Best Flights out of Edmonton AB??

[chimo2u]

Well, now that I'm confirmed for a package at Coronado Springs next Sept (sept 1-12, 2009) I am beginning to worry about the best deal for flights. Edmonton, unfortunately, is not close to an American Airport (that I know of?)... and I was wondering what some of the seasoned travelers, or those who've flown from Edmonton, to Orlando would suggest for flights? I want to get the best price I can, but as we all know the airline industry is all over the map right now. I would like to get into Orlando prior to 5pm, and leave Edmonton early in the day. Coming home, I would like to leave Orlando as late as we can (around 4-5pm) and arrive back home prior to midnight if we could. Anyone know of any good routes/airlines or flights from Alberta that they'd recommend?
Thanks for any and all responses!
Marie

 

[drag n' fly]

Well, now that I'm confirmed for a package at Coronado Springs next Sept (sept 1-12, 2009) I am beginning to worry about the best deal for flights. Edmonton, unfortunately, is not close to an American Airport (that I know of?)... and I was wondering what some of the seasoned travelers, or those who've flown from Edmonton, to Orlando would suggest for flights? I want to get the best price I can, but as we all know the airline industry is all over the map right now. I would like to get into Orlando prior to 5pm, and leave Edmonton early in the day. Coming home, I would like to leave Orlando as late as we can (around 4-5pm) and arrive back home prior to midnight if we could. Anyone know of any good routes/airlines or flights from Alberta that they'd recommend?
Thanks for any and all responses!
Marie

Quite a few people fly NWA out of Edmonton. There are no direct flights to Orlando out of Edmonton only Calgary.

 

[allissimmo]

All I can say is, don't fly United (although they are among the cheapest). They have already changed my flights several times, and I'm getting annoyed with phoning Expedia so much...I leave in October and they are still changing stuff. I prefer flying with the Canadian airlines, but I'm pretty sure I've flown NWA before and they weren't too bad.

 

[tiggerrr]

There aren't many options for getting to Orlando by about 5pm. You can fly Westjet by taking the red eye to Toronto (leaving about 1am) and catching the morning flight from Toronto. We did this in May and will never do it again, because you arrive so tired that you really end up wasting that day (napping or going to bed early).

I personally like Northwest (they have an 8am flight out of Edmonton that used to get you to Orlando by 5pm) but the new schedule has a longer layover in Minneapolis so you don't get to Orlando until 7:30pm.

We've flown United (just last week) which has connections through either Denver or Chicago that get you to Orlando between 5 and 6pm, but the plane they fly out of Edmonton to either connecting city is small (2 seats on either side of the aisle and seriously limited carry-on capacity). Also, United is one of the airlines that now charges for the first checked bag ($15 for first, $50 for second).

Your best bet for flying time and arrival time is Delta, who has a 6:30am flight that goes through Salt Lake City and gets in around 4pm. Alaska Airlines also has a 6:30am flight that connects through Seattle and gets in just after 5pm (they tend to have cheaper airfare).

The last airline to fly out of Edmonton is US Airways that has a 6:45 flight that connects in Phoenix and arrives about 7pm (we took this flight last May and found the experience with US Airways to be pretty good).

Air Canada doesn't have any additional options for an early arrival (the codeshare flights on United are their option).

Not sure if this helps but that's who flies from Edmonton. Several of these airlines also have an afternoon flight that arrives late in Orlando (11pm).

 

[OvertheRainbow]

Well, now that I'm confirmed for a package at Coronado Springs next Sept (sept 1-12, 2009) I am beginning to worry about the best deal for flights. Edmonton, unfortunately, is not close to an American Airport (that I know of?)... and I was wondering what some of the seasoned travelers, or those who've flown from Edmonton, to Orlando would suggest for flights? I want to get the best price I can, but as we all know the airline industry is all over the map right now. I would like to get into Orlando prior to 5pm, and leave Edmonton early in the day. Coming home, I would like to leave Orlando as late as we can (around 4-5pm) and arrive back home prior to midnight if we could. Anyone know of any good routes/airlines or flights from Alberta that they'd recommend?
Thanks for any and all responses!
Marie

