Anyone else make the flight arrangements first...before any other plans?

[3PRINCESSMOM]

Wondering if this works for any other Disers? This is the fourth trip I have planned this way. For me, it has worked out great. Flying out from the Boston area (either BOS or PVD), airfare ends up being a fair part of the budget. As I have become familiar with trends in the fares, I feel I know what is a good deal. When SWA had a special going, I got $49 one-way rates for our August trip; this was weeks before I could book resort accommodations, as I was waiting for AP rates to be released. I had been monitoring fares daily looking for 12/04 rates. Hearing all about jet fuel surcharges and the possibility of increases I decided $79 one-way on JetBlue looked pretty good, (it is actually less than we payed last Dec. for SWA) so I booked on 5/20. I probably won't sure-up the resort plans until late Summer or early Fall.

I would rather be flexible with where we'll stay and save $$$ on flying. We decide on 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc. I even go so far as to discuss a possible off-site (gasp) worst case scenario.

BTW, we have always gotten out first choices, so far.

 

[hercamore]

Exactly.

Our airfare usually ends up costing more than our hotel room for the week. You can always get a hotel room in Orlando even during holidays.

We don't usually see under $250 pp for airfare.

I

 

[TammyC]

Actually we do the opposite, since we can easily change our hotel reservation without penalty. My heart is set on staying at AKL next trip, so I booked it and will watch for a decent airfare.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I do the airfare first.

 

[inky dinky doo]

I would never do the airfare first. I guess it matters more to me where I stay than with whom I fly. Typically, we reserve our rooms (DVC) before airfares for our time frame are available, and the good rates seem to come out even later.

 

[alecam]

Always book flights first.I think good flight rates are har to come by,so when I see em, I grab em.
Room rates are not an issue for me,because I don't have an AP,so whatever my budget is at the time of the airfare rates is what I book.

 

[Blueberry]

I generally pick our hotel first and adjust it for the air flights if necessary. I had to change our hotel one day for this coming trip as rates for a saturday were much cheaper for flights...

I would however book a hotel around a flight though, it is a good idea in my opinion.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by inky dinky doo
I would never do the airfare first. I guess it matters more to me where I stay than with whom I fly. Typically, we reserve our rooms (DVC) before airfares for our time frame are available, and the good rates seem to come out even later.

I am also a DVC member and still book my airfares first. But, then again, I have never had a problem in since 92, getting a unit at OKW , if that changed, then I might rethink the air first.

 

[curlyjbs]

The airfare makes or breaks our vacation......we ALWAYS book that first. If I can't find a deal we DONT fly and that means local vacation: 3-4 hour MAX by car.

curly

 

[NotUrsula]

Heck, the airfare does my planning for me. We watch the SWA email bulletins, and if something good comes out, I line up 2-3 possible dates and see which has seats. If we get seats cheap, then we plan a trip; no seats, no trip. We just wait until another good sale comes around.