Airline dilemma

[Aiko]

I was looking at flights through Airtran today for April 26-May 2 2008 out of BWI. I can get nonstop flights for $111 per person so it will come out to almost $1000 with all the fees and taxes. Is this a good deal for 4 people? It will actually be me, DH DS 10 and DS 2.

I was debating whether I should wait and see if we can get a better rate through SW. But since they won't release their flight info until Nov 8 I'm nervous about waiting that long. I know Airtran is notorious for changing flight times and dropping flights when you book this far out so that has me nervous too.

DH says that if it's going to cost $1000 to fly we'll drive instead and save some money. It is a lot of money to us and would take a good chunk out of our budget. We'll be driving from PA so I think it will take 15 hours to get there but we won't drive straight through.

So I'm just looking for opinions, what would you do if you were in my situation? Would you wait and see what rates are for SW and if there's nothing decent just go ahead and drive or bite the bullet and book Airtran??

ETA: I forgot another option would be to fly out of Allentown on Allegiant Air and rent a car to drive to Disney. But I don't know much at all about Allegiant and how they are so I don't know how well that would work.

 

[dudspizza]

I was looking at flights through Airtran today for April 26-May 2 2008 out of BWI. I can get nonstop flights for $111 per person so it will come out to almost $1000 with all the fees and taxes. Is this a good deal for 4 people? It will actually be me, DH DS 10 and DS 2.

I was debating whether I should wait and see if we can get a better rate through SW. But since they won't release their flight info until Nov 8 I'm nervous about waiting that long. I know Airtran is notorious for changing flight times and dropping flights when you book this far out so that has me nervous too.

DH says that if it's going to cost $1000 to fly we'll drive instead and save some money. It is a lot of money to us and would take a good chunk out of our budget. We'll be driving from PA so I think it will take 15 hours to get there but we won't drive straight through.

So I'm just looking for opinions, what would you do if you were in my situation? Would you wait and see what rates are for SW and if there's nothing decent just go ahead and drive or bite the bullet and book Airtran??

ETA: I forgot another option would be to fly out of Allentown on Allegiant Air and rent a car to drive to Disney. But I don't know much at all about Allegiant and how they are so I don't know how well that would work.

I am not a BWI guy, but my opinion is that you will be able to get better. It is only September 6th, you have a lot of time. Personally, I would wait. I won't pay $1000 for 4 tickets from MSP to MCO and BWI is lots closer.

Duds

 

[lilkitty819]

Hi
I would wait for SW. We got tickets to fly roundtrip from BWI to MCO for $140.00 per ticket. We brought our tickets about 5 months in advance.

good luck

 

[plutospup]

Allegiant is a good alternative, and ABE (Allentown) is much easier to use than PHL. DSIL's family used Allegiant this summer, and had on time, great flights at a very affordable rate.

 

[doombuggy]

I have flown plenty between MCO and PHL, but I don't think that is what you had in mind, eh? My mom flew Alligent in March and was ok with it. She felt the seats weren't that comfy - she siad they did not recline. The flight was at 8am and flies into Sanford (which is closer to where I live anyway). She liked the parking better than PHL, but it is more expensive.

That said, I really wanted to comment about driving. When I moved here from Philly in July 2004, Dad and I drove the 1050 miles from Chester Cty to my friend's house (she lives near DAK). We stopped in SC and spent the night at a pet friendly motel. Even though it was over 2 days and we did stop a couple of times for bathroom, food, etc, it did take us more than 15 hours, probably closer to 20. It's been years since I drove from State College to the chesapeake (cousins had a house on the bay & I visited them one September), but I would advise you to pick up 95 below the DC Beltway if possible.

Whatever you decide, good luck and have a great trip!

 

[grimley1968]

I don't know about BWI's recent pricing, but both Louisville and Nashville, both SWA airports, have seen significant increases in SWA ticketing prices in the last couple of years. These days, $1000 total would be a bargain for 4 tickets out of either airport to MCO and back. You could get cheaper if you are flexible for dates/times of travel, but not all that much. It's not like it was earlier this decade, when $600 would have been a high price for 4 r/t tickets. For the first time in several trips to WDW, we are driving this year, because of the higher cost of flying, and because we have a new vehicle which makes the 12-hour drive much more tolerable.

That having been said, make sure to check all options with SWA before purchasing anything else at a SWA-served airport, especially if you are flexible in your dates/times of travel.

 

[Aiko]

You all have made me feel much better about waiting to see what rates may be later. I was so afraid that if I waited they'd be even higher. Which I guess is still a possibility but I'll take that chance.

I checked rates flying out of Philly and they were higher then BWI and DH hates Philly and says he won't drive there. So that leaves BWI or Allentown because flights out of HIA (Harrisburg) are VERY expensive.

 

[DonnaL]

I don't know why your DH doesn't like driving to PHL, but, if it's the airport itself he doesn't like driving to.......not the general drive.....we drive down 476 all the way to 95N, then stay on 95N just for a very short time and get off at Essington (I think that's the name) and park our car at Colonial Car Park on the Industrial Highway which actually leads right into the airport. Colonial has a shuttle which picks you up right at your car in their lot (it runs thru the lot continuously) and then takes you right to your terminal and drops you right at curbside checkin. On your return, just collect your bags at baggage claim and call the Colonial 800#......they will pick you up in the shuttle in less than 10 minutes ......they'll tell you where you need to go......at the SW terminal it's practically right outside the baggage claim door.
Sure beats parking anywhere onsite at the airport. They always have a coupon on their website. I think it's www.colonialparking.com.......if that's not it just do a google search for PHL parking. I think we paid $8.00 per day including all taxes in May with the coupon. We'll never drive to the airport itself again.......... As far as your flights go, you definitely have a lot of time.......we're going the first week of January and I haven't made our flight arrangements yet....everything else is done......but, I'm waiting for SW to drop prices.......keeping all options open, though.....including Allegiant out of ABE and since we're in NE PA we can also go to Newburgh, NY in about 1 hour 45 minutes and get either JetBlue or Airtran from there......AVP is in my backyard, but, can't get anything that doesn't take the whole day to get there...not to mention everything is in the $300 rt or higher range.......

 

[anabelle]

I always say, find a price you are willing to pay and then book it. Your DH is willing to drive if it is that high, so the worst that will happen is that you drive. I would ask him how much he thinks you can afford, and look for that price. If you can't get it, drive.

 

[NancyIL]

I always say, find a price you are willing to pay and then book it. Your DH is willing to drive if it is that high, so the worst that will happen is that you drive. I would ask him how much he thinks you can afford, and look for that price. If you can't get it, drive.

Good advice! Plan to drive, unless you can find airfare under _______ (fill in the blank). According to Fare Compare - it's best to not buy airfare more than 4 months out, UNLESS you're booking at a holiday or other busy time.

http://www.farecompare.com/articles/CheapAirlineTickets.htm

http://www.farecompare.com/articles/best-time-to-buy/best_time_to_buy_cheap_airfare.html

 

[n2mm]

I think that it too high for BWI to MCO. HAve you also checked out Dulles, or is that too far? We buy when we find fare under $170 roundtrip out of Dulles, especially when there are good times available.