We're doing the westjet 1:00 am flight on sept 12 and not looking forward to it. We're using airmiles and when we booked they were still offering specials with the westjet mastercard. Unfortunately the 1:00 am flight was all we could get for our departure date. I like the fact that we get into Orlando earlier (around 1:00 pm) but I'm sure we will all be very tired. Our flight out of Orlando leaves at around 2:00 pm on sept 23 getting into Edmonton shortly after 9:00 pm. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

We stayed at the Coronado Springs in 2003 and loved it. Hope you have a great trip and find the right flight.

 

[TinkFan625]

We're doing the westjet 1:00 am flight on sept 12 and not looking forward to it. We're using airmiles and when we booked they were still offering specials with the westjet mastercard. Unfortunately the 1:00 am flight was all we could get for our departure date. I like the fact that we get into Orlando earlier (around 1:00 pm) but I'm sure we will all be very tired. Our flight out of Orlando leaves at around 2:00 pm on sept 23 getting into Edmonton shortly after 9:00 pm. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

We stayed at the Coronado Springs in 2003 and loved it. Hope you have a great trip and find the right flight.

We are taking this same flight only we are leaving on sept 15. Like you, happy to arrive in the early afternoon. Last January when we went we didn't get into Orlando until 11pm. Hopefully we won't be too tired. Plan on hanging around the pool, checking out Boardwalk are and maybe play miniature golf on arrival day. Then early to bed and hit the parks early the next day.

Only 4 weeks to go !!!

 

[chimo2u]

There aren't many options for getting to Orlando by about 5pm. You can fly Westjet by taking the red eye to Toronto (leaving about 1am) and catching the morning flight from Toronto. We did this in May and will never do it again, because you arrive so tired that you really end up wasting that day (napping or going to bed early).

I personally like Northwest (they have an 8am flight out of Edmonton that used to get you to Orlando by 5pm) but the new schedule has a longer layover in Minneapolis so you don't get to Orlando until 7:30pm.

We've flown United (just last week) which has connections through either Denver or Chicago that get you to Orlando between 5 and 6pm, but the plane they fly out of Edmonton to either connecting city is small (2 seats on either side of the aisle and seriously limited carry-on capacity). Also, United is one of the airlines that now charges for the first checked bag ($15 for first, $50 for second).

Your best bet for flying time and arrival time is Delta, who has a 6:30am flight that goes through Salt Lake City and gets in around 4pm. Alaska Airlines also has a 6:30am flight that connects through Seattle and gets in just after 5pm (they tend to have cheaper airfare).

The last airline to fly out of Edmonton is US Airways that has a 6:45 flight that connects in Phoenix and arrives about 7pm (we took this flight last May and found the experience with US Airways to be pretty good).

Air Canada doesn't have any additional options for an early arrival (the codeshare flights on United are their option).

Not sure if this helps but that's who flies from Edmonton. Several of these airlines also have an afternoon flight that arrives late in Orlando (11pm).

WoW!! Thanks Tiggerrr.... That info is so helpful. I guess I may have to check out Delta/ Alaska Airlines. Another thought.... Do you think it would be good to drive to Calgary and take a straight through flight? Someone posted that Calgary offers a non-connection route. Anyone have experience with this flight? Thanks for all the replies so far, If anyone else has anything to share, feel free. We flew United last year... $349.00 each return. Great Price, but horrible airline. Schedule was changed a few times with no prior e-mail notification (I had to constantly keep up with changes myself online)... Also no in-flight entertainment (TV or Radio... was a long, boring 7.5 hours for our 2 boys!)

 

[chimo2u]

Quite a few people fly NWA out of Edmonton. There are no direct flights to Orlando out of Edmonton only Calgary.

Who flies direct out of Calgary?

 

[drag n' fly]

Who flies direct out of Calgary?

We flew Westjet out of Calgary/Orlando direct and back last February. I believe they only fly direct between January and April...you may want to check for sure