Albany, NY to Orlando in Sept.when to start looking for airfare

[togatrackgirl]

Just booked a trip to POR from Sept 26 - Sept 30.

Last year for our first trip ever to Disney we booked our flight through Disney but yesterday when i tried to book the cast member said it would be $354 round trip per person!!!! So I decided to try to book a flight on our own.

I looked everywhere expedia, travelocity, orbitz, cheap tickets, and direct through the airlines and the lowest fare that i could come up with is $273 round trip per person. If we end up paying a price like that to go it almost negates the coupon deal that we got

So, to anyone who is reading here are my questions....

Am i looking for airfares too early? Has anyone flown from Albany to Orlando in the fall for a cheaper price or does that seem like the right price?

Should the rates come down in a couple of months or am i risking the prices going up by waiting?

Our trip is Wednesday through Sunday is that part of the problem?

Southwest currently says that they are only accepting reservations through August 24, does anyone know when the September rates will be out? Perhaps they will have a better rate?

Any input that someone could give me would be most appreciated!

 

[Davidsmommy]

Hey! I am flying out of Albany either 9/26 (later flight) or 9/27 EARLY - and coming back 10/1.

I'm waiting. Southwest won't be out for like 3 more months probably, but I have always had good luck with them - If not, we are thinking about driving to Newburgh (we are just north of Saratoga Springs) and flying Jetblue (lol - everyone hates them now) or Airtran.

 

[Davidsmommy]

Oh - I do stay away from Sunday and Saturday for flying if possible. I have found the better rates on Tues/Thursday/Wednesday - but a lot is luck as well.

 

[togatrackgirl]

Hey! I am flying out of Albany either 9/26 (later flight) or 9/27 EARLY - and coming back 10/1.

I'm waiting. Southwest won't be out for like 3 more months probably, but I have always had good luck with them - If not, we are thinking about driving to Newburgh (we are just north of Saratoga Springs) and flying Jetblue (lol - everyone hates them now) or Airtran.

Where is Newburgh and how far of a trip is that from Saratoga? I cant believe that i found someone from our area going at the same time.

Our plan was to take an early flight there on the 26th and a midday flight on the 30th. Albany would be our first choice but if Newburgh isnt that far away maybe we could switch. I would be happy if we could find a rate around $100 roundtrip, do you think that is even possible?

 

[mommiepoppins]

You can always try syarcuse. Jet blue is there

 

[Davidsmommy]

I know Southwest has gone up, but I am thinking we should be able to get a RT fare of around $150 each when they first come out (I will be checking daily as it gets closer). Do you have Ding installed? Go to SW and get the Ding program. And, book one way fares - that way if a ding comes out that is cheaper, you can get a credit for the difference you already paid (for later travel).

Newburgh is around 2 - 2 1/2 hours away I believe. I haven't driven there in a long time, but that is my best recollection. My friends are flying out of there tomorrow and he was expecting 2 hours from Glens Falls - which I thought was ambitious. lol.

Syracuse is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours. That is another option!

I am truly thinking we will do ok with SW though if we book right away when it opens up. If not, I figure we can price the other stuff out and see - it is just dh and I though this time, so we have a little more wiggle room (it would be different if we were paying for 4 fares - with 2 we can spend a little more per ticket).

 

[Davidsmommy]

Oh - and Newburgh is south - like going towards Jersey on the Thruway. I hope I phrased that right - I am directionally impaired. lol

 

[togatrackgirl]

We considered Syracuse but I think that we would pay the higher price to not have to drive back to Saratoga 2 hours on the day coming home. We were so tired coming back from Disney last year! Needed a vacation when we got home to unwind.

My step mother lives out in Utica so perhaps if we spend the night with her the night before we leave and the night we get home to fly out of Syracuse that may work. I'll check the prices, thanks for getting my creative juices flowing!

 

[togatrackgirl]

I know Southwest has gone up, but I am thinking we should be able to get a RT fare of around $150 each when they first come out (I will be checking daily as it gets closer). Do you have Ding installed? Go to SW and get the Ding program. And, book one way fares - that way if a ding comes out that is cheaper, you can get a credit for the difference you already paid (for later travel).

Newburgh is around 2 - 2 1/2 hours away I believe. I haven't driven there in a long time, but that is my best recollection. My friends are flying out of there tomorrow and he was expecting 2 hours from Glens Falls - which I thought was ambitious. lol.

Syracuse is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours. That is another option!

QUOTE]


We wouldnt mind driving an hour but 2+ im thinking that we are not up for that!! I will check the prices from Syracuse and Newburgh. If they are not considerably less than Albany, i think that we would save the gas and the time and just suck it up and leave from Albany.

I will install the Ding from SW tonight, i joined their email list as well.

So let me see if i have this right, if you book one ways if a price comes out cheaper they will refund you the difference, but if you do a round trip you are stuck with that price? Is that only for SW or does that work for other airlines as well?

Thank you so much for your tips and advice, i appreciate it!

 

[michpoit]

I tried to book Albany to Orlando on Southwest the day the airfare came out and the cheapest that I could get was $355 roundtrip for our August vacation. Instead of spending all of that money on my family of 4's tickets, we are flying out of Newburgh. Round trip on AirTrans our flight costs $217. That is a $555 savings and the flight is still non stop. We are on the early flight, so we decided to drive down the night before and spend the night at a nearby hotel. We were able to find one for $100. Driving home after vacation is not going to be all that fun but I figure that that is $400 that can be spent on souvenirs! Hope this helps.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

To the OP, did you check Continental for your dates? My friend is flying out of ALB in late August for $138/person plus tax. She waited for Southwest to open her dates and they were much higher.

 

[amy390]

I'm flying Albany to Orlando in May (Thurs-Friday). Paying $412 total for 3 people round trip (that's like $69 each way) on Southwest. Awesome flights too! I booked the outbound back in December and just booked the return flights last week (had to wait for the flights to open). Southwest.com had the best prices. Good Luck and I'd wait to book if I were you.