Airfare increases, anyone else getting concerned?

[PrincessTinker11]

I checked airfare for our party of 7 and it is averaging 300 pp and that is not including one bag and carry on! This is crazy! Anyone else have concerns?

Codes for spiritair or any airlines...we can post the codes here and help others!

 

[pixie921]

I understand your concern, especially with news reports saying we could see $5/gallon by summer. We bought airfare for our VR a couple of months ago and I'm betting we're going to be glad about that.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I feel your pain!!!
We are really feeling the effect of airfare increases over here in the UK. Of course, getting to Florida was already expensive for us but, as this has always been the case, it is always budgeted for!!! I am just so glad that my and my guests flights have been booked and paid for for months, or I am sure we would now be paying a good deal more for them than we did!!!
Spare a thought for us!! Our fuel is about the equivalent of about $9.00 per gallon (except, of course, we buy it in litres)!!

 

[transfergirl]

Check back six months out. Not all airlines have published flight schedules.

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I was actually going to wait for the six month mark but with all that is going on I think I am going to book the airfares like within the next few weeks...I think if I wait another two months then we will be hit with fuel surcharges...

I was also told that if you book and find better fares you can always cancel your flights and re-book, pain in the butt, yes but if it saves like a 100 pp that is 700 dollars!!!

 

[Disney-Chick]

Why don't you try driving down? It would be cheaper. We always drive because airfare is expensive. Of course our drive is 33-36 hours since were in Nova Scotia, Canada. I know we flew our daughter down with my family in Dec for our wedding and we paid $672 for just her, plus you would have to pay for your luggage so DH and I just drove her luggage and one of my parents with us. We spend about $700 total on food, hotel, gas. Makes it easier for us to visit every year.

 

[lastminutemom]

Princess Tinker

You were told incorrectly. Almost all airlines charge a fee, usually above $100, to change tickets. I don't think Southwest does, but almost everyone else does.

Generally speaking, the best fares are available for purchase on a Tuesday or Wednesday and the best fares are available Tues, Weds, Thursday or Saturday travel days.

Finally, sales are only announced a few months out.

It is gamble either way, but unless the change is 100s of dollars per TICKET, don't count on being able to change it. (Unless you are flying Southwest

 

[transfergirl]

Also, try this travel tool which apparently I can't post since I'm new:

Go to the Bing website and click on Travel.

Plug in the dates you want to fly, and it'll advise whether you should purchase. Again, since most airlines publish 6 months out, you won't find good fares right now. You can also sign up to get notices about particular flight itineraries, with prices and whether you should buy.

You're six weeks away from 6 months out- it'll probably save you a ton of money if you wait till then. Keep in mind that October is off-peak and everyone lowers prices to get people in and spend money.

 

[princesswendy720]

I have to agree that the best airfare is always a few months before your travel dates (3-4 months). And yes, they will charge you to change your flights (unless there is bad weather). There is a change fee and then you have to pay the difference in fare (if there is one). I think Continental's change fee is $150 and Jet Blue's is $100 per person. I'm also in NJ and those are the airlines that I find have the lowest fairs to Orlando.

 

[weedee]

We purchased our flight tickets for our anniversary trip about 3 months before and got them for $200/person from Connecticut, which at the time was a pretty normal fare. I would suggest using Kayak.com to watch for changes in flight prices daily and find the best time to buy!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

We purchased our flight tickets for our anniversary trip about 3 months before and got them for $200/person from Connecticut, which at the time was a pretty normal fare. I would suggest using Kayak.com to watch for changes in flight prices daily and find the best time to buy!

Yes, I have Kayak, on my Iphone and set up an alert for 200 airfare,BUT with gas I am too afraid to wait any longer to book! I am going to book when I get paid next time...it is too much of a gamble as gas is going way up and no signs of when we will see relief!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Princess Tinker

You were told incorrectly. Almost all airlines charge a fee, usually above $100, to change tickets. I don't think Southwest does, but almost everyone else does.

Generally speaking, the best fares are available for purchase on a Tuesday or Wednesday and the best fares are available Tues, Weds, Thursday or Saturday travel days.

Finally, sales are only announced a few months out.

It is gamble either way, but unless the change is 100s of dollars per TICKET, don't count on being able to change it. (Unless you are flying Southwest

Actually if you book with Spirit airlines if you book by credit card you can cancel to get a better rate, I have done that in the past for last minute cruises, worked like a charm!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I have to agree that the best airfare is always a few months before your travel dates (3-4 months). And yes, they will charge you to change your flights (unless there is bad weather). There is a change fee and then you have to pay the difference in fare (if there is one). I think Continental's change fee is $150 and Jet Blue's is $100 per person. I'm also in NJ and those are the airlines that I find have the lowest fairs to Orlando.

