Air experts! Need help, advice guidance on booking 331 days in advance: Prez Week 07

[Jen D]

I've never had to do or think of doing this before. Usually I am able to snag a good fare at a fare sale; worst case scenario I get an airline's "everyday low fare" before the price jack up. But I've never traveled to Disney during a holiday time. Everytime I've considered it I've seen the through the roof airfare and decided against it. I did go during President's Week once--- but to get the low fare I couldn't leave until Thursday and couldn't come back until midway through the following week. So it was hardly even President's Week.

Now that dd is getting older, we are adjusting to the reality of not being able to travel in off-season and need to begin going during vacations. We are currently planning President's Week next year, either Feb 16-25 or Feb 18-25. (the 16th is a Friday, the 18th is a Sunday.)

It appears today Feb 16, 2007 and nothing later is open for booking. Now, I didn't get on the site at midnight or anything but I just checked on one-way fares for the heck of it. There are a few one-ways for about $84 each, but none are non-stop so with taxes they come to well over $100. The routes/carriers I usually use are already showing $200-300 for non-stop one-way alone. And I'd really rather book round trip than one-way tickets.

Do I just wait until my return date is 331 days out and see what is available? Quite possibly (probably) there will never be a reasonable fare for Friday the 16th, that has to be one of the hottest travel days for NY-any Florida destination.

I'm not so much asking for specific advice on what to do... I know I just need to research, bite my fingers and try to be somewhat flexible... but mostly looking for general pointers on booking popular travel routes 11 months out and whether I should be looking to get one-way tickets rather than waiting for both legs to become available. And should I settle for non-stop?

 

[Jen D]

Yikes! For anyone interested in this issue... while I dither and post messages on the Disboards, prices climb! In the last 45 minutes the lower priced flights (with layovers) that fly early in the day have disappeared and all that are left fly in the evening.

Other fares that aren't even that good say "only 2 seats left at this price." When I do my search for all five members or my party rather than just leaving it at one for research purposes, the fares are much worse.

So it is all timing I guess-- did I need to book at midnight? Is that when it opens up? Now I am looking at leaving Sunday the 18th which was my original plan.. I guess I'll try to get the flights I want right as they open up, at one-way flights.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[bicker]

We're heading to WDW the week before you.

$100 is not a reasonable airfare for any trip by air, much less one of 1000 miles. While we've pretty-much sucker-punched many airlines into selling us seats at a substantial loss over the last few years (which ended up biting us in the back-side, as we taxpayers have had to take on the pension debts of major airlines as a result) that probably won't continue much longer, and may already be over.

Personally, I'm waiting until the discount airlines release their flights, in September. That might not be the lowest price available over the 11 months, but it might be, and I'll have the money in my bank account five more months that way.

 

[debster812]

I've already booked the outbound leg of our February vacation week. We fly out of Boston on February 14th. (Weds before school vacation). DS will only be in 4th grade, and will only miss 2 days of school, since our district has teacher development days the Fridays leading into Vacation.

If I were flying the same week Bicker is, I too would wait for Jet Blue or SWA to release their schedules/fares. SInce we're flying from the NE during February, and I want to make sure we fly non-stop, I always book these tickets as soon as I can. And I always book them as 2 one stop flights. If you wait to book the entire trip, many of the cheaper fares will be gone.

Are you looking on the specific airline sites, or on Expedia or Travelocity or the like? The reason I ask, is that on Delta's site, they are booking as far out as the 18th today.

Good Luck!!!! I'll be booking again next Sunday or Monday to get us home.

 

[Jen D]

I've already booked the outbound leg of our February vacation week. We fly out of Boston on February 14th. (Weds before school vacation). DS will only be in 4th grade, and will only miss 2 days of school, since our district has teacher development days the Fridays leading into Vacation.

If I were flying the same week Bicker is, I too would wait for Jet Blue or SWA to release their schedules/fares. SInce we're flying from the NE during February, and I want to make sure we fly non-stop, I always book these tickets as soon as I can. And I always book them as 2 one stop flights. If you wait to book the entire trip, many of the cheaper fares will be gone.

Are you looking on the specific airline sites, or on Expedia or Travelocity or the like? The reason I ask, is that on Delta's site, they are booking as far out as the 18th today.

Good Luck!!!! I'll be booking again next Sunday or Monday to get us home.

