Airfare for DEC 2009

[MAH4546]

I'm looking to travel LAX - MCO, 12/18 to 12/26. Looks to be around $5xx. per person, round trip. Anyone have any help to get my cost down? I was thinking a red eye on 12/19 but the cost is just as much as a reg flight, so forget about distrubing my families sleep time.

-- 4 of us traveling, 2 kids, 11 and 13 yrs.

I was looking to buy some United Vouchers, but I'm not sure.. Seems risky as you dont know who you are dealing with.

You are flying at an extremely busy time. You will probably find cheaper, but expect to pay at least $350-$400 per person. It's too late to find deals for that time.

One problem is your dates. December 19th and December 26th are both block out dates for fare sales on just about every single airline. So while American Airlines, for example, currently has a fare sale out of LAX to Florida at $288 round-trip, it is not valid on December 19, 22-23, 26, 29-30, 2009.

You might save money flying to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, because there are five airlines flying more than a dozen non-stops a day between LA/Long Beach and Lauderdale/Miami - American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit and Virgin America - so more competition, more capacity and possibly lower fares during that period. Then again, even if it were to save you $150 per ticket, is that $600 saved worth the 4 hour drive?

 

[twinklebug]

I'm looking to travel LAX - MCO, 12/18 to 12/26. Looks to be around $5xx. per person, round trip. Anyone have any help to get my cost down?

Have you checked Kayak.com? I find it easiest to compare fares (with exception to SWA which you need to do by hand from the swa website). Register/log in and it will give you the flexible days options... handy if you can push your schedule around a little.

Your best airfare will be if you choose to fly home on Christmas day, but that's because very few folk want to fly on Christmas

 

[MAH4546]

Your best airfare will be if you choose to fly home on Christmas day, but that's because very few folk want to fly on Christmas

Except for the millions of Jews all across America. I fly on Christmas day all the time. And the flights are still pretty full, especially if you are flying to/from a large Jewish population center like LA or South Florida.

 

[twinklebug]

Except for the millions of Jews all across America. I fly on Christmas day all the time. And the flights are still pretty full, especially if you are flying to/from a large Jewish population center like LA or South Florida.

I hear you, more than half my friends are non-christian (oddly enough many of them celebrate Christmas too - for fun! LOL). Fact is though, the flights are and always have been cheaper on Christmas day than the days just before or after... check it out.

 

[MAH4546]

Fact is though, the flights are and always have been cheaper on Christmas day than the days just before or after... check it out.

Cheaper, not cheap.

LAX-MCO is only $35 cheaper if you fly home on Christmas, $480 versus $515. When you are talking about a major Jewish population centre like Los Angeles, you aren't going to see huge savings. Further, airlines reduce their schedules to certain destinations on Christmas (LA isn't one of them), limit capacity, keeping demand in check and allowing fares to remain fairly consistent. I've played around with Christmas dates, there is no significant savings on LAX-MCO.

 

[Peaceableone]

You are flying at an extremely busy time. You will probably find cheaper, but expect to pay at least $350-$400 per person. It's too late to find deals for that time.

One problem is your dates. December 19th and December 26th are both block out dates for fare sales on just about every single airline. So while American Airlines, for example, currently has a fare sale out of LAX to Florida at $288 round-trip, it is not valid on December 19, 22-23, 26, 29-30, 2009.

You might save money flying to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, because there are five airlines flying more than a dozen non-stops a day between LA/Long Beach and Lauderdale/Miami - American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit and Virgin America - so more competition, more capacity and possibly lower fares during that period. Then again, even if it were to save you $150 per ticket, is that $600 saved worth the 4 hour drive?

Thanks for the info. I have checked AA and looked under flexible dates. I'd have to travel on Wednesday 12/16 to get a great LAX to MCO rate, but then coming back.. it is consistently high for days after 12/26.

I was hoping I was still early enough to get some good deals. When I check seating on the planes they dont seem to full. Still hoping something comes along.

I have tried using various search engines, and they have proven successful in that they've identified other airlines that I didnt expect to have flights. \

I think my main problem is what should I be expecting to pay for RT.

 

[Darcy03231]

We're leaving from Portland, ME on 12/1 and returning on 12/6. I booked a couple of months ago on Airtran using the $25 coupon. There are 3 of us and I got 6 coupons and booked one way fares we ended up with fares of $49/pp each way.

