Airfare for December?

[cel_disney]

Okay DVCers - I'm posting here instead of the transportation board because i suspect you guys are the ones most likely to be trying to book airfare 10-11 months in advance....

Any secrets?

We have our BLT ressie from 12/4 - 12/11, but I was really hoping to cancel 12/4 and just travel down the AM of 12/5 and return the PM of 12/11...but the only carrier so far is Delta and the price has gone from 327 to almost 500$ in the past 3 weeks alone! Is it just the time of year or will these come down when other airlines release tickets?

How do you handle the waiting to get your trip finalized??? this is our first trip home, but we've been to Disney 6 times in 7 years and have never paid more than 250 for our tickets (last year we paid 188!!)!

 

[DISHoppy]

IMO, airfares are tied to the price of oil, which has edged up to over $80/barrell yet again. It's been bouncing up and down the past few mos., which has been reflected in the price of ga$ around here going from $2.50 to $2.30 back to $2.50+.

-Kevin

 

[dvc deernut]

Hi we usually fly out of buffalo on either jet blue or southwest. Im going to check the prices but i know delta usually is more expensive from buffalo. Usually we pay around 200 both ways. I know jet blue flies out of boston to orlando. We fly same time from here to orlando then before the christmas prices kick in. I know right now jet blue hasnt got there pricing out that far yet but southwest might. Our friends fly from i think mansfield nh. When they fly to orlando for the member cruise and when ever they go down.

 

[MK032197]

I always begin checking airfare after I have made my reservation but just wait until it looks reasonable to purchase tickets. I have a reservation at WDW for September and nothing looks good right now for airfare but past experience tells me that will change!

 

[hopare]

Hi cel Disney, I noticed that you are from Ma, me too! We are planning our first trip home in Nov and are looking at airfare also. I have had the best luck flying southwest out of Manchester, Nh. The prices from NH seem to be better than Logan for some reason. I find the same for providence RI. Also no baggage fees on Southwest, than can make a big difference! The problem is that they do not release schedules until 6-7 months prior, which is tough for someone like me who likes to plan in advance! Good luck!

 

[RCM]

Hi we are going in June nd live outside of Cleveland. The flight was $400.00 but Flights from Pittsburgh to Cleveland to Orlando was $200. That is weird but we found a Columbus flight direct for $200.00. So driving 2 hours for a 2 hr direct flight saving $200.00 was good for us. Are there any other airports within 2 hrs. that will save you?

 

[DISHoppy]

If possible look for Southwest to fly into MCO...even if you have to drive a bit to another airport.

-Kevin

 

[thepops]

I agree with the Southwest suggestions. Also, book the trip as 2 one way flights (so that you have a confirmation for each way). This way, if one or the other drops in price (which they do quite often) you can re-book and get the lower fare (and the excess goes on as a credit good for 1 year). I've done mine as round trips in the past, and sometimes I've found that one way will drop and the return might go up, so I can't grab the lower one way fare. Splitting into 2 one ways allows you to do that.

 

[Kris10luvsDisney]

We just flew to MCO in Dec w/ friends who live in Boston. We flew out of White Plains, NY on Jetblue (near our home). It was cheaper for our friends to drive down to NY and fly with us rather than flying out of Boston (plus the times weren't all that convenient from what I remember). I would definitely recommend Jetblue or Southwest as others have mentioned. Good luck!

 

[ppony]

Booking air is the hardest thing to do IMO. You gamble to get the best fares and booking as far out as almost a year is almost always going to cost an arm and a leg. So it behooves to wait. But it's SO hard not to have things sewn up. We're going in Nov. and so far fares are way higher than I know they will be in 3 or 4 months....so, I sit on my hands. BUT I do have Travelocity notifying me when rates dip from here to MCO so I'm ready when it's time. It's hard advice to follow, but I recommend you try not worrying about flights until this summer at the earliest. In the fall they are always trying to fill those planes for the times around the holidays. I know, it's HARD for us planners to wait, but if you want to save a grand or two, you will need to.

I've actually found (when I've looked) that one way flights can and do often cost more than round trip flights. So I dunno there.

 

[kdepot]

cel-disney MA

Hi I'm from Rhode Island I don't know what part of MA your from but as another poster said Southwest is a great option and if NH or RI are closer to you the long term parking at PVD is cheap too! 12/01/09-12/08/09 paid $460.00 roundtrip for 2 on Southwest

 

[Jaaron2]

We always book each way individually. I check the airline prices almost every day (as I am now searching for our Thanksgiving trip). You will have to wait for Southwest and Air Tran (as Southwest is only making reservations 6 months out) but you would be amazed at some of the cheap prices you can get if you check on a regular basis. I have also found that you can get better deals from the airline directly (rather than going with Orbitz etc).

From Philly I can usually get to MCO round trip between $180.00 to $240.00

 

[cel_disney]

Thanks Everyone! I think that the waiting coupled with the insaneness of the flights I want to take on Delta being soooo much more than any other day/flight Delta is offering during this time period is whats driving me crazy! It finally dawned on me that the flights I want to take are probably so expensive because of Pop Warner...I will be hoping that my preferred flights come down soon when jetblue and SWA open up their sales!

My husband and I both have status on Delta, so we are not paying baggage fees or anything there and it would certainly be nice to keep adding to our skymiles pile, but when the SWA/jetblue fares are out, we'll certainly look for them (but we'd have to pay the extra for the assigned seating - not messing with that with a 4 month old and 4 year old in the party!)!!

We actually live in northern MA, so its easy to get to MHT or BOS...now that we have kids, PVD is probably not worth the cost savings it used to be to us since we'd end up with a hotel the night before to travel first thing in the morning...

This waiting kills me!! I usually book 6 months in advance and flights are always out by then!!!

 

[iluveeyore]

We are going for Christmas and the week before it - last year we went for a week Dec. 13-18 and I booked the flights on Southwest as soon as their booking window opened - the flights were $64 each way, and that was the cheapest I saw them after that. So I'll be waiting for the booking window to open again this year and be booking them as soon as they're released!

 

[ToddyLu]

If you do fly Southwest I recommend the Eary Bird Check in when you do not fly with children. It was very convient for us and we did not have to worry about checking in for our return flight while in WDW. When you fly SW folks with kids board first anyway so it won't be a problem for you.

I just booked one way flights from New Oleans to Harrisburg PA and back for a great price. The round trip tickets had weird connections and were more expensive.

Avoid MK that first weekend if possible since they will be filming the Christmas Parade for TV.

You are going at a great time and will love it!! Have fun!

 

[VrBchJ]

Does anyone know when will the SWA fares for the beginning of Dec. will be available? Sometime in May?

 

[Jaaron2]

Does anyone know when will the SWA fares for the beginning of Dec. will be available? Sometime in May?

I think they run six months out.

 

[triciari]

Awesome advice!

 

[omalley1118]

We only fly Airtran or Southwest out of Phila. I juist booked last week for June and paid $87 each way. I miss the days (just 3 years ago) when we paid $48 each way... I like both but generally use Airtran as they are one of the Magic Express airlines.

 

[wildernessDad]

All airlines are part of DME.

AirTran is also part of Resort Airline Checkin, where you can check in at the resort before your return flight and hand your checked baggage to handlers at the resort.