Best way to find a cheap flight w/ open dates?

[nicknamy1996]

I have the AP's we went in Feb. and we are going next Feb. but now I'm thinking of a mid year (AP year that is) my wife and I have plenty of vacation time, and a couple of bucks from a tax return. My question is....

We are looking for cheap! We are completely open on travel times, dates, days of the week and airlines. Does anybody know what would be the best way to find something like this out. Like a search for 3 to 4 nights STL to MCO anytime from June 15-Oct 31.

Any Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[robinb]

If your dates are really open, I would use www.travelocity.com to check rates. Enter your city pair and then click on the "My dates are flexible" button. You'll get a list of rates and basic fare rules like when the fare starts and when it ends. Select a fare and you'll see a calendar pop up with possible dates. Click on the dates you are interested in and the program will tell you if it's available. Want to book that fare? Wait! Go to that airline's website and enter the same criteria. You might get it cheaper.

 

[Mickey527]

I have never had any luck with Travelocity or Orbitz.
I check the sites for Southwest, Jet Blue, and Spirit when I need flights.
I live in CT and we are about 1 hour from LaGuardia and JFK, and 45 minutes from Hartford airport so I have quite a few choices, but these airlines have always had the cheapest rates for me.
I am on the Southwest and Spirit e-mail notifications and they let me know when rates are lowest.

 

[pilgrimage]

Try sidestep.com. They search internet fares, and unlike orbitz and expedia, include discount carriers like Southwest and JetBlue.
We love this site.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I'm not familiar with the STL airport, but if it's a US AIR hub, I"d suggest going to their web site and doing a search on flights from STL to MCO, and choose the option for 'dates flexible.' I used to use Travelocity, but since most of our flights are PIT to MCO, a US AIR run, I've found I can buy the tickets direct from US AIR for about the same price, and have the slight bit of flexibility that comes from purchasing them from US AIR. The site will give you the tickets from least to most expensive, then you start plugging in dates and seeing if anything agrees with you.

Good luck.

Pat

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Just for kicks, I ran STL-MCO through US AIR, there are rates as low as $142 RT, if you're flexible. Not bad...

 

[madge]

I agree about www.Sidestep.com very user-friendly and covers a ton of airlines. good luck!

 

[NotUrsula]

... unless you are going to Charlotte or Pittsburgh. They don't have a large presence here. Changing in Charlotte is not bad, however, it's a nice airport.

Your best bets are going to be Southwest or American, especially if you would prefer direct flights. We usually take the direct SWA flights, and most of the time they are well under $150 r/t. Sign up for their Tuesday email notices, and be sure to check every Tuesday morning for new sales. With SWA, you are likely to do best on price if you fly on M, Tu, We, Th, or Sat; it makes a huge difference.

Sidestep is very good, but it is a download, so if you are using a workplace computer, you might not be allowed to install it. When I am booking flights to places SWA does not serve, I often use the Travelocity "my dates are flexible" option at the bottom of the flight search page. It will not give you SWA, but it will give you everyone else that flies out of STL.