331 day mark for Presidents' Day - Anyone else get their tix already?

[pumpkinboy]

I discovered this afternoon that I was almost too late for the 331 day mark for the Thurs of Presidents' Day weekend. But I was still able to nab 1 one-way Frequent Flyer ticket. I'll see what I can grab tonight for the Friday, with the return portion to be booked next week.

So we had such a lovely little group together approaching midnight last May (for New England April vacation this year). Anyone else doing the 331 days thing tonight? And if and when you get thru, tell us others what you got.

 

[pumpkinboy]

This was a much lonelier wait than last year. I thought sure Debster would be on tonight reserving. But in any case, here's what happened:
I called Delta at about 12:03 and could not for the life of me get thru on the SkyMiles main reservations number. So I called the alternate number, and ended up on hold there, for a really long time. While waiting, I check the websites for Delta and for Song for direct BOS-MCO flights. There is still nothing showing up on Song for 2/17/06, but I manage to get a quote on Delta for the same flights: $82.70 for a one-way direct flight. OK, so it's a little higher than the $74 that Song is asking for the same flights two days earlier (2/15/06), but it sure beats the $254 that I am getting quoted for the Thursday of that week (2/16/06). So I buy tix for all 4 family members, just the one-way since it will never be that cheap again. Sure enough, test out the same ticket now, and it's $182.70, a full $100 more. Still nothing on Song's site.

Finally I get thru to Delta Skymiles, and tho there is nothing for the 11 AM flight (our preferred) they had 9 skymiles seats on the 8:30 flight on 2/17/06. So I could have gotten at least the outbound trip on SkyMiles for all 4 of us; but I think the $82.70 apiece one-way is actually a better deal, fuguring a penny per FF mile.

So I guess I'll use my SkyMiles to bring my parents with us then, from Portland ME, as the free flights will still be available for them for some time now, considering it's always a connecting flight from there.

Still nothing on Song's site, and we're 40 whole minutes after midnight. It still says:

Flights can't be more than 331 days from today and the return date should be after the departure date.

Go figure.

I'll be interested in what others get for February break prices out of the Northeast. Pls post here.

 

[HeatherC]

I'm also considering booking February now. Problem is that I am taking an unplanned "extra trip" with my mom and my 3kids this June. So I and trying to pay off that airfare ($49 each way on Song from Hartford) before I book February. Plus, I can't decide on my final dates for February.

I think my husband thinks I'm insane, but I have certainly found that the earlier you book things the cheaper they are (most times.) We were lucky this past fall though because I booked for this past February in late October and only paid $74 one way on American from Bos to Orlando. Keeping my fingers crossed again.

But it's nice to know that there are many other "planners" out there like me!

Happy planning!
Heather C

 

[debster812]

Me me me. Already booked our outbound flight for the Tuedsday before President's Day (Feb 14th, 2006) We'll be doing WDW from Weds-Sun then driving south to the Ft Myers area, and flying back home the following Saturday or Sunday. I was up and on line at 3am on Saturday/Sunday to buy our tickets BOS-MCO ($74 one way which I am more than happy with). DH will be doing the same for our return flight, and it's easier, since he gets up for work at 2:45 am!!!

I'm expecting our return flight to be much more, since Song has fewer flights in and out of RSW (Ft Myers) and it's a more expensive airport to fly in and out of. I'll be happy with under $150 for the one way return trip.

 

[debster812]

Pumpkinboy--after extensive research, I have discovered that Song does not roll into it's next day's flights online until precisely 3:01am!!!! I was actually up for work doing some server maintenance, so I was able to closely monitor the situation!!!!

 

[mousemagic]

I've watching both song and delta since reading debster's post about buying her tickets already. The prices online have been all over the place, both up and down.
We hope to get tickets for the weekend, either Boston or Hartford (although Hartford seems more this year that in past years...)
Also a little nervous about doing the oneway purchase. But DH says getting down there is the most important. Who cares when we get home.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Pumpkinboy--after extensive research, I have discovered that Song does not roll into it's next day's flights online until precisely 3:01am!!!! I was actually up for work doing some server maintenance, so I was able to closely monitor the situation!!!!

Debster, thx for the research. So perhaps the flight going on sale at the Delta website first (3 hours earlier) was not an anomaly, then? Maybe you should think of hitting the Delta site at Midnight to get the first crack at the new fares. I noticed that after I bought my 4 tix at $82.70 ($74.00 plus tax), ten mins later the same flight was going for $100 more, and this morning it is up to the usual vacation week fare of $254.

HeatherC & MouseMagic, good luck with your bookings too. But remember, the best fares go up, and get snatched up early. BDL is such a great little airport, even if it's a little more than Boston, the parking and convenience differential should help it win the day in mousemagic's calculation.

I wonder where Jillpie is for this discussion. We had such fun last May comparing good deals for highly prized times.

 

[rsschneck]

I will be trying the 331 day mark for Spring Break of next year. I will need to call in about a month. I want to use FF miles with Delta. Can you call them when the flight opens and hold the 1st part of your round trip ticket until the flight back home opens up? Or do you wait until the entire round trip is available and book it then? I have lots of FF miles to use I just have never redeemed them.

Glad to see you all are getting the flights and times you want.

 

[debster812]

You know, it never even occurred to me to look on Delta first. Hmmmmm. We also scored the $74 ($82.50) fares one way to MCO from BOS. Coming home, we'll be flying out of Ft Myers (RSW) which only has 3 Song flights a day, so I am expecting to pay more. Just this past Feb, we did R/T BOS-RSW for $249 (both non-stop). I will be thrilled if I can get under that this year, since the BOS-MCO leg was much cheaper.

DH gets to play the game for our homebound leg, next Thursday into Friday...

