Best airfares from Cincinnati?

[Jen D]

Any Cincinnati flyers? My sister's family are planning their first trip to the mouse in February. They'd prefer to fly rather than waste 2 vacation days in the car, but it may not be financially feasible. What kind of rates have you gotten from Cincy? Right now they are hovering at about $200 but I'm wondering if they'll drop as the day gets closer. Ever drive to Lexington to chase lower fares?

I'm spoiled in NYC, it is such a hugely competitive market these days I can usually count on paying no more than $160 and last fall we went for $105.

 

[erikthewise]

A $200 fare from Cincinnati is already a miracle -- I'd jump on it, especially if it's a nonstop! A couple years ago Cincinnati was rated the 2nd most expensive airport in the US, but Delta has changed their pricing structure there, and apparently it's helped.

If you are interested in cheaper fares, try Indianapolis or Louisville. I love taking Airtran out of Dayton but it doesn't look like we're going to do much better $200 with them this year.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I was also going to suggest Dayton, but quite frankly, if they can get $200 out of CInci, and that is closer- Go for it.

We have flown for $137, from Ind, the last 3 trips, for the savings, but haven't seen anything that cheap since. I've been looking for our Dec trip, from Cincinnati, and Dayton, and can't find anything under $230.

 

[mrsmom]

I have found cheaper fares out of Indy and dayton Cincy fares are much higher.we never fly out of cincy because of this.
Kim

 

[Jen D]

Wow, unbelievable. I really am spoiled by the fares we get.

Price is actually $212, $236 with tax. Delta, non-stop.

We'll see what they do. They might drive to another city, they might drive to Orlando but they are really dreading (14 hours? 15?) In the van with a pair of three-year old twins and one one-year old.

 

[Gooofy-Blade]

Cincy is actually the worst priced airport in the region. You are much better off in Lex, Louisville, or Columbus. Lex offers non-stop to Orlando now too.

 

[Gary M]

I live in Indiana and am about 70 miles from IND. I fly out of IND about a dozen times a year. I have met many people from Ohio on the IND flights. ATA, SWA, NWA and Air Tran all have non-stop flights from IND to MCO. We have some friends who are flying N/S from IND to MCO, Aug. 8-14 for $82.11 each, this includes taxes and everything. This was a DING sale. SWA don't have their fares out for Feb. as of yet and Air Tran just part of Feb. If they aren't that far from Indy, they may keep an eye on the fares out of there. I checked early Feb. and ATA and Air Tran had R/T, N/S flights from IND to MCO for $166.90. When SWA opens up those dates the prices may go lower, but who knows for sure.

 

[madaboutMickey]

The best I've been able to get out of CVG non-stop is $216.90. I purchased my tickets iin Jan for my May trip. Then prices started climbimg. So I just kept checking everyday at least once. Beginning of May the prices dropped back down to $216.90 so I grabbed my tickets for this Oct.

 

[davandflav]

I'm traveling from Cinci to WDW in September. The best price we could get was out of Dayton. I was told Delta had just started this non-stop route from Dayton to MCO. Our price was $226 per person. I guess it really just depends on where in Cinci they're starting from! I've only flown out of Dayton once before, but it is a great, small, easily navigated airport, and I would think that would be a plus with the little ones!

Chrissy

 

[TammyC]

Yep. In Cincinnati, anything under $250 is a deal. In exchange for our high prices, we usually get non-stop flights though. I watch the fares often and can only recall 2 or 3 times in the past 3 years that fares have been under $200 - and that usually only lasts through a price matching war. Sometimes the CVG to Tampa fares are better than Orlando also.

 

[SB in KY]

I agree with everyone else....Cinci fares stink...always!! Louisville used to be the cheapest nearby....but this year no one is really discounting much from there. I would tell them to watch Indy...it is less than 2 hours from most of Cincinnati and the fares will be MUCH less (booking now at about $150, but will likely come down from there some)....they can also offset the cost of parking if they drive up the night before and stay at one of the hotels near the airport.....we have had a lot of luck with the Hampton Inn.....very nice property we have gotten several times on Priceline for about $35/night before tax....they have a complimentary airport shuttle and let you leave the car there for free while you are gone....a night there is less than a week of airport parking!! (better shuttle service too).

