Airfare for Cruise --HELP

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

Okay, I found airfare from Manchester NH to Orlando for $535.00 for all 4 of us and yes that includes all taxes and govt fees. Great price right??? Here is my dilema..The flight has layovers and would take us about 6 1/2 hours (each way) to get down and back. Traveling with two small children (DS5, DS2 1/2) I am wondering if I should hold out for SouthWest (who flies non-stop), who has yet to release dates for when we are traveling (Our cruise is Sept 10, 2005 but I wanted to go down 2 days earlier to go to MK but I digress..)

Any suggestions?? HELP I don't want to loose a good deal but I am not crazy about taking kids on all day adventure to get down and back...

 

[Mommyjamiex4]

If it were me. I'd hold out for a direct flight. I am sure that there are other airlines that can get you there direct as well. $535 is steep, you may be able to get a better deal closer to departure.

 

[mommasita]

That is a tough call.. The price is sooooo good. I have done these types of layovers however, and without kids, I vowed, I would never do it again..

Personally, I am cheap, so I would probably book it.....I really am no help..Back to work I go...SOrry

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

The $535 price was the total for all four of us. But from last night to this morning the price has gone up to $650 (for all four). I know that SW usually has good fares but I am just worried that I am going to get stcuk paying an arm and a leg

 

[poohssmum]

YIKES that IS a dilema. I'm always fearful when I book flights. I love to get a great deal, but I panic that either something better priced will come along, OR that the flight I originally wanted for a decent price will be unavailable.

Personally, I'd probably go with the flight now, even with the lay-overs. My theory is that you might be better off giving the kids a chance to get off the plane and wander around after a couple of hours than having to keep them quiet for a 3 - 4 hour direct flight

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

[DISJen]

No, just wait. I went through the exact same thing. When SW opens those flights, they'll offer the cheaper ones at first. Just keep an eye on it and grab them when they open. Usually about the time they open up the cheaper flights, the other airlines drop their prices too.

 

[ericamanda01]

I would hold out. I waited until Aug to get out tickets for Sept. last year. We ended up on Alaska Airlines non-stop from Seattle. For two tickets with taxes and all fees the total was $425. I was amazed at how little it cost us. I think most airlines have lower fares for after labor day travel.

 

[outahere]

How about this.......... the Southwest schedule is available through Sept. 12, so you could book your flight to MCO for 9/8 now. Looks like their best price is $79 each, not including taxes, fees, etc., which brings the price up to $87.70 per person. You could book your flight down today, and then book the return when they open those dates (I have to think that would be soon). Granted that works out to be more than you're $535 roundtrip price, but it is non-stop.

 

[Echo queen]

Two words! non stop

 

[scrapperjill]

I would hold out. I waited until Aug to get out tickets for Sept. last year. We ended up on Alaska Airlines non-stop from Seattle. For two tickets with taxes and all fees the total was $425. I was amazed at how little it cost us. I think most airlines have lower fares for after labor day travel.

You did get some good prices last year....We were looking for flights from Seattle last year (around the same time...flying out in early Sept)..and only found non-stop flights with Alaska for the 4 for us for $2000 ..yep it was close to $500 per person. Gulp! Gulp! granit our first plans fell through so we were trying to book about a week prior to the trip

Now were looking for airfare again from Seattle to MCO..but this time late Oct.. I'm hoping I can find it for close to $200 per person. I have my fingers crossed. I see some good deal now....but they have to be used by early to mid Sept...



As for the question from the OP...We had layovers both ways...our first was in Seattle on the way to MCO for about 2 hours..it was a nice break and a time for us to get organized and set for the long flight (6hours). So I can see how taking a break in the flight with kids can be a welcomed things...but i think it really depends on how old your kids are. It did become diffiuclte with our youngest at times...helping her with her things on and off the plane...then she also fell asleep both at MCO before we boarded for our flight home and again in Seattle as we were waiting for our final flight home...making getting her and all of our carry ons VERY hard to do.

 

[Jeanne B]

For our family vacation last year to Orlando I did exactly what Outahere suggested. Southwest had their schedule open only as far as our trip down and they had a great sale going so I booked the one-way down ($39/pp) and when they extended their schedule I booked the return trip (I think that was $69/pp). Worked out great for us!!

 

[mysibee74]

I just booked Southwest from Providence for 3 of us. They had the best times available and they were straight flights. I didn't get a deal...but it was still cheaper than going through Disney Travel...I saved about $100. I'm going the end of June. All the specials ended a week before I need to fly.