 

[GlenbeulahGal]

I have worked for a major US commercial airline for the past 8 years. I am not an expert but I may be able to help with some of your questions.

First of all, schedule changes. ALL airlines do schedule changes especially if you are buying your ticket months away from your flight date. The change may only be a few minutes from the original time or it could be eliminated all together depending on the demand and availability of aircraft. You will be rescheduled to another flight that leaves as close to your originally scheduled flight but that may be hours earlier than you were expecting then you miss your flight and go on standby. (not every airline has the same rules)

ALWAYS CALL 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND VERIFY THE FLIGHT TIMES!

Delays: Sometimes aircraft can be delayed to weather or air traffic control (atc). DO NOT wait at home because a flight is running late or is on a ground hold. If the weather clears up or if air traffic reduces the flight will board up and go and that could mean without you. It is a RARE occasion that an aircraft waits for customers so do not expect them to be there when you are late.

You must be at the gate 30 minutes before departure and in some cities 45-60 minutes. Especially if you have luggage to check. Checking in from home (if available).

Fares: This fluctuates so wildly that you cannot put a standard on it. I have seen people walk up to the counter day of departure and buy a ticket one way from Ft. Myers to LAX for $136 total! My best advice is to plan and buy early. Stay away from holidays unless you are willing to fly on the holiday. i.e. Thanksgiving day, Christmas eve and Christmas day Generally the early morning or red eye flights on Tue, Wed or Thur are cheaper. It also depends on where you live.

Discount tickets: This can sometimes be scary. I love a great deal like the next guy but sometimes that fine print tells you that if you miss your flight (flat tire, overslept, forgot i.d.) your ticket is worth zero and you are buying a new ticket. Sometimes you have to call the 800# and try to reason with someone who can barely speak english because the airline outsources.

Discount airlines: Yes the fare is good and if nothing goes wrong (broken plane) it was a great deal. A lot of the discount carriers do not have agreements with other airlines so if your plane goes mechanical you are waiting until they can find you another flight or that one is repaired. Booking with major carriers at least they will put you on their partners or other majors to get you where you are going.

ID & name on ticket: Make sure that the name on your identification matches the name on your ticket exactly. I have two last names and use them in conjunction with my first name and middle initial. I have to be ticketed as that. If your name on your drivers license or passport is Suzanna Michelle Pearson Smith that is what your ticket needs to say. Don't pick and choose the names you will use. Soon if the name does not match exactly you will not be allowed to travel. Bring school i.d.s or go to your drivers licensing and get your children a state i.d. No, it is not required unless the minor is traveling alone but it is a good idea. I always travel, even domestically, with my kids passports for i.d.

Wow, that was long. If you have any questions I will be happy to answer you. Hope to see you at Disney!

Tracy

 

[cyndixo]

We paid 79.00 each way minus $25.00 off coupon each way but that was in August with Air Tran from Philly to Orlando.

 

[GlenbeulahGal]

Cyndi,

Awesome for you! That is a good deal. Airtran is a discount carrier but they still have a decent product. Be prepared for the checked bag fee if you need to check bags. Have a great time!

 

[Evi]

I found tickets on airtran for 74$ each way plus with sunshine code was 25$ off Cheapest tickets I've seen in along time.

 

[Peaceableone]

Well, you guys are pretty darn lucky. LAX to MCO and back puts me around $600ish per person (family of 4)!! Sheesh.. And of course, there is luggage fees on top of that, but we are pretty sure we'll just need two bags.

 

[cbsnyber1]

Got $79 each way on SW from Pittsburgh nonstop flights. I'm ecstatic with that as Pitts is notorious for high fares. We then added EB both ways for peace of mind.
Those flights are now $134 down $149 back. I booked on the first day SW released fares for this time period, then watched the fares go up and up.

 

[Montana Minnies]

I have worked for a major US commercial airline for the past 8 years. I am not an expert but I may be able to help with some of your questions.

