Airfare Prices

[dizneechic]

We are planning to head to the parks again August 23rd-30th. As of right now flights for the 5 of us (bos to mco non stop) are running in the 1600-1800 range which is just crazy. We flew Delta in Feb but booked our flights in April the year before so we got a great deal at 1100 for our 5 tickets. I've been watching the prices since we returned end of Feb and they are holding steady in that price range, but I am hesitant to book hoping to see some movement (lower) in pricing.

Do you think it's wise to suck it up and just book now or would you suspect prices could drop a little over the next few weeks? We're already flying on Mondays since the rates are much better than weekend travel, we could cut vacation short 1 more day and go Tue/Mon as well, but really would love the extra day so the $100 saved by switching that is worth the expense. Last time I was watching prices and they only went up from when we originally booked...

We're planning on trying out JetBlue as well, since it appears JB and Delta are the only 2 direct from bos/mco. WWYD?

 

[katie111]

Not sure where you live in MA, but if you're close enough you should also check out Southwest from Providence. We've gotten some great deals on SW. I would also check every website you can find and check several times a day if you can. Most airlines change their prices on Tues or Wed so those are the most important days to check. Aritran also flies direct, we flew with them for Feb vacation and got flights for 275 each which wasn't bad as some of the other flights for that week were as high as $900 each.

 

[katie111]

Also, Tues to Tues are usually the cheapest flight so if you could change your dates at all that would probably help a lot.

 

[dizneechic]

Also, Tues to Tues are usually the cheapest flight so if you could change your dates at all that would probably help a lot.

The kids all start school Tues 08/31 so we need to come back on the 30th or before. Since we'll also be going in Jan and missing a few days of school then I want to try to avoid missing day 1 as well.

I looked into SW from PVD and it's 1497 with the wanna get away fares. It saves a little but I'm really nervous about 5 of us with no assigned seating plus its an extra hour to the airport vs our travel time to BOS so the time/no seat thing is worth the little extra there I think. Is the no seating thing a haggle? How do they handle families? Paying 240 to park in BOS is a killer, PVD is much gentler there!

And thanks for the tip about price changes on tue/wed... I will have to watch that!

 

[1osfan]

I just checked Southwest they have flights available on your dates from Boston Logan to Orlando for $1254 total.

As far as no assigned seating, check-in as early as possible and you will be on the flight as early as possible. If it is that important, you can pay $10 extra per ticket and get on in the first group.

 

[1osfan]

I just checked Southwest they have flights available on your dates from Boston Logan to Orlando for $1254 total.

Also, you can save $100 either way by traveling either Tuesday.

 

[dizneechic]

I just checked Southwest they have flights available on your dates from Boston Logan to Orlando for $1254 total.

But all of the flights have a layover and change planes. That's the one thing we can't do with 3 kids, at least easily. We tried it heading down in Feb and barely made the connection. Having to do that without specified seats would completely stress me out!

 

[pat fan]

Air prices are crappy! Just got ours recently for our June/July trip and paid WAY more than ever! I think it was around $1400 for 4 of us and it was Southwest. Other airlines were completely ridiculous!!!!

I've been looking every day since Christmas or before and now the prices are even higher than when I booked. I wouldn't expect any great deals, just my humble opinion......

 

[SalandJeff]

Try mixing your airlines also. There is no financial benefit to fly round trip with the same airline. We choose our flights based on price/nonstop/time of day and usually end up using different airlines for the trip down and the trip back.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Per kayak.com: JetBlue nonstop, departs Boston 8:20 PM arrives MCO @ 11:18 PM
Departs MCO 1:09 PM arrive BOS 7:39 PM change planes in Washington = $265.10 per person round trip
or, depart MCO noon arrive BOS 2:48 nonstop or depart MCO 6:15 PM arrive BOS 9:11 PM = $279.40 per person.

Southwest's $109 each way out of Boston, with changes in both directions (since they do only offer very limited notstop service from here) comes to a surprising $260.80 per person! Their Providence and Manchester Wanna Get Away fares are all the same - $139 and $149 respectively - with the selection being better from Providence, but the price per person being $299.40!

Airfares are just higher this year than they've been in the past.

 

[shawna1041]

We are planning to head to the parks again August 23rd-30th. As of right now flights for the 5 of us (bos to mco non stop) are running in the 1600-1800 range which is just crazy. We flew Delta in Feb but booked our flights in April the year before so we got a great deal at 1100 for our 5 tickets. I've been watching the prices since we returned end of Feb and they are holding steady in that price range, but I am hesitant to book hoping to see some movement (lower) in pricing.

