Airfares for Feb and May

[SharonS]

Has anyone else found airfares ridiculously high for these time periods? I am trying to book a flight from Harrisburg PA to Orlando for Feb 28-March 7th and another for May 8-16 and the cheapest fare I am finding for leaving early morning and returning late night is over $500! I checked the seats, and there are many seats still open. I always travel at these times, and normally pay around $300.

I don't know whether to just book it, or wait it out a little longer. I have also checked October fares, and same general range.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Have you looked at flights from Baltimore? I see SWA from BWI to MCO for your travel dates would be $274 RT. for your Feb dates. and $235 for the May dates.

I have flown into BWI and drove to Harrisburg and it was very easy to do.

 

[DebbieB]

Has anyone else found airfares ridiculously high for these time periods? I am trying to book a flight from Harrisburg PA to Orlando for Feb 28-March 7th and another for May 8-16 and the cheapest fare I am finding for leaving early morning and returning late night is over $500! I checked the seats, and there are many seats still open. I always travel at these times, and normally pay around $300.

I don't know whether to just book it, or wait it out a little longer. I have also checked October fares, and same general range.

What are the prices for other times of the day? They are going to price the most popular times high.

 

[vallamen]

Air Tran is no longer at Harrisburg. They used to have the direct flights to Orlando for cheap. I think the lack of competition has driven the prices up on the Orlando route. Frontier is hit or miss on prices and the flight days and times were not good for us. Allegiant goes to Sanford - not for us. Cheapest we could find out of Harrisburg (with awful times and days!) was $350 pp + bag fees. Total for 4 people would have been $1500 (with bags) and we would have had to leave home one full day later.

We are near Harrisburg and We are opting for BWI. Easy drive, nice airport, reasonable parking fees (about $50 per week) and cheap flights make it worth it for us. Our dates in March are similar to yours in February. Out of BWI, we got $59 down on Air Tran and $106 on Southwest on the way back. Air Tran had some flights back that were a bit cheaper, but we had some Southwest rewards points to cash in that covered 2 of our 4 return flights. With that said, we booked our flights about 60 days ago. With seat and luggage fees on Air Tran and including our 2 free return flights - our total was about $500 for the 4 of us to fly roundtrip. We are flying non-stop on our ideal flight times. Needless to say the $1,000 savings on flight prices more than makes up for the drive and inconvenience.

I checked your dates. BWI to MCO on Air Tran - $99 non stop flights available. MCO to BWI - $115 - Tons of $115 non stop flight options available on both Southwest and Air Tran. That would be $215 round trip.

Good Luck!

 

[SharonS]

Thanks for the replies. I will take a look at Baltimore. When I looked the other day, RT was around $325 out of Baltimore. Thing is, I am going solo, so by the time I add gas and more for parking, the savings is diminished. I also like to leave really early morning and return on the last flight. Usually, I arrive in Orlando around 11:00 am and leave Orlando around 7:00-7:30.

In order to get to BWI for an early morning flight to get there that early will require leaving my place probably by 5:00 am. If I leave on the later flights out of Orlando, I will end up getting into BWI around 9:30, then having to drive back. To spend the extra $ to stay overnight would def not be worth it for 1 person.

For the PP, it was definitely worth it with having more people. I can see how going to BWI could save a lot of money.

 

[monymony3471]

I am finding that Tuesday early mornings prices are cheaper than any other day of the week. I should have bought air tran last tuesday, they were 100.00 cheaper than yesterday's price. Hoping tomorrow I find it back down. I need a flight out of DTW to MCO feb 9.

 

[kksmom92]

I am finding that Tuesday early mornings prices are cheaper than any other day of the week. I should have bought air tran last tuesday, they were 100.00 cheaper than yesterday's price. Hoping tomorrow I find it back down. I need a flight out of DTW to MCO feb 9.

I'm hoping that will be the case tomorrow morning too as we are looking to book a flight from GRR to MCO for Feb 2nd returning on the 11th.

 

[TaraPA]

If you're east of Harrisburg, have you checked Frontier out of ABE (not for May, they are pulling out in early April)? I just paid $147 RT ABE to MCO for March. It had been over $300 RT last time I checked. Good deal if ABE isn't too far for you.

 

[SharonS]

Hi Tara. Thanks, but Allentown is quite a distance. I actually live in Harrisburg. Frontier goes out of Harrisburg, but the times are not good. I can save a little if I go Wednesday thru Wednesday instead of Thursday thru Thursday. Problem is, my birthday is on Tuesday, the 5th, and I didn't want to leave the day after my birthday. Might just have to suck it up and do it.

I also found a good fare on Delta, however, it connects through Cincinnati going to MCO and coming back connects thru Detroit. Not sure I want to be connecting through Detroit in winter months. But, the fare was over $150 cheaper!

 

[monymony3471]

<--------Kicking myself for not buying tickets last Tuesday! Ugh the prices just stink for this mini trip my DH and I are taking.
Plus today's prices blew my theory out the window!

DTW no worries. That's my home airport, flown many times in and out of DTW in the winter months.

 

[SharonS]

Thanks Monica. That makes me feel better. I was concerned about going through Detroit in the winter....afraid of weather cancellations!