Airfare help needed

[momxx5]

A flight from Raleigh or Greensboro NC, to West Palm Beach FL.

Leaving anytime after July 4th and returning sometime before August 10th(band camp).

Hoping for a non-stop, as this is for an unaccompanied almost 14 yr old. She is tiny for age, but is mature enough to find her way around.
What are some of the types of rates we can expect?

I have yet to look but she has seen prices from $500-$675. Not sure if she is taking into consideration overnight stays Sat night, time of day travel prices, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Feistygirl916]

Southwest has r/t for $383.20 (really any dates in July/August, just click on "low fare calendar"). It's not a direct flight, but there are no plane changes for her to deal with.

I think that since she is over age 11 she doesn't have to go as an unaccompanied minor.

Here's what SWA states regarding UM's:

Note:
Children ages five through 11 traveling without an accompanying Passenger age 12 or older must travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) on Southwest Airlines.
For travel booked on or after April 23, 2010, Southwest Airlines will charge $50 each way ($100 roundtrip) in addition to the air fare per child for UMs to travel.
UMs may only travel on nonstop or direct (makes one or more stops but does not require a change of planes or flight number) flights.
Southwest will not transport UMs on flights that may be diverted or cancelled due to inclement weather or other operational abnormalities.

 

[Sammy]

Have you tried any of the airfare comparison websites:

Kayak
Bookingbuddy
Priceline
Farecompare
Orbitz
Travelocity
Expedia

Very helpful as they look at most of the airlines all at once.

 

[Marionnette]

Have you tried any of the airfare comparison websites:

Kayak
Bookingbuddy
Priceline
Farecompare
Orbitz
Travelocity
Expedia

Very helpful as they look at most of the airlines all at once.

I also recommend using Bing travel. They have an airfare predictor which tells you whether they feel a price will go up or down.

Researching airfare yourself is a better idea than asking internet strangers to look for you. This is especially true when you have so many variables such as the OP has (no specific dates, unaccompanied minor issues, the need for a direct flight, the ability to depart from 2 different airports).

 

[djblu883]

unless something has changed recently you won't find SW on ANY booking engine and they are normally the lowest, they and air tran have merged so I'd look to those first!!!

 

[Green Tea]

I think <16 has to pay unaccompanied minor, don't they?

 

[crashbb]

I think <16 has to pay unaccompanied minor, don't they?

Depends on the airline, but most end the required UM at about 12 years old. Some have an optional UM program going up to 16.

 

[dhardawa]

My daughter has flown Southwest by herself since she turned 5 so I'm very familiar with their processes and we've had nothing but good experiences. Once a child turns 12, it is up to the parent whether or not s/he goes as an unaccompanied minor. Really, the only thing they do is put a thing around the child's neck and walk him/her onto the plane and charge you $50 each way for this service. The day my daughter turned 12, we stopped this. You can still accompany the child to the gate though. When she checks in, just ask for a pass to walk her to the gate and they'll give you what you need to get through security. The same is true at pickup. If she is small (my daughter is too), you may want to take some sort of proof of age. Sometimes they ask me for it and other times they don't. My daughter has a passport so I just make sure she has that with her when she flies to avoid any problems. If you have any questions/concerns, I'd be happy to help you out.

 

[Swan4Me]

So you haven't even looked yet.

I have been tracking rates for about 6 weeks now for a Sept trip from 3 departing cities to 2 arriving cities for rates to fall

No one here will do that for you- start looking!!

 

[angelmav]

So you haven't even looked yet.

I have been tracking rates for about 6 weeks now for a Sept trip from 3 departing cities to 2 arriving cities for rates to fall

No one here will do that for you- start looking!!

That is not how you score a diser gift ticket!

 

[JB2K]

Ummmmm...OP....what kind of "help" can we at the BB possibly offer you, since airfares are highly volatile to begin with, and are priced according to a number of unique factors?

Besides location/airline/schedule, you added the "unaccompanied minor" caveat, which creates new travel situations -- not to mention you are referencing a small airport, where fares are going to be inflated, to begin with (Greensboro).

Best to start doing your own research on this one, since only you know what you'll be up-against...if it were me, I would start with Raleigh-Durham (RDU), since they have a large number of airlines, including discounter Southwest. Piedmont Triad (GSO/Greensboro) is mostly commuter/express airlines, and those are usually priced much higher than their "mainline" counterparts.

 

[chamonix]

The only airlines that do not require an unaccompanied minor fee for a child under 14 are Southwest and American Airlines (that I am aware of anyway).

The fees are usually $100 each way.

 

[crashbb]

The only airlines that do not require an unaccompanied minor fee for a child under 14 are Southwest and American Airlines (that I am aware of anyway).

The fees are usually $100 each way.

United is up to 11.
Air Tran is also up to 11.

ETA - 11 and under (so 11 year olds are UMs).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

unless something has changed recently you won't find SW on ANY booking engine and they are normally the lowest, they and air tran have merged so I'd look to those first!!!

AirTran and WN are still two separate airlines.

 

[JB2K]

unless something has changed recently you won't find SW on ANY booking engine and they are normally the lowest, they and air tran have merged so I'd look to those first!!!

You are correct, as SWA's policy is to stay-off the booking engines (Travelocity, Kayak, etc.), as it helps keep the costs down.

 

[SaraJayne]

Have you tried any of the airfare comparison websites:

Kayak
Bookingbuddy
Priceline
Farecompare
Orbitz
Travelocity
Expedia

Very helpful as they look at most of the airlines all at once.

If OP is looking specifically for SW, she won't find any fares on travel sites.

 

[mdsoccermom]

If only the airlines had nifty places to look online for airfares, like websites. Places where you can get pricing in a matter of minutes...

 

[Marionnette]

If OP is looking specifically for SW, she won't find any fares on travel sites.

I see absolutely nowhere in the OP where it states that she is specifically looking for SWA fares.

A flight from Raleigh or Greensboro NC, to West Palm Beach FL.

Leaving anytime after July 4th and returning sometime before August 10th(band camp).

Hoping for a non-stop, as this is for an unaccompanied almost 14 yr old. She is tiny for age, but is mature enough to find her way around.
What are some of the types of rates we can expect?

I have yet to look but she has seen prices from $500-$675. Not sure if she is taking into consideration overnight stays Sat night, time of day travel prices, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[okeydokey]

Here you go:

http://www.southwest.com/


http://www.expedia.com

 

[Swan4Me]

hope this helps the OP