Anyone going the week of Easter? Did you get a good deal on your flight?

[*Fantasia*]

When did you book your flight and how much did you pay if you don't mind sharing.

I can't seem to find a good deal for March 28 Monday and return April 2 Saturday. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pinnie]

I got mine for FREE! I am flying out on Good Friday on my SWA Rapid Rewards ticket!!!!

pinnie

 

[*Fantasia*]

That's wonderful! Lucky you!

 

[DianeV]

I have been looking for months and we finally decided we have to drive. I cannot pay over $300 to fly from Detroit to Orlando.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

We paid through the roof, even when booked far in advance.

In July/August 2004, we purchased rt tix thru ATA for approximately $500 EACH. Then all hell broke loose with ATA and I was able to get a full refund when I discovered my flight no longer existed (oh happy day to be rid of ATA!).

So in January, we purchased rt tix thru SWA for approximately $450 EACH. While, we didn't save too much from our original cost with ATA, at least I have the peace of mind in knowing we will actually arrive at our destination on a non-stop flight.

There was a time when SWA had great prices for Easter week and it was killing me not to be able to snap them up, but at the time, I was already booked with ATA with no way out.

Tink

 

[MarthaJr.]

I had been watching airfare for about 3 months--trying to get airfare for under $200 out of MKE of ORD/MDW departing 3/24 return 4/3. About a month ago I got tickets for $257 on Delta out of ORD--1 connection on the way down--but 2 connections on the way back. I got my tix through Orbitz.com--couldn't get the same rate on the Delta site. I have been watching the fares and they are only going up. These are prime days over Easter (spring) break and since I work in the school district and don't want to go to WDW in the sweltering summer heat----this is best option for us.

Seems to me the prices are up across the board, ie. airfare, rental cars, hotels. I think all of Florida is trying to make up their losses for the hurricanes on all of us spring breakers! Although, it doesn't seem to make a difference as the WDW resorts are full as well as the beach resorts near Tampa. Hopefully, Florida tourism gets back to where it was and maybe some of these rates will drop.

I wish you the best of luck if you must go over Easter. It looks like prices drop towards the end of April/May for airfare etc.

 

[CarolA]

I doubt you are going to get a good rate this late. The rates you see now may be the best that you are going to do.

Rates are up since travel is up... I don't think the Hurricane losses have an impact except that they may hve driven more travel to now.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks you everyone for sharing your stories and your rate. I remember from last year and the year before that for Easter, the price was around $250-$300. But now this year, the cheaperst I can find is about $500! rt from Detroit to Orlando.

I can't even find a hotel on Disney property the week of Easter! I called a couple of times today and the CRO said no resorts available except the Poly Concierge for about $600 per night for March 30-April 3!! Ooouch!! Then we did play around with the dates and the resorts. The only thing available would be the ASMu for March 30 for three nights only. What a bummer!

Great for Florida, travel industry looks like it is up for this Esater. But not all great for us for not finding a hotel on property and the crowds are going to be crazy!! Thankgoodness, the heat and humidity will not be too bad during this time.

Anyone else care to share their rate? Thanks!

 

[Lizzybee]

I live in between Chicago and Milwaukee and we usually fly out of Milwaukee just because my parents like that airport better and sometimes it's cheaper. This time, I checked Ohare, Milwaukee and Midway and got crazy prices and bad times. We were just about to give up on the trip when I got the bright idea of flying out of Rockford Airport (just a half an hour further than the others). Not only was the total flight cost $1500 cheaper for the 5 of us, but the airport parking is free and our flight times are fabulous. We leave here at 6:45am and get to Orlando Sanford airport at 10am and we don't fly out of Orlando until 7:30pm when we leave. I booked these flights about 70 days before our trip.