I'd hold out. 61/2 hours is a long flight, switching planes can be a nightmare with small children.

 

[Laurabearz]

I would hold out for SWA to open up. SWA's fare might not be as sweet as the other deal (now standing at $650 for all of you) BUT flying nonstop.... priceless.

The worst part of any trip, esp with little kids, is getting there and back.... You dont want to be dreading the flight before your vacation and then think about the flight back during the vacation.... does that make sense???

It isnt a vacation is the kids arent having fun.....

 

[BahamaPapa]

Definitely hold out for the SW schedule to open.

There are two very good reasons for this:

1. Obviously, SW has the flight you want and the price will be very competitive.

2. Less obvious is that competitors' fares WILL match SW in the market when the SW schedule is open for those dates. Believe me, I track this every year for our family trips. When the SW schedule opens, most of the major carriers match (or come close to) the SW fare with some seats.

The key is to check to check the SW schedule frequently. Since the schedule usually is released four months or so ahead, your flights should be available at anytime (and the discount seats on other airlines should be offered). You do not want to miss this. To make sure that you don't, you can do two things: first, certainly check the SW schedule daily; second, sign up for e-mail alerts on Travelocity that sends you an instant notification when the price drops on your selected route (you choose up to five). As soon as you get the alert, you will likely find that SW has released its schedule. (Note, Travelocity will not inform you of the SW fare, since SW does not operate out of the same reservation system, but the effect is the same.)

Good luck. Patience will be rewarded.

BP

 

[tvguy]

Two things to consider.

1) No assigned seats on Southwest, so it is VERY difficult to get seats together, which is a problem when traveling with small children. Went through that nightmare once with mine on a trip to Disneyland, luckily it's only an hour and 15 minute flight from here.

2) Layovers when traveling with small children can be a plus. Little kids need to get out and walk and go to the bathroom, and eat. We have family in Texas, Missouri, Illinois and in Saskatchewen Canada....so we make about 2 long distance trips a year on average......we always welcomed the layovers for that reason.

Out west, getting a direct Southwest flight is almost impossible. Everything goes through Phoenix. And as I found out last year during a family emergency, Southwest isn't always the cheapest.......we paid $635 per person for a short notice trip, Sacramento to Houston with Southwest, the next trip, on the same short notice was $450 per person roundtrip on American West.

Thankfully my "little ones" are 14 and 18 now, so now my only worries are paying for college!!!!

 

[Jeanne B]

Doesn't Southwest always allow families traveling with small children to board first so that they're able to sit together? That's always been the case when we've flown with them.

DisneyDreams4P&B - I see that you're from Portland...have you checked Jet Blue out of Boston? They also offer direct flights to Orlando and usually their fares are fairly competitive with Southwest, especially when they're having a sale. We flew them for the first time in January and really liked them. They have tv's on every seat which can make a direct flight pass by a little more quickly, they offer assigned seating and I thought their customer service was terrific.

 

[Laurabearz]

Two things to consider.

1) No assigned seats on Southwest, so it is VERY difficult to get seats together, which is a problem when traveling with small children. Went through that nightmare once with mine on a trip to Disneyland, luckily it's only an hour and 15 minute flight from here.

As someone who tries every single flight to be seperated from my kids.... It just doesnt happen. SWA makes us sit together weather we want to or not.... sucks.

 

[BahamaPapa]

SW has preferred boarding for families with small children. Those families are allowed to pre-board before the general boarding starts. Thus, you are guaranteed the ability to sit together and choose the location of the plane most convenient for you.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

First off, thank you everyone for your helpful tips and advice. As we have a child with special needs, we have always been very fortunate that when we have flown together as a family (on other airlines and SW) they have put us together. I think that I am going to keep checking fares on SW as they do offer non stop from Manchester to Orlando and I think that when it comes down to it..a few dollars more to be up once and down once and have happy children and happy parents instead of screaming uncomfortable kids and frrazzled parents is th eway to go. Who knows, I have DING, maybe they will pop up with a better fare than $79.00 each way...Got it once for $49.00 so I am keeping my fingers crossed.


Thanks,

 

[Laurabearz]

<snip> I think that when it comes down to it..a few dollars more to be up once and down once and have happy children and happy parents instead of screaming uncomfortable kids and frrazzled parents is th eway to go. Who knows, I have DING, maybe they will pop up with a better fare than $79.00 each way...Got it once for $49.00 so I am keeping my fingers crossed.


Thanks,

Happy kids = happy parents.... esp on vacation.

Keep us posted on what fare you get....