Airfare from Boston to Orlando - how much have you paid?

[jennybobenny]

And when/what time of year did you travel?

For the past few years we've traveled from Logan Airport to MCO in late November/early December. The best fare we've gotten has been around $220 and the highest $275 (per person/round trip).

Usually right after we get back I notice the fares go down to around $175-180 for those lucky January travelers.

Here's my reason for asking: For the first time we're planning to vacation in Disney over February vacation (Presidents Day/Week). I'm wondering what to expect for airfare. Is this time of year typically blocked from any specials/lower fares? Right now Delta is at $555 (per person!). The folks at Song haven't been able to help - they keep saying the fare hasn't been 'switched over' yet. I'm afraid since it's a popular vacation week - it may never be switched over.

I know airfares can go up and down - just wondering if there's a rhyme or reason to the fluctuation. Thanks for any input!

 

[seashoreCM]

Paid $220. for Delta Express BOS-MCO-BOS nonstop around Thanksgiving 2003. Same roiund trip now costs $555. which is within the fare range for Song (max $299 each way).

I missed the low price seats 331 days in advance of my 11/03 trip. A few weeks later they changed from 737 planes to 757 planes and a small number of low price seats appeared. I was lucky enough to find out early enough (from an internet station at Disney Quest!) and actually made the ressie from the pay phone upstairs.

If I remember correctly, once got $160. for the DeltaExpress trip on non-peak dates.

If/when your flight is changed over to Song (expected changeover 6/6/03) I think your fare will not change automatically. I think the only thing that will happen is that, for dates with only high priced seats, a small number of low price seats will be offered and for a popular date, they will be snapped up fast. (All that happened ca. 4/1 for a few JFK-MCO dates I checked) If you find out fast enough, you can apply for a voucher for the fare difference between your fare and the lowest offered fare.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[MEM]

The lowest I have paid is $99 RT, a super-fare released a few months after 9/11. My family and I went the last week of January 2002, and had a glorious, cheap trip at ASMu for $49/night. Those were the days!

Currently, I am prepared to book $207 R/T on Delta for a trip in August. I'm afraid to wait any longer! I just learned on these boards that if the Delta fare goes down between now and then, I can request a voucher for the difference.

 

[Disney Fool]

I find that flying out of Manchester on Southwest is nearly always cheaper than Boston at odd times of the year. I'm leaving on May 3rd on a fare of $175 rd. trip to Orlando. If you travel on Tuesdays, Wed, Thursday, or Sat, you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[MEM]

My family looked into alternate airports in the New England area but the price of long-term parking off-set any savings. I'm glad to hear that it works for some people. The $207 R/T I'm getting from Delta means flying on a Saturday. I tried every combination of days and this is the best I could get. When we flew on the $99 I mentioned, back in January 2002, we left and returned on a Thursday.

 

[Cora]

We have been during Feb vacation (2 years ago) and paid $218 RT on delta. I booked at Midnight 331 days out. This was a non-stop flight. We also went last April (again school vacation week) and paid about the same. I also did the same thing booked 331 days out. Both times, anyone I knew who waited even a week later paid at least $50 more per person.

There are also a couple options you may want to try. As previously mentioned try Manchester NH. And try Providence RI. We fly out of PVD and it's great, no big dig, parking costs are better and LESS CONFUSION!!!!!

Good Luck
Cora

 

[Bella2000]

Last year early Feb we paid $130, in late Sept we paid $175 initially and then the fare went down to $155. This trip in Dec is the most I've ever paid - $205.

 

[disnurse]

229 easter week on delta direct flights

 

[gallaj0]

I just booked Delta yesterday from Bos to Mco for August for $237.00, non-stop. They had some $207 fares with stopovers, but with 2 small kids and 1 diabetic Nana, we didn't want the trouble of stopping. The price for the same exact flight has gone up over $100 since Monday.
Delta and American have just started promoting a "price war" as low as $44.00 one way, but I haven't been able to find where those prices are, certainly not BOS to MCO.

