Airfare - How much money is an hour of your vacation worth?

[karly05]

I think I already know my own answer to this, but it's Saturday afternoon, my trip is still 7+ months away and all I want to do is hash and rehash "plans."

I'm looking at Delta through ATL for next year's trip, and I have my eye on a couple of different flights from ATL to MCO, an hour apart. I can get to MCO at 12:30 pm, or I can get to MCO at 1:30 pm. Prices will fluctuate and change, and I'm not buying until after the first of the year, but currently for my dates, the later flight is $38 cheaper than the earlier flight. Honestly, I'd rather pay the extra $38 and get to WDW an hour earlier. But, if the difference was $50 or more, I'd really have to consider.

How much would you have to save by taking the later flight to persuade you to give up an hour at WDW?

 

[sam_gordon]

There's another needed point of information... what is the layover time and how many people are travelling? If the first flight is only a 40 minute layover and I'm travelling with the family, and the second flight is an hour 40 minute layover, I'll take the second flight for less stress and save the money. If it's just me, I'd chance a 40 minute layover even for an extra $38.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I HATE layovers, much prefer direct flight, and will pay extra for that difference. We live very close to PVD airport and are lucky that we can get a direct flight to almost anywhere from here. I only do it if I have no other option! To me it's all part of my vacation. I want to get there and relax asap with the least amount of hassle. Even if it means spending extra $$$.

 

[karly05]

I wish non-stop was an option for me, that would be a no-brainer.

Party of 1, connection times are fine (1 hr 50 min vs 2 hr 50 min). Either will work. Just thinking if the later saves me a lot of $$, I'd better consider it.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

Like someone said, depends on layover time and how many tickets you're buying. We are a family of four with two little kids, so we can't make a connection under an hour. $38 ×s 4 would pay almost pay for a character meal for us, so I wouldn't "waste" that on a dlight, personally.

 

[dancin Disney style]

If it were just me flying alone I probably would take the shorter layover and spend the extra money. However, if it were more than myself I would probably not spend the extra money as I look at it as what could that extra money pay for.

 

[NancyIL]

Depending on when you plan to visit WDW, flight times will probably change between the time you buy your ticket and the time you fly.

Are you going into a park the day you arrive? If not, then I would book the less expensive flight.

 

[alliecat523]

Delta has had some great rates right now. I would be inclined to book now rather than wait.

Typically I will take the earlier flight whenever possible. I think it would have to be $75 or more for me to pause.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I wish non-stop was an option for me, that would be a no-brainer.

Party of 1, connection times are fine (1 hr 50 min vs 2 hr 50 min). Either will work. Just thinking if the later saves me a lot of $$, I'd better consider it.

In that case, I agree, save the money, get a good book (maybe a Disney guide?) and relax. My other problem with time between flights is I am a captive audience and have to fight the urge to shop! Lol, thereby wasting any savings... Or you could just hang out with their (usually) free WiFi and check out the Disboards!

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Depending on when you plan to visit WDW, flight times will probably change between the time you buy your ticket and the time you fly.

Nooooo, so sorry, flight times once posted and selling tickets don't change.

 

[LadyBeBop]

One other point to consider. The chances of your flight to Atlanta being delayed. Your 1 hour 50 minute layover may become a 30 minute layover, and you'll wish you had that extra hour.

 

[sam_gordon]

I wish non-stop was an option for me, that would be a no-brainer.

Party of 1, connection times are fine (1 hr 50 min vs 2 hr 50 min). Either will work. Just thinking if the later saves me a lot of $$, I'd better consider it.

With that information, I'd take the earlier flight. It's worth the extra $38 to me.

ETA: Another advantage to an earlier flight (assuming there are later flights, which in this case you know there are) is being able to volunteer to be "bumped". Then you can get a free flight (or more) for later use.

 

[karly05]

Wow, lots of feedback! Thanks, all!

Regarding schedule changes - I have read posts from plenty of folks on the Disboards over the years who have booked flights well ahead of time and had the flight times changed or flights dropped entirely. The only experience I've had was a slight change on my return flight in 2012. Flight number changed, and the time change was less than 30 minutes and didn't affect my connection, Still, I'm pretty sure it can and does happen.