First of all, schedule changes. ALL airlines do schedule changes especially if you are buying your ticket months away from your flight date. The change may only be a few minutes from the original time or it could be eliminated all together depending on the demand and availability of aircraft. You will be rescheduled to another flight that leaves as close to your originally scheduled flight but that may be hours earlier than you were expecting then you miss your flight and go on standby. (not every airline has the same rules) ALWAYS CALL 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND VERIFY THE FLIGHT TIMES!

Delays: Sometimes aircraft can be delayed to weather or air traffic control (atc). DO NOT wait at home because a flight is running late or is on a ground hold. If the weather clears up or if air traffic reduces the flight will board up and go and that could mean without you. It is a RARE occasion that an aircraft waits for customers so do not expect them to be there when you are late.

You must be at the gate 30 minutes before departure and in some cities 45-60 minutes. Especially if you have luggage to check. Checking in from home (if available).

Fares: This fluctuates so wildly that you cannot put a standard on it. I have seen people walk up to the counter day of departure and buy a ticket one way from Ft. Myers to LAX for $136 total! My best advice is to plan and buy early. Stay away from holidays unless you are willing to fly on the holiday. i.e. Thanksgiving day, Christmas eve and Christmas day Generally the early morning or red eye flights on Tue, Wed or Thur are cheaper. It also depends on where you live.



Discount Wow, that was long. If you have any questions I will be happy to answer you. Hope to see you at Disney!

Tracy

Thanks for your input. This information has been extremely helpful. Our reservations were made months ago for our upcoming WDW trip. In the last week the airline first eliminated our flight leaving from Billings and now it looks like it has eliminated our return flight leaving from Orlando. We had really wanted to leave WDW later in the day, but there seem to be no flights now leaving Orlando -Billings in the afternoon. This is very disappointing. We are going thur a AAA travel agent who told me if the airline has seats available on another flight we can not cancel and get a refund and rebook on another airline. So we are pretty much stuck leaving Orlando sometime in the morning. Living in Montana we don't have a lot of choices in airlines and prices can be high.
I envy those of you who live where you can get rates so low. We thought we had a bargain paying $421.00 roundtrip. Airfares here can run from $500-$1000.00 per person.
I just mainly wanted to vent and thank Traci for her input.
At least we're still going!!

 

[jerseygirl81]

I just booked our flights last night for the 2nd week in Dec. with Airtran I used the $25 coupons and purchased 8 one-way tickets for the 4 of us and I booked through Kayak.com and was able to assign our seats at no add'l cost. The total came to $438 that's the best airfare I've had so far. We're only going for 5 days this trip so we'll take one bigger case and a couple of carry ons so I don't mind the $15 fee. Good luck! Linda

 

[ajpa]

What is the $25 airtran coupon?
I am going to book tickets today PHL - MCO -- help please?

 

[GlenbeulahGal]

Do a web search for Airtran sunshine code and it should direct you to a page where you input your email address and they will email you a coupon code for $25 good towards a flight into or leaving FL. They will only send you 1 coupon per email address so you may have to get some friends or family to help you gather the number you need. I can't remember but I think the offer expires the middle of this month.

Tracy

 

[ajpa]

Thanks!
I just tried it -- got a coupon.
It says book by Oct 31 and fly by Dec 18.

I'm guessing I can use this since we fly there before Dec 18 but fly back after?

 

[GlenbeulahGal]

We are going thur a AAA travel agent who told me if the airline has seats available on another flight we can not cancel and get a refund and rebook on another airline. So we are pretty much stuck leaving Orlando sometime in the morning. Living in Montana we don't have a lot of choices in airlines and prices can be high.

At least we're still going!!

MontanaMinnies,

Sometimes (depending on the airline) you can use a codeshare flight on a partner airline. For example, if you were originally scheduled on a Delta flight and they did the schedule change. You may be able to use a flight that is operated by Northwest but has a dual flight number that belongs to Delta. This is where the major carriers have an advantage over the discount carriers.

Also, I can't remember when you said you were going but there will probably be more schedule changes. Usually this time of year the change monthly. Perhaps they will add something back in.

Billings is a bit of a challenge but at least it is a little more traveled than some US destinations that you need to take 3-4 flight each direction.

In the end all that matters is you get to Disney....right?

 

[shopn24seven]

Someone told me, in reference to the airtime coupon......
get a code for each email you have and you could save BIG time...
i.e. save 25.00 on each segment