"Airfare roulette" from NYC

[jlk51496]

Looking at airfares to MCO for cruise in May 2014

There are 5 of us and trying to get the tixx when they are at the absolute lowest. Right now Delta is $233 (have to pay for bags) and JetBlue is $255 (get first bags free)

If I hold out, do you think it will get lower!?! Was hoping to payer closer to the $200 range - but I'm afraid it is only going to go up!

I was told after the holidays (jan) they tend to have sales - but I'm nervous waiting that long!

What do May fares out of ny tend to be! Looking for JFK or LGA only!

Thank you!

 

[JohnDS]

last time I flew Delta bags were $25 each. If those are round trip prices I'd be impressed with anything lower.

 

[natmom]

I am going in May as well, but from buffalo. I just paid $999 all in for 4 of us on southwest. I booked , I doubt it will get cheaper

 

[DisneyDreamer2504]

I def think you should keep watching and be prepared to jump. Whenever I'm booking flights I find the rates will change daily, usually tops at $255, but drops to $197. I usually check the flights daily for a few weeks, and then when I see it drop to the lower price I buy it then, and not wait for that evening or the weekend or something. Statistically speaking, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon are usually when prices are cheapest. Bc there are so many flights from nyc-mco I don't find that the prices change too much throughout the year, and don't find much difference if I buy 6 months in advance or 1 month in advance.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

(NOt flying from NYC but)

I noticed shopping airfare that prices plummeted with the government shut down. We snatched airfare for 242 inclu tax pp roundtrip. Unfortunately our friends hadn't booked their cruise yet at that time. They did a week later and I shopped rates for them. Yesterday they said to go ahead and get them on our flights, and we got the last 3 for 304 incl tax pp. Not terrible but not as good as 242.

Now we are shopping Seattle family. They had been in the low 300s (like 314) and now they are 360-380. And right now they only appear to be going up. I think I want to hold off and see what happens later on. Right now, the low fares generated by the government shut down rates seemed to have increased demand and now they are going up. I'm thrilled that we snatched 242 when we could. I'm not unhappy about 304. I'm not wanting to go much above that unless it is a really sweet flight for times and dates exactly the way we want.

If you can get anything in the $200s right now, I think that's pretty great. Would you expect to get it much lower than $99 each way?

To each their own. I looked at one flight and while I was considering it, it had already sold out. Seems to me like people are really booking right now. I was glad we nabbed the last 3 on our flights, they are gone now. As for the couple coming from Seattle who don't have to worry about meeting up with anyone (other than at the airport), I think we can do better. So we are going to wait.

I think you have to come to that price point that you are happy with and then just get it. For us, we had the option to drive (but its 14 hrs each way yagh) but we were hoping to fly. My honey said if it got close to 100 each way, we would do it. I guess 120 each way was close enough when it included tax! The next day, they went up and have gone up since...

 

[castlegazer]

I would book it - it won't get cheaper by a significant amount, enough to risk losing your preferred times and routes, in my experience. You can book through Expedia and then if that route gets lower they cut you a check to refund the difference.

 

[tankin]

My thoughts...
1. When the airfare reaches a point you're happy with it, buy it and never look back.
2. The DL Amex is free for the first year and give up to 9 of the people on your reservation a free bag so I'd do the DL ticket, get the CC and cancel before it rolls over next year (or pay the $95 fee if you have another trip planned)

 

[tweis]

I think it's amazing that flights from NYC to MCO is almost the same price as ATL to MCO. I have been checking prices with Southwest being the least at $248 per person. I haven't bought them yet because I have checked prices for MONTHS and they seem to pretty much stay in that range for ATL/MCO.

 

[wcw57]

i'd be willing to bet that they won't drop between now and then....absolutely don't know but that is my guess

 

[jel0511]

I haven't seen anything lower from the NYC area in a LONG time. I'd take the Jet Blue flights. The Delta flights end up being 283 rt with one bag per person to compare things. Since Delta charges $25 each way for a bag, adding $50 to your RT price. I'm lucky that we have status on both United and Delta and get the first bag free on both those airlines it does add up at times!

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

Look at bing travel, they have a "price flight predictor" it will tell you to buy or wait and at % of confidence in their predictions.