Thanks for the heads up on Delta. AA is not booking father out than the 16th and yes, the travel sites are not.

The $100 fares are gone anyway, LOL.

We don't have SW anywhere close enough (Philly and Islip but too much trouble for us) and Jet Blue is really not that cheap, although beloved. For holiday weekends they routinely charge $299 per leg.

I'll definitely be booking these as separate legs, I've learned my lesson.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Hi Jen,

I have been traveling President's week for the last 4 years from LGA to MCO.

To travel this time has been simply crazy. You need to search & do your homework early. If you wait, it's like playing Russian rulet, maybe you will get a lower price, maybe not. I don't think you will get lower than 200.00

My opinion, the best fares have been $200.00 round trip.
It is getting harder & harder to find NS RT flight for that amount.

My advice, is too look early every morn, (I look about 6:30am) before my DH & DD get up. Have your credit card information near by, if you see a low fare GRAB IT.

The last 2 years, I have been booking one way fares, & for about $100.00 NS. Look on travelocity, or the sites, for one way fares ASAP. If travelocity lists the low fares, go to the carriers web site, & see if it is listed. If so you will save $5.00. If not book with travelocity or orbits

JB & Spirit has not released it fares yet. Last year, Spirit had there fares out in March, & I got a one way with them for a total of $100.00 I came back with Americian for the same amount. No problems, with one way tickets. Keep an eye on there Website.

Book the 17th or 18th & start shopping for a fare to 25th. CO web site has there fares listed on 25th but it is high. Yesterday, I grabbed a fare at $93.00 with USair for the 17th. It has a quick stop, we will arrive in MCO instead of 3 hours we will get there in 4 hours & 15 min. It is an adventure for myself & DD, for her spring break, now I am going to shop to come home on the 24th.

I hope I am I making sence to you.

Let us know what fare you get.

Hope this helps

Patricia

 

[Jen D]

Patricia, this is exactly what I needed to know! I'm just kicking myself for not asking for advice a couple days ago!

 

[Jen D]

bout 6:30am) Let us know what fare you get.

Thanks again for your help Patricia.

I did end up booking on Friday Feb 16. I had really been hoping for a 9 night trip, Friday and Saturday in one resort and switch to our DVC on Sunday for a week. When I looked at flying Sunday or Saturday all the other possible permutations weren't as appealing so I decided to try to book Friday since the Sat/Sun options were no great shakes.

It certainly isn't the most appealing itinerary I have ever booked, but we got a 7am out of Newark on US Air, connecting in DC, arriving in WDW at 1pm. I had hoped to fly Delta or AA where we are trying to collect frequent flyer miles, but what are ya gonna do. And an cab from Brooklyn to Newark at 4:45am is gonna be a treat. BUT... we paid a total of $98 a ticket. That's including Travelocity's booking fee. For some reason US Air showed that fare/flight as sold out but Travelocity was booking it. So, I grabbed it.

Despite the pretty lousy itinerary.... I am stoked! I got a decent price and I'm leaving the day I wanted to leave and arriving at a decent hour. And now that my credit card is charged.... planning for my next WDW trip is officially underway! What a geek I am.

Now next week I get to book my DVC and look for that flight home on the 25th. Thanks again guys.

 

[debster812]

It certainly isn't the most appealing itinerary I have ever booked, but we got a 7am out of Newark on US Air, connecting in DC, arriving in WDW at 1pm. I had hoped to fly Delta or AA where we are trying to collect frequent flyer miles, but what are ya gonna do. And an cab from Brooklyn to Newark at 4:45am is gonna be a treat. BUT... we paid a total of $98 a ticket. That's including Travelocity's booking fee. For some reason US Air showed that fare/flight as sold out but Travelocity was booking it. So, I grabbed it.

See, this is GOOD. You found a trip, price and time you can live with. Now you have your plan of attack for your homeward leg. Good job.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Good job JenD. I am leaving the day after you, & coming home the day before you.

Remember, when you book to come home, also, check JFK or LGA besides EWR.

I am hoping to get a flight home on Delta, since we have a Delta Volucher that needs to be used.

I will keep my eyes open for you when I look. PM with your email address you are leaving on Sunday the 25th?

Happy hunting.

Patricia

 

[Jen D]

Thanks, I PMed you.

We may leave the 24th. Hoping to not have to do Newark on the way back but we'll see!