Airline Prices

[tinawv]

My sister and I are to going to WDW September 20-25th. We just made our airline reservations with Southwest for $177.00 each roundtrip (we depart from Baltimore at 6:30 a.m. and arrive at Orlando at 9:06 a.m.). We were a little leary about making them so early, because last year when my family and I traveled to WDW the closer we got to our trip the cheaper the prices. Our family of five flew for $598.00 last year in September. I realize with gas prices right the cost of flying would be higher, but do you think we might have made them a little too early before our trip? How far in advance do you usually make your airline reservations. It really does seem like a gamble as far as timing goes. Appreciate any tips that I could use in making future airline reservations.

 

[gbanton]

I think that under $200 for your trip is good. Ticket prices are changing every minute and they are 99% more likely to increase in price than decrease.

I usually make my reservations in the 90-120 days out window, I seem to get the best prices. One thing to look at in the future if you don't already, is the day of the week you are coming/going. For a six day trip Thursday - Tuesday seems to be the more reasonably priced.

 

[smcbaker]

I would have to agree. I've been watching prices for November...couldn't find anything under $300 from where I am...they went down to $188 for about 4 hours one day last week and I bought the tickets...now they are back up. I think you did fine. At least that part is taken care of now and you can move on to the next level of planning!

 

[owtrbnks]

Sorry, server was too busy, then posted twice!

 

[owtrbnks]

There is a flight that departs at 655am and arrives 1 minute before you do that is still available for $79/OW.
P.S. You will probably not beat the $79 fare you have unless there is a DING in the next month or so.

 

[NancyT]

Under $200 sounds good to me. The cheapest we were able to find for our upcoming Sept 28 - Oct 4th were $253.50 each ... with a 2 1/2 hour layover to boot.

 

[Harvest02]

My sister and I are to going to WDW September 20-25th. We just made our airline reservations with Southwest for $177.00 each roundtrip (we depart from Baltimore at 6:30 a.m. and arrive at Orlando at 9:06 a.m.). We were a little leary about making them so early, because last year when my family and I traveled to WDW the closer we got to our trip the cheaper the prices. Our family of five flew for $598.00 last year in September. I realize with gas prices right the cost of flying would be higher, but do you think we might have made them a little too early before our trip? How far in advance do you usually make your airline reservations. It really does seem like a gamble as far as timing goes. Appreciate any tips that I could use in making future airline reservations.

I think $177.00 rt is a great deal. We just paid $183.00 per person RT for our flight to Disney in June. I think you got a bargain!

 

[Mousema]

Good deal! We are paying $190/pp from PIT in September.

 

[kldmom2000]

I paid $177 roundtip non-stop on Delta for our 9.29-10.04 trip back in Feb/March because "I" have never gotten a price cheaper than that (we paid $275 for Southwest a couple of years ago roundtrip).... I check the Delta site periodicially and the same flights now equal $317 each! They've been steadily rising. I think if the gas prices don't come down, you can be rest assured that the airline tix won't either????

 

[jbbt]

You didn't get a bad fare, but I think you'll probably find a cheaper Ding fare. I got $54 down in August and $65 back in September. I also recently saw a $58 fare back, but was too late to get it. Philadelphia fares have been as low as $49, but it seems like $58 might be the lowest from Baltimore. No guarantees, but it doesn't hurt to keep looking and then get credit for a future trip.

The prices I have given don't include taxes or fees. Actual roundtrip was around $137. So the most you'll save is around $40 each.

 

[gbanton]

The other thing that many people forget to take into consideration is that there are a lot less flights being flown by all of the airlines. Now you see the same demand for a smaller supply - which as does everything else - raises prices.

 

[mommynt]

I think you got a great rate. My travel agent notified me that American was going to raise their rates, so we just paid for our tickets, before our trip aprox 200 round trip per person out of Iowa, last year it was over 300.

 

[Hugpug]

You got a good price i feel. I fly out of the Chicago area and I got 240 and that was pack in Febuary for a November flight. The time of your as well the days of the week have a big impack on pricing not just rising gas prices. The same flights I am book on are now 350 so I feel I did good.

 

[rainy~daze]

I actually bought our tix for our Dec trip back in February, I know early!! But they were 175 rt and I said I'd pay under 200 and be happy with it, so I think it is a good rate. I haven't seen them do anything but go up since then, granted Southwest hasn't released for December yet, but I am a way ahead of time planner so I couldn't wait till Sept, I was too nervous.

 

[I Believe n Fairies]

Our fare roundtrip was $209/pp taxes & fees included. We're flying out of Birmingham, AL on Sept 17.

Your rate sounds good to me!

 

[DizGeek]

We lucked out. I got the $59 fare from Prov. to Orlando for late August. It came to about $135 each. Good deal, but they are gone. I'd prefer to fly out of Boston but SW doesnt and the other airlines were over $245.

Not that the airfare was going to keep us from our 2nd home.

 

[helenm29]

We thought maybe we would wait for the cheaper prices to come out closer to our trip day but I got to nervouse! I was afraid we wouldn't be able to find 5 seats together or at lease close . It turned out that the days we are going are the "busy" days so there probably won't be any discount anyway! we ended up going with United and paying big $$$. Ah well, it's worth it to get to the world!

 

[Andrea]

never mind i answered my own question....

that is a good deal i just looked it up and its close to 160 per person per way here

 

[01Sweetpea]

I'm watching the airfare for our Thanksgiving trip... the flights I want are $477 PER PERSON!!! Gonna sit on this for a while and either hope for better fares OR not be so picky with times/flights.

 

[MEK]

I am paying $166 person on SWA from BWI to MCO 8/28 - 9/3. This was not a ding fare, but a sale fare of $69 on 8/28. I am still waiting for a ding. So far there was $58 ding from BWI to Orlando, but it was only Tues - Thurs. There was also a $65 ding for my return flight, but it involved changing my return flight to a earlier flight, so I stayed with $79. It's worth the extra $ to spend the entire day at the World.

If your flights are weekend days, I don't think you booked too earlier. If they are week days, you probably could have waited for a ding or a sale fare.

I am checking EVERY DAY for a ding out of BWI. I plan to rebook as soon as I find one. I recommend that you do the same and take the credit.

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