Airline Blues

[corpcomp]

Well I just tried to book some flights to MCO for our April vacation at WDW.

Not only will Delta and USAir not allow me to use frequent flyer miles ("sorry our planes are all booked for the days you want") - but if you look at the seating the planes are 98% empty - but a round trip out of JFK is running about $350 per person. Even Jet Blue is $360 round trip per person unless I want to leave WDW at 7am - forget that - I need my last day brunch. I just am used to lower fares, expecially 7 months in advance.

I thought that this far in advance I might have a chance at a decent fare or flyer miles. Anyone have suggestions? I have to fly into Fort Lauderdale first for the required visit to the extended family, drive up to Orlando and then fly out of MCO.

 

[bobbiwoz]

2 weeks ago, we had to go out as far as June to use our Delta miles for free tickets. And we had to travel from Cincinnati. I agree the present fares are out of sight, but gasoline seems to be coming down in price and maybe those regular air fares will.

We had booked our October visit 11 months out and bought air a long time ago. For a brief time this afternoon, I could have used SW, a Ding fare, to make it to MCO for about $100 round trip. I don't even want to look to see how much we paid.

We have never done this before, but I do not plan to buy tickets for our May Flower and Garden trip until the Ding fares come out, probably in April, or March. I am DETERMINED to get some sort of fare like so many of our fellow Disboard readers get.

If you check out the Transportation board, there were helpful people there, maybe someone has ideas for you.

Bobbi

 

[brianm27]

In the past, we were able to get the best Easter pricing around December. September is a little early for the airlines to care about discounting that far out. There won't even be Southwest schedules out for April for quite a while (currently end at Jan 9).

You need to do what you are doing - look at the seats and the fares. As long as the planes are empty the fares won't be going up.

There is a new site called farecast. Give it a try. It gives advice on fare trends.

 

[maureenann]

We live at least an hour from the nearest airport, can never get good fares there, must go 2 hrs to Philadelphia...

 

[fishermouse]

We live at least an hour from the nearest airport, can never get good fares there, must go 2 hrs to Philadelphia...

Live near Allentown Allegiant offers good fares out of Allentown (ABE)to Sanford, but you can't book more than about 90 days out and have to check daily when it gets near, the cheap seats go fast. Also in the off season they have a limited flight schedule but we usually work around it. If that fails flights out of Newark (ewr) seem to be a little cheaper than Philly, plus it's closer and the traffic is not as bad. parking is also a little less but not enough to be a determining factor. I am a little biased as I HATE the Philly airport don't think I have flown out without a problem, Newark is just the opposit always have good experiences coming and going.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Well I just tried to book some flights to MCO for our April vacation at WDW.

Not only will Delta and USAir not allow me to use frequent flyer miles ("sorry our planes are all booked for the days you want") - but if you look at the seating the planes are 98% empty - but a round trip out of JFK is running about $350 per person. Even Jet Blue is $360 round trip per person unless I want to leave WDW at 7am - forget that - I need my last day brunch. I just am used to lower fares, expecially 7 months in advance.

I thought that this far in advance I might have a chance at a decent fare or flyer miles. Anyone have suggestions? I have to fly into Fort Lauderdale first for the required visit to the extended family, drive up to Orlando and then fly out of MCO.

I thought I recently heard an ad by Southwest advertising $79 one way from east coast cities to Orlando (or back). Otherwise, just keep checking for better fares. It has been a long time since we booked a flight, but we used to find that sometimes you get lucky on any given day and get a real deal. Good luck.

 

[JimMIA]

Not only will Delta and USAir not allow me to use frequent flyer miles ("sorry our planes are all booked for the days you want") - but if you look at the seating the planes are 98% empty

Those are pretty sorry FF programs if you ask me. I fly almost exclusively American, and I never have any trouble getting FF trips.

 

[Anastasia]

Live near Allentown Allegiant offers good fares out of Allentown (ABE)to Sanford, but you can't book more than about 90 days out and have to check daily when it gets near, the cheap seats go fast. Also in the off season they have a limited flight schedule but we usually work around it. If that fails flights out of Newark (ewr) seem to be a little cheaper than Philly, plus it's closer and the traffic is not as bad. parking is also a little less but not enough to be a determining factor. I am a little biased as I HATE the Philly airport don't think I have flown out without a problem, Newark is just the opposit always have good experiences coming and going.

I live about the same distance from either Newark or Philadelphia. We use whichever airport we can get the most convenient or cheapest flights from.

I have never been able to get decent flights to Orlando from Newark. They are usually connecting flights and more expensive than Philly.