And I think Jillpie is so over the moon about her upcoming cruise, that she's not even thinking about us (Hi Jill )

 

[pumpkinboy]

I will be trying the 331 day mark for Spring Break of next year. I will need to call in about a month. I want to use FF miles with Delta. Can you call them when the flight opens and hold the 1st part of your round trip ticket until the flight back home opens up? ... I have lots of FF miles to use I just have never redeemed them.

That is exactly what you would do: book the outbound leg first, then the return a week (or whatever the length of stay) later. Otherwise, the outbound flights you want would already be gone. Also, be prepared to use the higher points SkyChoice option (if Delta) to secure the flights. 50,000 points still beats the heck out of $600 r-t fare. One more thing, if you get the outbound but cannot get the return flight for the lower point level, don't be afraid to simply spend the 25,000 on the outbound leg only. Since you say you have a lot of points to burn thru, getting any sort of good flights on points rather than cash is a good thing.

Good luck!

 

[mousemagic]

pumpkinboy - a quick question for you.
Did you get your flights on the delta online site or did you get them via phone?
Just wondering if we should be calling.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Definately on-line! I was calling at the same time, but either got a busy signal or when I got thru, I was on hold for 20 mins (after calling at midnight). For FF tix, you should plan on calling, but if you're just looking to get the few cheap seats they have for sale, definately go to delta.com and get your date and destination info plugged in. Be sure to set it up for a one-way, as this will save time too. It may be different for connecting flights, but for the direct ones we all prefer, I think mine would be the most effective strategy.

But for FF tix, I think I might call before midnight, and hope you get the most competent person in the call center. Last night I got the amazing Carlos out of Salt Lake, and tho the FF slots were not yet available in his time zone, with the click of a few keys he had them up anyway. In previous attempts to do this, the folks in the Dallas, SLC and LA ops centers were not able to access the FF tix, just the ones in the Eastern time zone. So either Carlos is brilliant (very possible, he was very competent) or there has been a change in the way they do this (maybe both). I still ended up paying cash, but it's nice to know that I could have gotten FF tix had I wanted to.

 

[pumpkinboy]

I advised a friend who will be joining us with her DH & DDs next Feb to go on and get tix at midnight. I'll post later with how she did.

 

[mousemagic]

We checked the delta site at 12:00 and kept trying for a bit (even called the rep on phone just to see if they had any low fares) But the only prices were the really high ones. I got up at 3:00 again to check song per Debster's advice. Nothing there either. We were trying for Saturday, Boston and Hartford.
We don't have enough miles right now for any ticket (used them this year) so I didn't ask about those.

So we keep on checking and watching. May have to play the Southwest watch later in the year as well. (or drive! )

Hope your friends has some luck, maybe they beat us out!

 

[antkim]

Hey guys,

I just wanted to tell you what a rep. told me this a.m. He said that the reason why the flights for Feb. 17th, 18th and most likely 19th are so high is because it is such a heavily traveled weeked they are not going to "give the flights away" like they do earlier in the week. I thought maybe I was just too late (3:17 a.m. ) but then I checked the available seats and the flights are virtually empty. I am not actually going until April but I know how popular the Feb. flights will be due to vacation so I have been "researching" how/when the fares come out 331 days in advance.

Also, he has been working for Delta for 17 years so I take his word to be true.

You know what else he was telling me? They (employees) just took a 10% pay cut and they are having another 10% pay cut next month....apparently that is where the "airline" makes up for th lower fares?

Kim

 

[lotsofkids]

OK. I need help and to ask a few questions. My family is planning a trip for next February. This year we flew Southwest on Wednesday before PRes's Day (because of cheaper tickets) and returned Saturday after. Next year we are aiming for Sunday to Saturday. I have been watching Song and thought I could easily secure $133 or so ticket one way. I guess I'm way off! What are my chances of getting anything reasonable? There are 7 of us flying from Hartford. We'd prefer nonstop but it is not mandatory.Where should I look first and at what time? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[antkim]

The Wed. before President's day is around $74 from Boston to Orlando if that is an option!!

Kim

 

[dvc guy]

Looks like Song/Delta did not put any bargains out there for Presidents week. I was able to get a $74 ticket JFK-PBI at 6:30 PM on the 16th , which is fine for my family,.Every other flight to anywhere in So Fl was over $200. Depending on the price I will be coming home either Friday or Saturday

 

[Jillpie]

And I think Jillpie is so over the moon about her upcoming cruise, that she's not even thinking about us (Hi Jill )

Oh, you are so correctamundo about that statement Deb!!!! I'm over the moon and on top of the world since the cruise docs came this week!
Hi guys . I finally saw this post, thanks for thinking about me Pumpkinboy and I wish I could play this game for next February! Loved your email today .
Well done and I'll be routin for you both (and all of you) next week when you book again. Boy, do I know what thats like!

 

[PURTYPAT1]

ANTKIM, MY DSIL WORKS FOR CONTINENTAL IN EWR. THEY ALSO ARE TAKING A PAY CUT OF 10%. I STILL BELIEVE YOU CAN FIND A GOOD FARE, JUST KEEP SEARCHING.

I AM LEAVING FEB 18 TO FEB 25

THE FARES WERE UP THIS AM 351.00 FOR SPIRIT FROM LGA TO MCO

DELTA & SONG WERE JUST AS HIGH.

WENT TO TRAVELOITY, & FOUND SPIRIT FOR 77.00 ONE WAY DIRECT
TAXES & FEE INCLUDED. I TOOK IT.

JUST WENT TO DELTA & SONG, & THEY BOTH ARE "NOW" 88.00 ONE WAY PLUS TAX & FEES.

IN A FEW DAYS, I WILL TRY TO GET A DECENT FARE BACK.

HOPE THIS HELPS FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR FARES.

PATRICIA