My only word of advice about Indy is....the airport is about the worst one in America.....I have seen nicer Greyhound bus stations. Check in and security lines are unbelieveable at peak travel times....Louisville, Dayton and Lexington are all very nice airports, but Indy is a dump....allow lots of extra time when flying out of there!!

 

[Gary M]

Indy is replacing "the dump" with a billion $$$$$ terminal. They have started some of the work and it should will be finished in a couple of years. With 4 airlines flying non-stop to MCO for very reasonable rates we have been spoiled.

It takes longer for planes to taxi at IND than any airport I have been to, the new terminal should solve that problem. IND looking like a bus terminal is true and I think very appropiate since flying is now like taking "The Hound" anyway.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

The best I've been able to get out of Louisville (looking for 2 months now) is $232 from SW and $284 from Delta -- both with layovers. Non-stop on Delta is now $304 for when we want to go. There was one afternoon last week when fares dropped to $200. Before dh and I decided whether to fly or drive (just a matter of hours), the fares had increased -- drastically for Delta.

 

[madge]

The best I've been able to get out of Louisville (looking for 2 months now) is $232 from SW and $284 from Delta -- both with layovers. Non-stop on Delta is now $304 for when we want to go. There was one afternoon last week when fares dropped to $200. Before dh and I decided whether to fly or drive (just a matter of hours), the fares had increased -- drastically for Delta.

it's crazy what the fares are out of SDF this summer! I'm trying to plan a youth group trip in January, and I am hoping that these fares drop! The thought of driving to Indy or Nashville, or even Lexington or Cincinnati In January, with weather concerns is not something I want to consider, LOL!

Thanks to the poster that described the Indy airport. We are flying out of there in October--now we know what to expect!

 

[Jen D]

Thanks for the tips. How far is the drive from Cincy to Indy?

 

[Gary M]

Jen D the drive from Cincinnati to Indy is about 2 hours. The Indy airport is on the west side of town. It is at the intersection of I-465 and I-70. I-74 goes from Cincinnati to Indy. Take I-74 to I-465 west and they can see the airport exit signs after 15 to 20 miles. If your family lives close to I-74 the drive may be less than 2 hours.

 

[Gary M]

Posted on DIS transportation board today (June 22). This was a SWA DING rate $97.90 per person. The people that posted are from Ohio. R/T and N/S.


Quote:

Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: ohio
Posts: 66 Just booked our flight out of Indy Oct. 9- Oct 15. total for 5 people round trip was 489.50 =$97.90 per person including tax. and yes it did say indy to orlando from $61 but, when I clicked on the site, came to $36.74 each way before tax and that was a straight through flight. Thanks ol1:

 

[SB in KY]

JenD...depending which side of Cinci they live on, but not more than 2 hours and probably closer to 1.5 for the drive to Indy.

Squeaky Mouse....we are going in Nov and it is a sjort trip, so I would really like to fly out of SDF (we live in Louisville now)...but I agree...fares have been quite high....I keep waiting for SW to open up their Nov schedule....when they do everyone else usually comes down a little...Independence Air has a $185 all in fare now any day except Fri.... but I am holding off hoping a non-stop matches that price (not good times for us on the outbound segment anyways)

I had considered booking through Vacation Express on their charter service....price was good the last time I looked (about $150pp) but they fly into Sanford so we would have to rent a car and flying into MCO and using ME would save some, so I am just holding for now....but I will jump on anything around $150 in a heartbeat!!

 

[smkjt]

Is your sister flexible? We are flying out of Cleveland on USA 3000. They have $59, $69 & $79 flights (one way). Still is fairly cheap when you compare!!!

 

[Jen D]

Thanks all. This is very helpful. They are west-siders, about 10 minutes from downtown I guess. If they can get one of those amazing DING fares from Indy, it would definitely be worth it to them... they're dreading the drive. Anyway, our trip isn't until Feb and I guess SW hasn't even released it's schedule yet, so we can sit on our hands for a bit.