Do you think it's wise to suck it up and just book now or would you suspect prices could drop a little over the next few weeks? We're already flying on Mondays since the rates are much better than weekend travel, we could cut vacation short 1 more day and go Tue/Mon as well, but really would love the extra day so the $100 saved by switching that is worth the expense. Last time I was watching prices and they only went up from when we originally booked...

We're planning on trying out JetBlue as well, since it appears JB and Delta are the only 2 direct from bos/mco. WWYD?

I don't know if you have allegiant air by you or not, but I just purchased 4 tickets for $749 (including all taxes, fees, and insurance) These are non stop flights also. Leaving Aug 20, and coming home Aug 30.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope, no Allegiant. We used to, in Portsmouth; before Allegiant we had, um, PanAm there. Both have left - PanAm may be out of business again. If the OP is near the middle of the state - doesn't seem like it, but I've been wrong before - she should see if Direct Air is still flying out of Worcester. If she's near Hartford, Southwest has a couple of late-in-the-day nonstops for $249 per person round trip.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I would also check every website you can find and check several times a day if you can. Most airlines change their prices on Tues or Wed so those are the most important days to check.

I check as often as I can for flights from Boston/Manchester to Fort Lauderdale. On Thursday 3/11, for some reason the prices went down. $180 Round trip. Before and after that day it has been $280 round trip. I was lucky enough to book it when I saw it.

This was on Southwest

 

[my2minnies]

We are looking around that time frame too. We have gone to Disney this time of year for 6 years in a row now and airfare has never been so high. We have always had direct flights too. I think there will be no way I could get a reasonable direct flight and may have to deal with layovers if we do decide to go again.

We would love to go those exact dates you are trying to go because my kids start school on that same day. Airfare is crazy high though!

 

[snowgooseltd]

OP...keep in mind, if you book SW, at any price, for your scheduled dates and the prices go down, you can rebook with no penalty fee and save the overages for another flight. You stated that you were planning another trip in June. The no seat assignment is absolutely no problem. We have traveled with children many times and never encountered one. Changing planes, with SW, is no problem because their gates are all within a short distance from one another (except Pittsburgh) Providence has many benefits over Boston. We never fly out of Boston unless we're leaving the country. The earlier you book the better you'll be. You'll relax and when you find a lower price, just rebook it. SW's website is very user friendly. I almost always change my flight plans, because of price, at least once.

 

[pat fan]

and remember, whatever you book for a price at Southwest, you don't need to pay extra for bags. Booking somewhere else for $30 a ticket less doesn't really save you anything if you have to pay for bags.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I have been going nuts comparing JB out of Boston and SW out of Providence b/c I just booked Sept and need to book Dec. I used SW's 'low fare finder'... there is not a single flight out of PVD (one way to MCO) less than $139 plus taxes for the entire year though Oct.

As for Boston, there is a flight going down on SW that stops in Baltimore but you don't have to change planes. I did that once years ago and it was fine, they turn their planes fast and if you don't like your seat, you can move before the new people get on. I am not sure if there is a 1-stop flight like that on the way home. If it saves a lot I would do it again.

I ended up with JB out of Boston for Sept, was $219 compared to $299 on Southwest. I realize I only get one free bag, but I love having a seat assignment.

 

[jjohnson]

I'm having the same problem out of NY for our August trip. The fares are what I paid to go Easter week in 2008 If they do not go down by the end of April I'm going to have to change our plans.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

OP...keep in mind, if you book SW, at any price, for your scheduled dates and the prices go down, you can rebook with no penalty fee and save the overages for another flight. You stated that you were planning another trip in June. The no seat assignment is absolutely no problem. We have traveled with children many times and never encountered one. Changing planes, with SW, is no problem because their gates are all within a short distance from one another (except Pittsburgh) Providence has many benefits over Boston. We never fly out of Boston unless we're leaving the country. The earlier you book the better you'll be. You'll relax and when you find a lower price, just rebook it. SW's website is very user friendly. I almost always change my flight plans, because of price, at least once.

All of this! We LOVE SW!

 

[MommyBell08]

Try mixing your airlines also. There is no financial benefit to fly round trip with the same airline. We choose our flights based on price/nonstop/time of day and usually end up using different airlines for the trip down and the trip back.

Good idea.. now why didnt I think of that