 

[dznyacct]

My son and I are flying from Indianapolis to Orlando on 3/23 (only 24 days - woohoo!!) and returning home on 4/1. I knew prices would be bad because of the double hit of Spring Break AND Easter. I had budgeted $250 each, and did not expect to get non-stop. I started looking for flights in September. Mid October I found non-stop flights on NWA for $191. I was thrilled, so I booked right away. I have a habit of checking flights/prices even after I've bought our tickets. I was checking our flights in late December and found that the price had gone down to $136. I was shocked. I called NWA to see what their policy was. There was a $25 "change" fee per ticket, so my son and I each ended up with a $30 NWA credit (which I just used this week to book my "girls only" trip flight - me, my mom, my sister and my niece). So, if you factor in the $25 change fee, I paid $161/ticket, which I think is incredible. I used to be a very loyal ATA customer, but with all their recent events, I think NWA and SWA will be seeing me a lot more often.

 

[zurgswife]

We have non stop Southwest tickets for $176 out of Philly...I booked them on Oct 23....Our arrival date is March 24th..

 

[travelbug]

Hi, Fantasia. Looks like I'm from the same general area as you. Airfare for Easter definitely has been running higher this year (I go somewhere in Florida every year at Easter.) After watching fares literally every day for months, I finally booked in November. I got a nonstop from Flint to MCO with NWA for $346. Dates are 3-24 to 4-3. That same itinerary has been hovering between $500 and $650 since then. $346 is way more than I usually pay, but I have no regrets. Times are ideal too.

I plugged in your dates a few places. Would you consider flying out of Flint instead out of DTW? And would you consider staying a day longer and returning on April 3? If so, check out travelocity.com. They have NWA tickets for $273. The times aren't great on Mar. 28, but you can also choose other times for that date for a fare of $334.

Ironically, these itineraries include a plane change in Detroit. As you probably already know, you can't just skip the Flint-Detroit leg and just show up in Detroit for the second half of the trip. The airlines monitor that and would charge you the going rate for a DTW-MCO nonstop, after the fact. Just an FYI, because it would seem tempting!!

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[Tinkerbelll]

We're going jetblue... March 21-30th... Roundtrip was $430.00 including change flight rate (we originally were arriving the 23rd but added two nights)

 

[klmall]

Back in January we managed to snag $178 round trip on Southwest for late March returning right after you want to. This wasn't really a super special like those $49 rates you'll hear about but it was cheaper than many airlines and is NON-STOP! Yeah! All the cheapo fares for Southwest are gone now for the departure period you are looking at. A couple of other airlines had decent fares but were at least 1 stop/switch and we've gotten to point where we'll pay $20 or so extra a ticket to avoid possible delays and missed connections and loss of luggage etc.

Good luck! Maybe a travel agent can help!

 

[#1hockeymom]

We decided to drive this year. Haven't done it in years but I can't take a day before or after to make the flight price a bit better. I am sure we're crazy for going back to driving, but DS is actually looking forward to the road trip!

 

[DianeV]

We are in the same boat and I hate the idea of having to drive but again we cannot pay over $300 each to fly to Florida! We have never paid that much and just cant afford that

 

[mom2of2]

Driving again as well. Couldn't get a decent price but then again didn't decide to definately go till too late for a decent rate out of Phillie.

 

[lampy]

I was going to recommend FNT too. I booked mine 330 days out for 3/24 - 4/2 nonstop NWA for $227. Haven't seen anything close to that recently.

Travelbug - looks like we are on the same flight

 

[travelbug]

I was going to recommend FNT too. I booked mine 330 days out for 3/24 - 4/2 nonstop NWA for $227. Haven't seen anything close to that recently.

Travelbug - looks like we are on the same flight

Hey lampy, that's neat! See you on the plane! You got a great price! It pays to book early sometimes.

 

[pooh_lover's_mom]

I too got a great deal out of FNT. I booked in early December. We have a rate of $226 for a non-stop flight! I couldn't have been happier when I found the deal. We will be in Orlando before noon on 3/23 and will be leaving in mid-morning on 3/31.