Need help with flights

[Yvet]

Hi,

We have decided to take the TransAtlantic cruise from Galveston to Barcelona.
We did this in 2010 but then we left from Port Canaveral.

We are a week before the cruise in Orlando and we want to leave from Orlando to Houston on May 16th.
I checked airfare and because most of the carriers are not flying international some of them doesn't ring a bell to me because we are from The Netherlands.

I have looked and it looks like Southwest is our best deal, all flights i can find are in the $200 per person range.
But Southwest has the 2 free bags policy.

I also have seen Spirit airlines and there the flight would cost $108 per person but you have to pay (a lot) for bags $20 for the $9 fare club and then $20 for your carry-on $18 for the first checked bag and $25 for the seond checked bag (that would make $73 extra per person) so we would only save around $20 per person compared to Southwest.
Plus i have understood that Spirit isn't a great airline.....

Could you help me out with some advice and tips??

[jmarsh]

It is still really early to purchase tickets for a May flight. I would look at flights after the new year, I bet they will go down.

Southwest is a great airline.... I have never heard of the other one.

[kcashner]

Southwest is a great airline!

In case you don't know, there are 2 airports in Houston. They are HIA and Hobby (HOB). Southwest uses Hobby. I have read that DCL will not be offering transfers from Hobby on the TransAtlantic, so you would have to use another way to get from Houston to Galveston. If you choose to stay in the Galveston area before the cruise, there are several hotels that offer transportation to the cruise terminal.

[Wenawen]

FYI..if you are using kayak.com when searching for flights, remember to clear your cookies after each search. Otherwise it remembers your search and when you look for a certain fare again it's gone and you pay a higher rate.

[Namsupak]

We have flown both Southwest and Spirit, we also like both. Spirit is a budget airline so it can be really cheap if you get a deal, we have had some flights in the $100 or less round trip to Orlando. We were also in Europe last year and Spirit is kind of like EasyJet in Europe. You pay for bags,in flight snacks and drinks, the weight limit for checked bags is lower than other carriers, etc. Airplanes were fine just have to factor in the extra costs. We signed up for emails from Spirit and occasionally they send coupons also.

[jdb in AZ]

Originally Posted by Wenawen

FYI..if you are using kayak.com when searching for flights, remember to clear your cookies after each search. Otherwise it remembers your search and when you look for a certain fare again it's gone and you pay a higher rate.

Gives new meaning to "toss your cookies."

[sayhello]

I haven't flown Spirit, but I've flown Southwest a lot. If you're not familiar with Southwest, the only downer about them is that they do not have assigned seating. You grab whatever seat you want when you board. Obviously, the people who board earlier get the better seats (and a better chance of seats together). You get assigned a place in line (boarding order) when you check in. If you check in online, you get your assigned place at that time. If you buy the more expensive business class, you board first. Also, you can pay an extra $10 each way to get your place in line automatically assigned prior to online check in being opened (Earlybird Check-in). I highly recommend this (especially if you're not going to have easy access to online check in 24 hours before your flight).

The biggest thing I've heard about Spirit is that they nickel and dime you to death, so a rate that seems like a deal can turn out not to be. I've heard the European budget airlines are the same.

Sayhello

[kcashner]

The concierge desk at a WDW resort will do your Southwest on line check in for you. THe key is that it must be 24 hours or less in advance....24 hours + 1 minute and you can't do it.

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by jmarsh

It is still really early to purchase tickets for a May flight. I would look at flights after the new year, I bet they will go down.

Southwest is a great airline.... I have never heard of the other one.

I am on the same Transatlantic cruise as Yvette. I bought my one-way ticket for May 16 from my home airport (CMI) to Houston Hobby on American Airlines in early September at $199, and that fare is now over $300. The airfare could go down between now and May, but I am glad I booked it when I did.

Given the choices Yvette has, I'd choose Southwest.

[racingfandj]

I agree that this is pretty early to be looking at flights. Also, shopping at midweek will find better deals than weekends. Good luck!

[Yvet]

Thanks for all the help.
It made it all very clear that we need to go with Southwest.

I'm aware of the 2 airports in Houston but thanks for the heads up!!!

The "problem" with boarding isn't a problem for us because of my visual impairment we are allowed to board first.

Again thanks for all the help!!!!

[ekatiel]

Originally Posted by kcashner

Southwest is a great airline!

In case you don't know, there are 2 airports in Houston. They are HIA and Hobby (HOB). Southwest uses Hobby. I have read that DCL will not be offering transfers from Hobby on the TransAtlantic, so you would have to use another way to get from Houston to Galveston. If you choose to stay in the Galveston area before the cruise, there are several hotels that offer transportation to the cruise terminal.

Just wanted to correct the airport codes for Houston's two airports:

Bush Intercontinental: IAH
Houston Hobby: HOU

The PP is correct that Southwest flies to Hobby. Hobby is closer to Galveston than IAH. But, if you are planning on using DCL transfers, it looks like they are going to only offer them from IAH. If I were you, I'd go with the Southwest flight and book my own transportation to the port. I would wait a bit to buy the Southwest flight, it should go down to at least $150 for a one-way at some point here soon. $200 one way is a little high. --Katie

[kcashner]

Originally Posted by ekatiel

Just wanted to correct the airport codes for Houston's two airports:

Bush Intercontinental: IAH
Houston Hobby: HOU

The PP is correct that Southwest flies to Hobby. Hobby is closer to Galveston than IAH. But, if you are planning on using DCL transfers, it looks like they are going to only offer them from IAH. If I were you, I'd go with the Southwest flight and book my own transportation to the port. I would wait a bit to buy the Southwest flight, it should go down to at least $150 for a one-way at some point here soon. $200 one way is a little high. --Katie

Sorry...makes you wonder how I manage to get there, doesn't it?

We're working on details of getting from Hobby to Galveston. Yes, we were initially told that DCL would offer transfers (and even quoted a price) and it now seems that they will not offer them. Oh well.....