I fly Continental for business travel but they are way to expensive for pleasure travel, they wanted 600 pp, and that is NOT including bags..I have business elite with them and would not have to pay for my luggage but my guests would and that would be bringing them up to 700ish!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Why don't you try driving down? It would be cheaper. We always drive because airfare is expensive. Of course our drive is 33-36 hours since were in Nova Scotia, Canada. I know we flew our daughter down with my family in Dec for our wedding and we paid $672 for just her, plus you would have to pay for your luggage so DH and I just drove her luggage and one of my parents with us. We spend about $700 total on food, hotel, gas. Makes it easier for us to visit every year.

Uhhh....we drove once but it was crazy and too many people to coordinate that...I need to be able to get there and get stuff done before the ship day as we are having a rehearsal dinner in WDW and I have some driving and some flying...I cannot believe how confusing it has turned out for this wedding and at times wish they had a chapel for eloping at Disney, that would have been SO much easier

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

We were waiting and waiting for the fares to go down for our June wedding, and when I heard about all the airlines increasing their prices, us and many of our guests booked last weekend. We were hoping to get a better price as the date got closer, but ended up just getting them because we were afraid they were going to keep climbing. Depending on how far out you are, I might just book them now to avoid a huge increase if it happens. Also, we are flying southwest (I noticed your from NJ, so this should deff. be an option for you), and you are allowed 2 checked bags per person for no extra charge. This was a major selling point for us, since we are all going to have a lot of luggage. Also, they offer non-stop flights from Buffalo (so I would assume they also do from NJ), which is awesome. We paid $280 round trip, which was more than we wanted to pay, but still not too bad considering they are non stop and also we can bring two pieces of luggage for free.

 

[PrincessTinker11]

We were waiting and waiting for the fares to go down for our June wedding, and when I heard about all the airlines increasing their prices, us and many of our guests booked last weekend. We were hoping to get a better price as the date got closer, but ended up just getting them because we were afraid they were going to keep climbing. Depending on how far out you are, I might just book them now to avoid a huge increase if it happens. Also, we are flying southwest (I noticed your from NJ, so this should deff. be an option for you), and you are allowed 2 checked bags per person for no extra charge. This was a major selling point for us, since we are all going to have a lot of luggage. Also, they offer non-stop flights from Buffalo (so I would assume they also do from NJ), which is awesome. We paid $280 round trip, which was more than we wanted to pay, but still not too bad considering they are non stop and also we can bring two pieces of luggage for free.

Actually I was trying to hold off for Southwest but they only fly out of Newark and I wanted to fly out of AC. I actually found round trip for 237 pp for me and my fiance, my parents have to fly out on Sunday back to NJ and they have a much higher fare of 346 due to that...I agree though unfortunately with this mess of what the fuel prices have become I think we will be booking sooner rather than later....

 

[Disney-Chick]

Uhhh....we drove once but it was crazy and too many people to coordinate that...I need to be able to get there and get stuff done before the ship day as we are having a rehearsal dinner in WDW and I have some driving and some flying...I cannot believe how confusing it has turned out for this wedding and at times wish they had a chapel for eloping at Disney, that would have been SO much easier

If you have to much stuff to do, no sense putting more stress on by driving. I must say, driving is crazy. I find a huge difference in our highways compared to US highways...there more crowded and fast. I don't do any of the driving. I offer but DH knows that I would have a heart attack especially in NJ/NY.

It is hard to manage all the people. Of course I let them book their own flights as again we drove. But even down there. My family rented a house, DH and his family stayed off site until two days before the wedding. I felt I was driving everywhere's to see family. Then we had to coordinate getting everyone to Tampa for a NHL Hockey game, then to NASA, then some did the Richard Petty Driving.

And as stressful as it is now. When the wedding day arrives it will be all worth it and you will be on

Sorry for my rambling. And I hope everything works out.

 

[PrincessTinker11]

If you have to much stuff to do, no sense putting more stress on by driving. I must say, driving is crazy. I find a huge difference in our highways compared to US highways...there more crowded and fast. I don't do any of the driving. I offer but DH knows that I would have a heart attack especially in NJ/NY.

It is hard to manage all the people. Of course I let them book their own flights as again we drove. But even down there. My family rented a house, DH and his family stayed off site until two days before the wedding. I felt I was driving everywhere's to see family. Then we had to coordinate getting everyone to Tampa for a NHL Hockey game, then to NASA, then some did the Richard Petty Driving.

And as stressful as it is now. When the wedding day arrives it will be all worth it and you will be on

Sorry for my rambling. And I hope everything works out.

Oh, I know in the end it will be worth it just getting there is the hard part! lol

We are all staying various times like you said too which is making booking a bit more difficult as well...I am in the 9 dollar fare club for Spirit so I have to book everyone's flights as well...I am going to give it my best shot though to make everyone happy!