Basics of booking a flight

[JayLaLa]

So, I haven't flown since 2010! What are the basics I should know? Reading threads, I see a lot of you book one way ticketss instead of round trip. Is that usually cheaper? A friend said I should book about 4 months out. Would you agree?

We're looking at flying to wdw from AZ in Feb. There are 6 of us, and my mom might join us. Kids will be 3,6,8, & 10. Is the savings on an overnight flight worth it? We are planning on 10 days with 6 days at the parks. So maybe if we just relax the first day, it wouldn't be so bad?

Thanks for any tips and advice!

 

[bumbershoot]

I recently did an overnight with my 11 year old and it was misery. No one slept.

 

[JayLaLa]

That's what I'm worried about. I have a hard time sleeping in the car as do my kids. I'm guessing that would transfer to the plane. Add to it that it will be the first flight ever for them (at least that they can remember) and I can see it being a long night.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Wouldn't even risk an overnight flight, especially with younger children.

The sweet spot for booking flights is three months to six weeks in advance for domestic flights as airlines start rolling out their best fares then. I'd say just do a red eye flight (early morning) that way most of your youngest kids (3 year old esp) don't feel completely off-schedule with their sleeping habits or just a regular morning flight in general. It really depends on the one-way flights, by the way. I'd definitely do the research on your end far in advance (at least six months out anyway) to see what prices look like for the week of travel. Put your browser in incognito mode so that the flight services don't keep track of the days you're watching (they use this as a way to make prices higher as they see a demand for that week).

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, when you arrive it'll be early in the morning, I assume. Which is hours and hours from when you are likely to get a room. This does NOT make for an easy day. As much as I like the idea of traveling overnight, unless you can find a domestic (I assume) first class flight with proper lay flat seats (I do not think there are domestic flights that have such seats, FWIW), don't do it. (and the cost of such flights would negate the savings of flying overnight)