 

[louisianab]

Southwest at this current moment has around $250 roundtrip from LGA. They only post on Southwest.com and includes 2 checked bags. The fairs on southwest.com are usually cheapest Tues-Thurs and they don't charge change fees, so if you buy today and it gets lower next month, you can change no problem (no money back, just airline credit)

 

[Four Swampers]

My thoughts...
1. When the airfare reaches a point you're happy with it, buy it and never look back.
2. The DL Amex is free for the first year and give up to 9 of the people on your reservation a free bag so I'd do the DL ticket, get the CC and cancel before it rolls over next year (or pay the $95 fee if you have another trip planned)

I totally agree with this. A couple things to consider:

1. To get the free bags, the reservation has to be made with the Delta Amex, and the person whose name is on the Delta Amex has to be one of the people flying. So you need to get the credit card first and use it to make your reservations.

2. If you travel on Delta once a year, consider getting the Platinum Delta Amex. In addition to free bags, you get a free companion ticket once a year. The yearly fee is $150. That is very reasonable when you consider one person gets to fly free each year. Sometimes you have to take a higher fare, but it still works well. For example, there might be a fare for $250, but for your companion to use a free ticket, you have to pay a fare of $300. Plus $20 in taxes and fees for your companion. So $320 for two people to fly instead of $500. (Disclaimer: Numbers are made up to illustrate a point, not tell you an actual fare)

 

[Lauriejl2]

I am going in May as well, but from buffalo. I just paid $999 all in for 4 of us on southwest. I booked , I doubt it will get cheaper

I'm flying from buffalo in may as well. I so want to book our southwest flights I alwSys doubt they will go down but dh wants to wait to see if they drop ..... Last year we flew all 6 for just over $1200 I can't stand the waiting and watching game though wish he would book it already lol

 

[su_A_ve]

Look at different airports. EWR, LGA, JFK, PHL, TTN, Atlantic City... The last two I believe still offer free parking, which is something to consider. Use Kayak or something like it to search for all the different fares, then book DIRECTLY thru the airline to get the lowest possible price.

For a cruise, I would fly the day before regardless. Therefore if I can, I would drive instead.

 

[Irishgrl]

I doubt you will see it much cheaper but, don't really think they will go up much. If it were me I would probably hold out till you get a little closer. The last 3 Disney trips we booked we paid about 230-250 PP.

 

[su_A_ve]

I doubt you will see it much cheaper but, don't really think they will go up much. If it were me I would probably hold out till you get a little closer. The last 3 Disney trips we booked we paid about 230-250 PP.

Also, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to book fares... Keep that in mind as well.

 

[wcw57]

IF u r looking at alternative airports, check ISP! Don't know where u r or if it could work for you but worth a look........

 

[Zeppelin]

Looking at airfares to MCO for cruise in May 2014

There are 5 of us and trying to get the tixx when they are at the absolute lowest. Right now Delta is $233 (have to pay for bags) and JetBlue is $255 (get first bags free)

If I hold out, do you think it will get lower!?! Was hoping to payer closer to the $200 range - but I'm afraid it is only going to go up!

I was told after the holidays (jan) they tend to have sales - but I'm nervous waiting that long!

What do May fares out of ny tend to be! Looking for JFK or LGA only!

Thank you!

last year I got a one-way airfare for our August cruise out of LGA to MCO for $100- purchased the tickets in May...$233 RT is not a bad fair at all...

I will tell you this- Delta out of LGA is AWFUL...scan the web as their are a number of sites that will tell you the on time performance of the flights you are considering and give you a 14 day summary...

our 5:30 flight was delayed because of mechanical issues (it eventually left at 10PM)...they switched us to a 7:30 flight and that was delayed until 9:20 because of mechanical issues...

for the extra $$$ JetBlue may cause you a lot less aggravation....

 

[natmom]

I'm flying from buffalo in may as well. I so want to book our southwest flights I alwSys doubt they will go down but dh wants to wait to see if they drop ..... Last year we flew all 6 for just over $1200 I can't stand the waiting and watching game though wish he would book it already lol

I just didn't want to chance waiting. Southwest had good direct flight times for us and most other airlines were significantly more for flights with stop overs etc. $1200 for 6 people is very good!