Airline sales

[Tinkim]

I really want to go to WDW with the kids on their February vacation. I was patiently awaiting Southwest's flight schedule which was released today for that time period. I checked when I got home and lo and behold the dates are open but no way am I paying $300+ for 4 tickets. I can't seem to find decent airfare anywhere else either. My question is do you think they will be lowering the prices at all between now and then? I know I could book it at that ridiculous price and perhaps get a credit but I may not get to use a credit in the future especially if you must travel one year from when the flight is "booked" as opposed to traveling one year from the date of your "flight." Any input? There was a fare the other day on Delta for $191 R/T that I saved and now it is almost $1700 more for the same flight. I thought I could do better than $191 but maybe I can't. Anway if the prices don't go down I guess we won't be going because I can't justify spending over $1200 on airfaire for us.

 

[CarolA]

Febuary Vacation is one of the worst times to book cheap airfare from the NE (Lots of you are tying to escape!)

Can you leave a day early or a day later. The Friday/Saturday flights down and the SUnday fligths back are probably the hardest to get.

Someone said (and I don't know who) that last year SW never put those prime flights on sale. Why should they, the flights sold out.

Personally for that time period if you see anything around $200 I would grab it.

 

[goofydad621]

Tink

Try American I know that Feb is harder and more but I just scored AA this morning round trip end of Jan for $135 pp round trip non stop. They dropped $35 dollars each since yesterday. I too was waiting for SW and that was a waste of time.

Good luck

Dave

 

[patsal]

I tried AA for Feb 19-26 and 18-26 and the flights come back at over $4000 for 4. I knew Feb might be more expensive but I didn't expect over 400% more!

 

[musicmom3]

I am from the northeast and have the same problem. To add to the fun, most of the Southwest flights on my dates (Feb 19-Feb 26) have already sold out! I have no idea what I am going to do, but am seriously considering not going because of the airfare. Maybe the airlines will put on bigger planes and sell more seats and maybe they'll be a little less expensive? I can dream, can't I?

 

[patsal]

I panicked and purchased Southwest for full price--$1400 was way better than $4000--besides it is refundable so I can always cancel if DH disagrees with me. I ended up booking Sunday to Sunday rather than Saturday to Saturday and did get non-stop so that has some value--right lol--I'll need as much help convincing myself as possible before I try to convince DH!

 

[musicmom3]

Non-stop has a lot of value, at least to me! Some fares I am finding not only cost mega-bucks, but there is at least one connection and total travel time one way (which is under 3 hours non-stop) is, in some cases, around 8 (yes, 8!) hours with the one stop!!!

 

[patsal]

musicmom--I found the same thing--I'm thinking all in all I didn't do that bad--knowing what I know now I most likely will not do a February break again--it is new to me here, we've always had a two week break at Easter--I think I'm going to dislike this new break! the way I figure it was about $100 per person more than I wnated to pay--would I skip a trip for $100--NO WAY! I'll just cut some corners in other places and it should be no problem--besides the refundable factors in nicely as well.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

My suggestion would be to keep checking, especially after midnight on "Wednesday" morning and Saturday morning. This is usually when new rates are released. Good Luck!

 

[Ishy]

They are pretty good and give you the flex day option. Also - readers digest had an article that said most airlines will release previously held but not purchased cheaper seats at 1am (check to see where their hubs time zones are) Wednesday Morning. Sign up for CyberSpecial newsletters.


I would also check - hotwire, orbits, expedia, priceline, travelocity sites as well... once you get a price in mind - take it to the airline directly.

Good Luck.

I myself cant get anything cheap to Houston

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind on Hotwire and on Priceline bids you have NO controls over when the flights go. So you could easily fly out LATE on your departure date and fly home EARLY effectively cutting off a few days.


The airlines are losing thier shirts. USAir and United are in bankruptcy, Delta is flirting with it and even SW has announced lower then expected earnings. So.. when they have you willing to pay big bucks, they won't do a sale.

I think long run the airfares are going UP. There will be fewer airlines and they will charge more, but at least there will be some stablility.

 

[musicmom3]

I have flagged my calendar to check Saturday morning and then again on Wednesday. After that...I will probably close my eyes and just buy something! For nonstops I am coming up with fares at over $500 per person. Shudder.

 

[Tinkim]

Wow! I feel like a whiner now You all had some really high prices for tickets. I did find another price on US Air for $805 for the four of us that had decent flight times but I am a little nervous because of the bankrupcty. Do you think they would cut any flights from their schedule due to that and if so would I get a full refund? I think $805 would be okay. Anything cheaper than that and I am looking at arriving at midnight and departing very early in the a.m. and basically losing 1-1/2 days of my vacation. Maybe I better just grab that fare before it changes. What do you all think?

 

[babslittleones]

I just bought our tickets a couple of days ago.

I paid $112 per person on Airtran airlines.

It is non-stop flights from Dayton, Ohio to Orlando.


Yippy!

We will be traveling December 9 - 13.


Beth

 

[TinkerKat]

The problem with the February airfares is that here in NY
President's week is a prime vacation week.
We have a wedding on February 25th and Jet blue was over
$300.00 each way. Out of the question for my family of 6!

Once again... we're hitting I-95. What I save in airfare... I spend on fun

I have never gotten those great deals on SouthWest! I find the seats are gone before you finish reading the ad!

Good luck

 

[Pigsty333]

Go to www.sidestep.com. This is a better search for airline fares than Travelocity, Expedia or Priceline and they even have JetBlue. You can see all the airlines available, with flights, connections and prices. 2/21 - 2/28 out of LaGuardia to MCO was $148 per person, round trip.

Give it a try and let me know how you like it.

 

[Cinderpals]

I booked my tickets in December on United. IFLY just added a nonstop Orlando from Dulles route that could have saved me almost $200 for 4 tickets. Check to see if your airport has added IFLY route to Orlando. The agent said that they're adding more routes. I always book nonstop since I have a 3yr old. I can book United roundtrip from Dulles to Orlando anywhere from $113 -$216...I usually end up paying $156 per ticket.

I've learned to book my tickets as soon as I see the cheaper flights. They're usually gone in a day for the times that I like to fly.
I was able to book an Alaska Airline flight to Seattle over the Thankgiving Holidays for $262 roundtrip nonstop from Dulles. Some airlines have specials and will give a little discount for booking online. Maybe $10 each ticket....depends upon promotion etc...