Airfare cheaper thru Disney!

[mwatson011]

I just wanted to put it out there for those of you, who, like me, are astounded by the recent airline price spikes. I am traveling from PHL to MCO in August, and I will only book nonstop flights with two kiddos.

One week ago, I could have gotten US Airways for $918 RT for 4 ppl. Not exactly the times we wanted, but nonstop, and we had estimated the cost of driving at $800 with the cost of gas/staying over on the way down/back, extra meals and snacks. For that small of a difference, vs. the long travel time of driving, we were going to go for it! So, I got back online the next day, and those same tickets were $1,806.

Airtran and SW seem a little more reasonable, coming in right around $1k for the four of us.

Anyway, called Disney, and got nonstop RT flights on Airtran for a total of $754. Those same tickets on the Airtran website were $956.

Moral of the story - call Disney and get their prices before you book through an airline, you might be surprised!

 

[drinkme]

That's a huge difference in price. So, you called WDW reservations? I wonder if you could have gotten this great flight price through Disney's website?

 

[mwatson011]

Yes, I was actually playing around on the website to get an idea of flights (building a package, then adding airfare, looking at the difference) when I found the $754 flights. I already had an existing MYW package reservation with no air, so I called WDW reservations to see if that was really the price, and it WAS!

 

[mtquinn]

I just wanted to put it out there for those of you, who, like me, are astounded by the recent airline price spikes. I am traveling from PHL to MCO in August, and I will only book nonstop flights with two kiddos.

One week ago, I could have gotten US Airways for $918 RT for 4 ppl. Not exactly the times we wanted, but nonstop, and we had estimated the cost of driving at $800 with the cost of gas/staying over on the way down/back, extra meals and snacks. For that small of a difference, vs. the long travel time of driving, we were going to go for it! So, I got back online the next day, and those same tickets were $1,806.

Airtran and SW seem a little more reasonable, coming in right around $1k for the four of us.

Anyway, called Disney, and got nonstop RT flights on Airtran for a total of $754. Those same tickets on the Airtran website were $956.

Moral of the story - call Disney and get their prices before you book through an airline, you might be surprised!

I cannot BELIEVE this. We, too are four people leaving from Philly in late August. How can Disney get cheaper prices than the airline themselves??? I am going to call today. Four people for less than $800??!!! That is insane. Thank you for the tip!

Also, we were thinking of driving, too. Forget that!

 

[mwatson011]

I cannot BELIEVE this. We, too are four people leaving from Philly in late August. How can Disney get cheaper prices than the airline themselves??? I am going to call today. Four people for less than $800??!!! That is insane. Thank you for the tip!

Also, we were thinking of driving, too. Forget that!

My thoughts exactly!

I am flying out on a SAT and back on a THURS, if your dates are flexible you will get the best deal. We are staying 12 nights, and with airfare included our entire package is only $100 more than staying 7 nights because of the price difference in the flights.

Good luck! I hope you find reasonable flights...although we always start out saying we will drive, I have always found a way not to! The thought of all those hours with two kids and a DH and the heat, and anticipation...

 

[mwatson011]

I just checked, Disney's price for Airtran is still $754, Airtran is now $1046 for the identical flight, and US Air is $1846 for similar flight times.

 

[rvchat]

I just checked, Disney's price for Airtran is still $754, Airtran is now $1046 for the identical flight, and US Air is $1846 for similar flight times.

Wait, so i can't get that price through aitran.com or expedia on the air, but i can get it if i call the 407 disney #? ????

thanks

 

[disney4rfamily]

Wow -- great deal. Where on the website can you check the price of airfare through Disney? I put in my reservation number but I don't see an airfare option.

 

[sscassel]

NO NO NO!!! I live in the Phila area and have NEVER paid even that much .... WAY TOO Much. Go out of airtran. And if the Lehigh Valley airport is accessible to you, go out of there. NO headaches like PHL. I booked air for Aug. and paid $79 a flight for us. Last yr I got $69 and in the past I have seen $49 & 59 ...SOOOO if you haven't paid for your tix, go to Airtran.com. Though the prices have gone up since I booked, I have never used US Air, or any of those because way too expensive.

 

[L-Harper]

I just checked out some flights too through Disney and then directly through the Airtran site and the same exact flights for 4 people were $40 cheaper total through Disney. This is interesting.

 

[rvchat]

I just checked out some flights too through Disney and then directly through the Airtran site and the same exact flights for 4 people were $40 cheaper total through Disney. This is interesting.

you called on the phone? to which #?

 

[sscassel]

I have always traveled with airtran thru PHL & Allentown. Allentown was a breathe of fresh air if you have never used them, try it. But since 2005 I always noticed if AT was going to lower prices, it was always on Tues, Wed or Thursday. Not always weekly . So keep your eys open for the deals

 

[MomRN]

We are leaving in October... way far off, but airline prices and gas were making me nervous. I had a price in mind I was willing to pay, and if I found that deal or lower I was going to hop on it. I was also checking the Disney site and found Airtran prices to be cheaper than what was posted at that time.

However, within a week airtran was offering the same prices. I have not noticed it to go down any lower, but if it did... or if disney offered them cheaper, is there anyway to get a credit? If not, no biggie, because I really can't see them going down to much more (about $250 round trip/person Indy-MCO).

 

[mwatson011]

I just checked the Allentown to MCO, and for my dates, it would be about $1200, and if I switched to T,W, or R flights like PP suggested, it still is over $800. Not a bad idea to research for next time though. That is what I love about these boards, so much info I wouldn't think of myself!

 

[mwatson011]

Wow -- great deal. Where on the website can you check the price of airfare through Disney? I put in my reservation number but I don't see an airfare option.

You cannot change your own reservation online. I just pretended I was making a new package, picked any resort, just used my actual dates and correct number of people. Run the numbers without airfare, then with the airfare and take the difference.

The reservation center has the same prices as online, so when I saw the deal I just called the number on Disney's website and they were able to help me.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

I did it, too! Flights were 997.60 through AT, got them through Disney for $717.60! You rock, OP

 

[DisMN]

I don't suppose a person can get just their air tickets through Disney, right? LOL

 

[edk35]

I don't suppose a person can get just their air tickets through Disney, right? LOL

Hmmmm I wonder too because we are DVC members.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I also used Disney for airfare. Flying out of Milwaukee mid-August, for under $200 per person. The $200 flight is our price point. I booked this just a few weeks before the bottom dropped out. I was wondering if you can use Disney for airfare with a room only discount. My thought is probably not as the airfare would make it a package. My eldest DD is uncertain about her summer plans, so her airfare is still up in the "air." She would be flying out of Minneapolis, and it's not cheap.

 

[plutolovr]

Just and FYI, NEVER look at airfare on a weekend. Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days.