I agree about Allentown - it is great if you can get flights from there. The flights are very limited, but it is so nice to use the smaller airport (especially with kids!). Sanford is only about 45 minutes from Disney.

I realize that many people complain bitterly about the Philadelphia Airport. I have probably flown from there on 80% of the flights I have taken, and I have never had a problem. The last time I flew from Newark was a pain - we were in line to check in two hours before the flight, and almost didn't make the flight because the service at the counter was so slow. We only made our flight because they started pulling people out of the line who had a chance at making their flight. I'm guessing that hundreds of people missed their flights that morning because the line moved so slowly. (Rant over!!) All of my other flights from Newark have not been a problem. I wouldn't hesitate to book a flight from Philadelphia or Newark if they had the times and prices I wanted.

I have only been able to book using frequent flyer miles to Orlando one time, and that was seven months in advance (April 2005 for November 2005). I think that if you keep watching they will come down. I just got $137 round trip from Philadelphia for November of this year.

 

[QT Pooh]

Delta's tightening up with their frequent flier program. There doesn't seem to be as many seats for frequent fliers, but maybe that's just because they've discontinued so many flights.

Anyhow, we never have a problem getting Delta frequent flier miles. As a matter of fact, we have two trips planned (and booked - 7 tix altogether) with them. The trick is to call 331 days before the time that you want to go (when the flights first open up for reservations) and to be flexible with your times. We haven't paid for airline tickets with Delta's frequent flier program for over 6 years. I wouldn't call that too sorry.

 

[corpcomp]

Delta's tightening up with their frequent flier program. There doesn't seem to be as many seats for frequent fliers, but maybe that's just because they've discontinued so many flights.

Anyhow, we never have a problem getting Delta frequent flier miles. As a matter of fact, we have two trips planned (and booked - 7 tix altogether) with them. The trick is to call 331 days before the time that you want to go (when the flights first open up for reservations) and to be flexible with your times. We haven't paid for airline tickets with Delta's frequent flier program for over 6 years. I wouldn't call that too sorry.

Wow! 331 days ahead? My wife is a nurse in an intensive care unit and she does not know what her schedule is one month in advance so it makes it hard to book anything. However we agreed that regardless of her schedule , if my DS and I have to go down a few days ahead of her (with her sadly missing the traditional 3 day interaction with her inlaws prior to arriving at WDW) we will do that. I will keep looking at the fares.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

We're going to WDW from Boston, 4/14 - 4/21 for School vacation and so far the cheapest Airfare I've seen was a one day fare crash by US Air. The round trip fare on that day back in August was $236+tax per person. Otherwise, it's been between $400-500 per person since May.
During the past couple of years I've seen the Airfares do a "Splash Mountain", "Thunder Mountain", and "Space Mountain" ride during the 4-5 months before our travel dates.
The past 2 years we've been lucky and paid about $500 total round trip, non-stop Airfares from Boston to MCO for the three of us and that's what I'm holding out for this year.
Good Luck All,
Joe

 

[corpcomp]

We're going to WDW from Boston, 4/14 - 4/21 for School vacation and so far the cheapest Airfare I've seen was a one day fare crash by US Air. The round trip fare on that day back in August was $236+tax per person. Otherwise, it's been between $400-500 per person since May.
During the past couple of years I've seen the Airfares do a "Splash Mountain", "Thunder Mountain", and "Space Mountain" ride during the 4-5 months before our travel dates.
The past 2 years we've been lucky and paid about $500 total round trip, non-stop Airfares from Boston to MCO for the three of us and that's what I'm holding out for this year.
Good Luck All,
Joe

Sounds like we will be there at the same time. We are staying at BCV. Where do you stay?

 

[maureenann]

Live near Allentown Allegiant offers good fares out of Allentown (ABE)to Sanford, but you can't book more than about 90 days out and have to check daily when it gets near, the cheap seats go fast. Also in the off season they have a limited flight schedule but we usually work around it. If that fails flights out of Newark (ewr) seem to be a little cheaper than Philly, plus it's closer and the traffic is not as bad. parking is also a little less but not enough to be a determining factor. I am a little biased as I HATE the Philly airport don't think I have flown out without a problem, Newark is just the opposit always have good experiences coming and going.

We do fly out of ABE most of the time. No hassle, no crowds. Our last vacation was spur of the moment, so no good fares, Allegiant was booked, did US Air ,no good fare.
About equidistant to Phila or Newark. We have our week for next summer booked already so I can browse relentlessly for good fares