Delta has had some great rates right now. I would be inclined to book now rather than wait.

Typically I will take the earlier flight whenever possible. I think it would have to be $75 or more for me to pause.

Man, I know, I keep watching the fares for my flights on Delta, and even the more expensive flight is within my price target, and the later flight is even better! I just hate being committed so far out; I feel like once I sink the money into a plane ticket, I'm not getting it back without a fight, and so many things could happen between now and then. I'm also feeling the same as you about the savings. I think my target for saving money would be at least $50, since that would pay my checked bag fees both ways.

One other point to consider. The chances of your flight to Atlanta being delayed. Your 1 hour 50 minute layover may become a 30 minute layover, and you'll wish you had that extra hour.

I hear you. I've been watching my flights daily since June to see if they're running on time. My flight to ATL has been late only twice, but when it's late, it is LATE! One day, it was storms on the way to and around ATL; the plane left home on time, but had to fly way off the usual course to avoid the storms, and circle twice over Alabama until they were allowed into ATL. Meanwhile, the connecting flight had loaded up on time and ended up "awaiting takeoff" while the storms went through (like the one on another recent day that was struck by lightning). In theory, I could have hustled and tried to make the connection, but it would have been tight under the best circumstances, and I bet I would not have made it. The other late day, the plane left home ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES late for no apparent reason (guessing they had to bring in crew or another plane?) and there's no way in the world I would have made the connection that day.

One thing that is drawing me to the later plane is a desire to have enough time to grab some breakfast at ATL - on the later plane, I could probably at least make a fast food stop even if I'm running late.

Biggest temptation for taking the earlier plane is I'd like to book FPs for TSM and ST at DHS on arrival day, and don't know yet how late they'll be open (not that I'll want to stay out all night, having been up since about 3 am).

 

[nacho113]

For us, 1 hour wouldn't make a difference (especially at this time of day) so we'd take the cheaper flight. There's still plenty of time to enjoy the day with either of these arrival times. Typically our first day is pretty laid back anyway since we generally have an early flight (6 AM ish) and want to relax and get settled and rested up for a full park day starting at rope drop the next morning.

Now if the choice of arrival times were 12:30 PM or 6:30 PM (or later), then I'd jump at the chance for those 6 (or more) extra hours during a sunny (hopefully) Florida afternoon.

 

[NancyIL]

Nooooo, so sorry, flight times once posted and selling tickets don't change.

Huh? Delta can and will change flight times, as most airlines do. I wouldn't pay more for for a flight departing one earlier -only to have the time change to something possibly better...or worse.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

In any case if the airline changes your flight all you have to do is call them and ask to be put on another flight. I have had this happen several times and in every case I was moved to flight of my choice for free. My upcoming SWA flight just changed and I really wanted to fly out on Friday but the price was terrible for Friday so I purchased Sat. Well my Sat flight time changed and I asked SWA to move me to the Friday flight and they did for free. I had this happen on United last year.

 

[robinb]

In any case if the airline changes your flight all you have to do is call them and ask to be put on another flight. I have had this happen several times and in every case I was moved to flight of my choice for free. My upcoming SWA flight just changed and I really wanted to fly out on Friday but the price was terrible for Friday so I purchased Sat. Well my Sat flight time changed and I asked SWA to move me to the Friday flight and they did for free. I had this happen on United last year.

Usually the change in time has to be over a certain amount of time (like 1 hour or more) for airlines to change for free.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

My time change was 13 minutes on SWA.

 

[sam_gordon]

My time change was 13 minutes on SWA.

Except SWA doesn't have a "change fee". So the time change didn't really trigger anything. Your time could have stayed the same and they'd be willing to change you.

 

[bumbershoot]

Nooooo, so sorry, flight times once posted and selling tickets don't change.

I so hope you're joking here....

Except SWA doesn't have a "change fee". So the time change didn't really trigger anything. Your time could have stayed the same and they'd be willing to change you.

You are assuming that the flight she changed to was the exact cost of the flight she changed fr. Her flight is coming soon. It seems unlikely that it isn't higher. So if she was changed for free (she didn't say with no extra fee, but she did say the change was free) and the flight cost was higher than what she had paid, she was changed for free and it would have been because of the flight time change.