A friend has me nervous re: airline pricing. Please advise!

[Mickey Fliers]

I am going to take my DSs 9,7, and 4 to WDW next Feb. for an "over the hump" trip of Daddy's deployment. Anyway, I planned to take them during their Feb. school break. It is not quite "half way" through deployment, but whatever. Anyway, I was talking to a lady at the gym the other day who just returned from a WDW trip over the Feb. break and she said that they couldn't get airline tickets for less than $400 a piece! We will be flying out of New England (Manchester, Boston, Portland, possibly Bradley). I have always paid about $200 round trip and now she has me very nervous.

What to do? What have your experiences been with airfare at that time out of New England? At this point, I am considering going the following week just to avoid outrageous prices (and crowds!). Plus, it would actually be a true "over the hump" trip.

Help!

 

[Tissa]

When in Feb are you talking about? If you are talking about a week later than pres week I'm afraid it's not going to get any better due to spring break starting up March-April. Peak season starts in Feb.

 

[dougsmom98]

We flew out of Manchester this past Pres. Week and paid $135 round trip. We bought the tickets way back in June. Even if you don't get them for that cheap, I am sure you can get them for around $200 if you buy them shortly after they come out. Our original itinerary was for our flights was not that good, but every few months the flight times would change and when the airline changes times more than 20 minutes, you have the right to change flights without having to pay an increase in the ticket price or having to pay a change fee. It requires you to call and talk to someone to figure out flight options, but in the end it was worth it. Our itinerary ended up being really good in the end. I plan to start searching for Feb. flights in June again this year and hope to get another awesome deal.

 

[CarolA]

This is the one week that waiting is a gamble. LOTS of folks buy IMMEDIATELY. Tickests will go on sale for this week any day now (330 days in advance) start looking and when you see what you want BUY!

 

[aynt79]

With Manchester, you can go with Southwest I'm sure for under $200.00. Just keep an eye out for when they release those dates. The nice thing about Southwest if that you can cancel and rebook if they happen to have a sale or a good Ding fare that's cheaper than your original reservation.

With Boston, JetBlue may not be too expensive, their fares get released 7 months ahead.

I love Song out of Boston, but at this point I don't know if I would trust them too far ahead - probably many flight changes while Delta decides what they're doing.

The lady who paid $400 probably didn't book until a month before, which isn't a good idea during peak time. I can't imagine paying $400.00 out of Boston. I paid $410 for Ft Lauderdale-Portland last year, but that was over Christmas and I booked 3 weeks before I flew.

 

[debster812]

Flying from the NE, during Feb vacation, your are probably going to pay more than you're used to. That being said, if your Feb vacation week is President's Week next year, next week we will be able to start booking.

I bought tickets last year at the 330 day mark, we left the Tuesday BEFORE vacation, and paid $79 for the trip down. We came home the last Sunday of vacation week, and I paid $149 for that one way. I was happy with that fare, given it was school vacation week.

My cousin did not jump when I did on the flight home, and she ended up scoring the $79 fare on the way home as well (the last Friday of vacation week).

It's semi-affordable if you're willing to put in the time and the legwork, and you've got the nerve to wait it out if the fares seem too high. (My cousin did, I did not).

Good Luck!!! I'll be right there with you booking flights for next February.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

This is the one week that waiting is a gamble. LOTS of folks buy IMMEDIATELY. Tickests will go on sale for this week any day now (330 days in advance) start looking and when you see what you want BUY!

I travel EVERY year on President's week. It really is as busy as Christmas or Thanksgiving.

My Feb cost is usually in the ball park of $200.00 round trip direct non stop.

I agree with CarolA it's a gamble. I buy IMMEDIATELY, & rest in peace. We are never in a hurry to get down, or back, & usually, we get bumped every year. It is part of our adventure. DD loves it. Because of the bump, we are able to travel 2 times or more in one year. We have been doing bumps since she is 8. It's part of the fun. This year was our best bump ever what fun.

For the last year,(from learning from these threads) I have been booking one way fares to get the best price 330 days in.

Example:
I booked Dec 2005 for Thanksgiving 2006 for our family of 18. CarolA is right again, I booked exactly 330 days down & exactly 330 back. We managed CO down NS & RT for 79.00 plus tax, & coming home the same, except 5 of us are flying with Delta same price. Couldn't get the last 5 at the 79.00 CO price, it went up to 229.00

Hope this helps

Patricia

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Thanks everyone for the reassurance. I did talk to the woman at the gym again and she said she booked six months out. Hmmm...

Now I am just comtemplating going the week before or after. I have no problem doing the leg work, I just don't want an airline to own that leg (and possibly an arm) when I am done .

Thanks again for the help. I knew I came to the right place.