$$Airfare$$

[nelsonkg]

I haven't booked airfare yet for our WDW trip in May because I can't find the good deals I usually find. We usually fly Southwest from Prov, RI. Is everyone finding prices higher this year or should I wait a little longer?

 

[momtoleasawav]

I live in Mass. we are going down in April. So far we are driving because airfare is so high. it would cost about 3000.00 to fly my family of five! I keep watching but I havent seen it budge yet. I would wait a bit longer if I were you

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Air travel is up over last year by 5% - 10%, however most airlines have only increased their capacity 1% - 3% after they decreased their capacity during the recession by 10% - 20%. This is helping airlines continue to be profitable (which is a good thing) and is why you are seeing higher airfares.

You may see little swings in the price, but don't expect to see the same low fares as you have in the past. Airlines have learned to control their capacity, keeping fares higher and offsetting their costs which continue to go up (ie. salaries, fuel, insurance, etc.).

 

[nelsonkg]

Thanks for the facts that will help with my decision.

 

[francie57]

nelsonkg - have you tried Delta out of Providence - they are listing flights for cheaper than Southwest in May. I just put in May 21 thru 28 and they were cheaper. Also not sure where you are but Delta out of Hartford if really reasonable now. We got ours for $189/person including taxes and fees and they are still reasonable for May.

momtoleasawav - same with you. Not sure where you are in Mass but Delta out of Hartford for the Easter week (leaving that Sat. and returning the following Sat.) is coming up with $1150 for 5 including tax/fees.

Not sure of any of the dates of your trips but it may be worth checking out other airports. Southwest out of Hartford has been more expensive than Delta, even when you add in any luggage fees.

 

[Sweettears]

nelsonkg - have you tried Delta out of Providence - they are listing flights for cheaper than Southwest in May. I just put in May 21 thru 28 and they were cheaper. Also not sure where you are but Delta out of Hartford if really reasonable now. We got ours for $189/person including taxes and fees and they are still reasonable for May.

momtoleasawav - same with you. Not sure where you are in Mass but Delta out of Hartford for the Easter week (leaving that Sat. and returning the following Sat.) is coming up with $1150 for 5 including tax/fees.

Not sure of any of the dates of your trips but it may be worth checking out other airports. Southwest out of Hartford has been more expensive than Delta, even when you add in any luggage fees.

I've been flying Southwest pretty much exclusively and found that they have changed their pricing strategy. When fares first open up they now seem to be priced higher and go down as time passes. Southwest in the past always seem to post their lowest rates from the start. I'm flying to San Diego in MArch and when if first looked fares were considerably higher than when I purchased them last week.

 

[stuartdenley]

The price are this year is also very high compare to last year.I thought that the competition is increasing and prices are decreasing but this is totally opposite to my think.But I found only one cheap airline tickets provider is 2mycountry.com

 

[bookwormde]

SW has the best $ 60 to 90 days out, but do not expect as good a deal as in past years, I am driving this year (out of PHL) due to the higher prices.

bookwormde

 

[hurleysweety]

DH and I always fly SW, PHX-MCO...and almost exclusively everywhere else too, and really like how they operate with no baggage fees, so I understand wanting to use them.

We're flying from the west coast, but we're seeing the prices drop weekly (not for our dates yet, but for Jan-Apr), as we're going in May as well. Right now we're booked at $172 (says $179 now), and dates through the end of April are $149, and some in Feb are $129. I just looked at the current "click n save" email, and it looks like Providence to MCO is as low as $129 one way, probably through April just like us. (None of those $$ include tax).

My fav thing about SW, you can book whenever, and then when the prices drop, they'll honor the new low price.

 

[lats118]

We usually fly Jet Blue out of White Plains, NY, and the prices have been (in the past) very good. This year for some reason (our trip is in May), Jet Blue's prices were $70 higher (for each of us) than were the prices on Delta out of Hartford, CT. Generally its the reverse.

Since either airport is equal distance from us, we're flying Delta this May. I'm going to miss the TVs on Jet Blue, but I'll have the Sky Mall magazine to occupy my time.

 

[Brer Chump]

I have been watching flights for May as well. When I started there were really good deals which had a last departure day of March 9. These same deals now go to April 20. I am hopeful next month the next batch of sales will go into May.

 

[gillep]

I've been flying Southwest pretty much exclusively and found that they have changed their pricing strategy. When fares first open up they now seem to be priced higher and go down as time passes. Southwest in the past always seem to post their lowest rates from the start.

I have used southwest for the past 5 years or so a few times each year and I agree with this. I am flying Southwest to MCO on January 5th and when the fares were released they were a little over $100 per person each way, about 60 days out they started dropping and I ended up getting my flights for $64 per person each way. Good luck

 

[lindsroc]

we're flying out of logan in may, for 4 people we paid $800 roundtrip on southwest. we could have gotten the same fare on jetblue when i booked... but i didnt want to have to pay for bags. we're going tuesday to wednesday. cheapest flights and hotel.

 

[katallo]

We have used SW for several years now, but we cannot find a reasonable fare from baltimore to florida. For us, the rates are almost double since Spring of 2010. We will either pass on the March/April trip or drive.

 

[wdwfan1]

Keep checking the fares. My trip for March came down a whole lot (from almost $300 each way to only $111 each way now.)

 

[aubriee]

Keep checking the fares. My trip for March came down a whole lot (from almost $300 each way to only $111 each way now.)

I agree with check frequently. Last fall I booked both my Dec and May flights as soon as they came out. Air Tran had them for $67.00 each way ($149.00 r/t after all the fees). I've never seen them that cheap. Since then they've been hanging at around $180.00 which is still a good price from DFW to MCO. I usually pay around $198.00-$220.00 and feel that's a decent price. I'm checking several times a week now waiting for my Sept flights. If I can find them for less than $220.00 I'll grab them, then keep checking to see if the price goes down. If it does, then I'll call for a credit.