 

[MEM]

After my original post on this subject, I had my DH check the records for our November 2002 trip: in April 2002 I bought tickets on USAIR, with one stop each way, for $160 R/T, taxes and fees included. That hurts, compared to the $207 I just paid (but that includes a non-stop return trip) for August 2003.

MEM

 

[dvc guy]

Don't expect to get fares lower than 200 R/T if you can get that. You are traveling over a major holiday period when everybody wants out of the cold. I would say a non-stop under 250 is a good deal and I would jump on it. With the industry in flux, and capacity being cut, fewer seats and higher prices will be the norm. Don't expect SONG to have super low fares, especially during peak travel times. If they follow JETBLUE prices will be based on flight times and time of year, with an odd sale thrown in here and their.

We travel over Christmas and Presidents week all the time. I try to leave 1 day early and come back a day early. The cost savings can be up to $75.00 per ticket.

 

[beattyfamily]

We have traveled September, October, November and December. This year we are going November 29 (Thanksgiving weekend) and returning December 7.

I always buy as early as possible at the best rate I can. I want the times I want, non-stop, and I want to get it over with. Sometimes my flights change before our vacation but so far it's only been by 1/2 hour at the most.

Anyway, we've paid $192.00, $207.50, $215 and $102.5 total round trip non-stops. We usually fly Delta as they have the most non-stops to MCO. Last year was the first time I flew with AA to MCO and got such a GREAT sale price. I saw on this board that AA was having a sale last January for October flights at $102 per person total and non-stop!!! I ran over and got it but that's the first and only time I've been that lucky!

This year, I am paying $181. with Delta non-stop total. I booked 2 days after the 330 mark. At one point it was at $220 but I waited through the weekend and then I booked it at $181. Since then the same fare is $380!!! I'm so happy I booked it when I did.

We invited my BIL and his family and they bought their tickets last week. There wasn't much to choose from that was reasonable with minimal stops. They ended up paying $212.50 but they have 1 VERY long stop in Kentucky (layover is 3 hours!!!). They leave at 9:00 a.m. and arrive at MCO at 5:00 p.m.!!! The flight home is the same as ours. Poor guys. This is their first time flying!

Prices for non-stops are really high right now. Not sure why.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, I just booked travel from Providence to Orlando for this summer on Southwest. They are offering 15% discount(I found this on the BUDGET BOARD) Coupon Code RRDEGY5NP2. All I had to do is sign up for the Rapid Rewards Program.Prices were$ 176. per ticket! Hope this helps!! I too thought I would not see anything below$ 200.!! Joan

 

[goofy4tink]

We're paying $169 plus tax (199) this Aug from Logan to MCO, a direct flight. I booked it late Sept. With Delta.

 

[disnurse]

just an fyi our 229$ flights are now 900$. I always book just about 330 days out and follow the prices, I never see a drop but certainly see major increases. We always fly at peak school vacation times which doesn't help the prices.

 

[DisneyFreak43]

We flew US Air from Boston to Orlando Feb. vacation 2002 and paid $158.75. That was with one stop in D.C. We purchased the tickets in mid Dec. We're trying Southwest this time, PVD - TPA and paid $194.50(for next week). MCO was sold out for our dates, even though the tickets were only posted for about 15 minutes! You really have to act fast when Southwest changes their dates!

 

[PatriciaH]

We just paid $176 RT from Manchester on Southwest for August 23rd-31st non-stop. This past March we paid $246 RT on Delta-ouch- one of the higest RT's to Florida I have ever paid. February 02 we paid $99 RT from Boston.

 

[gallaj0]

The Delta Express filghts have offically been changed to SONG- new flight numbers, seat assignments, etc. I checked my R/T flight for August, they had me sitting in rows that are no longer on the plane; the new 757 configuration only has 34 rows. Also, the price has gone UP considerably. My flight was $237.00 R/T, it is now $489.00 R/T for a non stop flight.