Beverly Lynn, or anyone familar with flights out of PGH.

[roliepolieoliefan]

We are looking to go to WDW next year in Nov. and renting DVC points. It seems the points needed really rise drastically during the weekend. We would like to come in on a Sunday and leave on a Friday. Is there anyway we can get a flight that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and not stay over on a Saturday? THX!!!!

 

[TravelSheryl]

If you are referring to Pittsburgh (PIT), as long as Airtran or some other carrier that does not require a Saturday stay continues to serve the route, the fare should be no different with or without a Saturday stay.

Or if worse comes to worse, you can always get a cheap hotel room through Priceline near the airport on Saturday night, so I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

actually yes there is and I would not suggest flying air tran in and out of pittsburgh they have yet to have a flight go out on time. they have the next to worst on time performances at the pit airport. United has run a lot of specials out of pit without a sat night stayover. in fact I got a really good deal from pit to mco leaving on a mon and return on a wed night. for 129 per person. this was way before airtran or midway etc was even a thought for the pittsburgh airport so that had no bearing on those fares. also sign up for e-savers on usair and you will get a lot of pittsburgh specials and I even get email specials for fares that do not include a sat night stay.

 

[TravelSheryl]

I have no feelings one way or the other about Airtran, but to correct misinformation, Airtran's website shows that all flights on 5/19 from PIT to ATL and PIT to MDW arrived at their destination early. Of their 4 flights PIT-LGA on 5/19, two arrived early and two arrived 3 minutes late each.

Those are all the routes Airtran serves non-stop from PIT.

So I really have to question your statement about this airline yet to having a flight depart PIT on time. On time in airline speak is anything within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure or arrival. U.S. Dept. of Transportation figures are based on arrival data.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

ok gee I guess working there has nothing to do with knowledge.... and they have yet to have a flight depart on time from pit. in fact they just had a general meeting in pit of all the managers of the carriers here and air tran was told about it..........in fact there is a great big memo on it now......and their chicago based crew was cited for it and a few other things and right now chicago, atlanta and pit and new york have a big problem with mishandled bags.........and that needs to be corrected now as well. Air tran also has one of the highest numbers of mishandled bags right now too. and customer service is bad too.(I still get my daily memos from air tran) and by the way the carriers pad the schedules 15 min on both sides to make up for any delays that occur...and I did say in my post above that they have yet to have a flight on time and I am telling of firsthand personal knowledge of this carrier. but by all means Sheryl please fly them.

 

[DebbieB]

November of next year is a long way off, who knows what will happen by then with the USAirways/United merger. 2 friends & I planned a trip to WDW for a long weekend in Feb last October and could not get a decent rate on a morning flight down. So we flew down the night before at 6:00pm and got a room at the Sheraton by the airport for $69. Worked out great.

I'm a DVC member and we always go Saturday to Friday so that we only have 1 weekend night with high points but can still get a good airfare by staying over Saturday night. We go in off season and the electrical parade & fireworks are usually only on Friday & Saturday nights at MK, so we can see it on Saturday night.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Thanks for all the replies! I never thought of staying at a cheaper hotel near the airport for Saturday night. DUH!!!

 

[CarolA]

My only statement on AirTran is you get what you pay for. They are cheap so they don't do customer service! (They make me nervous!)

 

[travelcoupons]

The numbers don't lie:

5/20/01 flights PIT - MCO

Airtran (w/ Atlanta connection)
Flt 981/739 - Arrived 16 min. early/19 min. early
Flt 981/215 - Arrived 16 min. early/4 min. late
Flt 983/342 - Arrived 35 min. late/2 min. late
Flt 983/219 - Arrived 35 min. late/4 min. early
Flt 983/578 - Arrived 35 min. late/12 min. early
Flt 989/229 - Arrived 25 min. early/8 min. late

US Airways (n/s)
Flt 1879 - Arrived 12 min. early
Flt 204 - Arrived 12 min. early
Flt 1049 - Arrived 15 min. late
Flt 2329 - Arrived 12 min. early
Flt 1253 - Arrived 1 min. late
Flt 781 - Arrived 14 min. early
Flt 399 - Arrived 12 min. late

The greatest percentage of delays are air traffic or weather related so they affect all carriers equally.