies on hold that will let them expire and people change flights so this also opens up seats.

[mickeyinjune]

END OF APRIL WE BOOKED WITH US AIR FROM METRO TO MCO, FOR NINE PEOPLE FOR $184 PLUS TAX=$215. FOR MID AUGUST. I'VE BEEN CHECKING NOW AND THEN AND PRICES HAVE BEEN GOING UP. WE HAVE A LAY OVER IN CHARLOTTE GOING THERE AND BACK.

SPIRIT AIRLINES OFFERED $209.50 FOR A NON'STOP BUT AFTER I READ ON THESE BOARDS ABOUT HOW THEY CANCEL FLIGHTS AND STUFF I DECIDED TO SPEND THE LITTLE MORE.

[travelcoupons]

One other option if you are REALLY flexible and able to plan at the last minute.
MLT is a travel company owned by Northwest Airlines. They offer some really attractive last minute fares which are normally on a chartered flight (non-Northwest) and occasionally on a Northwest flight. RT fares from Detroit to Orlando run $79-$99 RT plus the dreaded taxes, pfc's and fuel surcharge ($30), but are normally available only for the upcoming week (to fill up the flight.) And you have to stay a certain number of nights...but you can book you hotel on your own if you choose.
http://www.worryfreevacations.com/wf/wf_hmNavigation?aid=wvcstatc&pageCode=redhotdeals&ssc=rhddetroit

[Meagansmom]

Travelcoupons - or Beverly Lynn, TravelSheryl? I am outside Minneapolis - my question is do you know anything about Champion Air? Last time we used them and really liked them. My understanding now is that they only fly certain days. Last year they were lying everyday like Sun Country. And now I see Sun Country is only flying certain days. What's up? I keep looking at Northwest and the flights aren't cheap. (What I am looking at).


Just curious.

Also dumb question - I know travel agents call other airlines to see if they will match prices. Can I call say I have a time and an amount on Delta - can I call Northwest? Do I have to go through a travel agent ?

Thanks for your help!!!

[travelcoupons]

Champion, which is just a charter airline, based in Minneapolis currently operates a fleet of twelve Boeing 727-200 aircraft

They depart MSP for Orlando only on WED. & SAT. They depart for other cities on other days. I think this is due to their limited # of aircraft.

Sun Country which was and still is a charter airline also offers regularly scheduled flights. They depart daily non-stop for Orlando from MSP.

[TravelSheryl]

I have never heard of a travel agent calling an airline to see if they will match a price. Travel agents use computerized reservations systems and book through them.

Some package deals and charters require contacting the provider directly.

Where did you get that information?

[Meagansmom]

I am sorry, it wasn't a major airline that she called. She called Champion Air to see if they would match Sun Country or MLT.

[nluvwithdisney]

I think that it is a good price. I booked our trip for November for 209.50 roundtrip coming from Chicago on AA. It is a nonstop flight and we are leaving on a Friday morning and coming back on a Sunday. Having spent 190.00 on ATA before I think I did pretty well. I checked tha airline website and that same itinerary has tripled in price.

[kimmar067]

I think $209.50 sounds like a good price to me...Does
anyone know if it is a good price for Newark to MCO
first week of Nov (11/7) to 11/11 (Sun)?

Any help appreciated.....:pinkbounc

[Fantasia_]

Thanks everyone for your help. Yes, this rate is for non stop round trip.

[kimmar067]

bump - HELP!!:rolleyes:

[travelcoupons]

I'm getting a best fare of $187.50 for the Newark - Orlando flight on those dates on www.usairways.com

You may be able to do a little better a little closer to your travel dates as that is not a busy travel time of year.

[Cindy72]

Beverly Lynn thanks for the info. I have been wathching the fares since feb. or March and all they have been doing is going up up up! Where did you get this info and thanks again for sharing it with us.

[kimmar067]

I used you link to usair and got that price of $187.50!!
Thanks! The cheapest airfare I was able to get was
$209.50 so I saved over $100 for my Dfamily of 5!!!!
(plus $99/nite at S/D - boy, is this the most economical
vacation we've taken in a while!):bounce: :pinkbounc

[travelcoupons]

kimmar067

Glad you were able to get that rate.

:earsboy: