Booking March Break 2018 Advice

[bababear_50]

This year I was super busy with illness and the passing of my brother. I wasn't watching the flights for next March like I usually do. Well holly crow they are high right now. I do have the West jet companion flight offer (although I think I'm going by myself next year) so any advice as to what to do would be appreciated. Should I just buy high or wait a bit to see if any flights are added?
Hugs Mel

I am looking for direct YYZ to MCO
as I live 15 minutes from the Toronto airport.
Optional dates March 10-18

 

[FigmentSpark]

Yeah... go on Wed and fly back on Mon. That is, Mar 7-Mar 19 or even Mar 20. I know it's not what you want to hear, but if you can avoid those dates when everyone else is flying, you'll do better.

 

[deedubb]

Westjet cranks up the price over March break. Is driving to Buffalo and flying from there an option? We always drive to Detroit and fly Delta. So much cheaper that way over March break.

 

[mort1331]

This year I was super busy with illness and the passing of my brother. I wasn't watching the flights for next March like I usually do. Well holly crow they are high right now. I do have the West jet companion flight offer (although I think I'm going by myself next year) so any advice as to what to do would be appreciated. Should I just buy high or wait a bit to see if any flights are added?
Hugs Mel

I am looking for direct YYZ to MCO
as I live 15 minutes from the Toronto airport.
Optional dates March 10-18

If your solo or 2 come jump in our minivan and have an adventure with us.

 

[bababear_50]

If your solo or 2 come jump in our minivan and have an adventure with us.

Hey Mort thanks for the invite,I have many memories of my siblings and I packed into our family station wagon and heading to Disney!
My brother recently found a few trays of Disney slide show pictures that my parents took back in the 1970/1980's.
We are going to have a family backyard barbecue this summer and we are doing the slide projection show on a makeshift white sheet hung on the garage doors.
I know I'll find a good flight ,I'm just mad at myself for forgetting to keep an eye on the flights.
Well I'm off to add a few more Starbucks coupons to my card,,stocking up for next March Break.
Hugs to you
Mel

 

[bababear_50]

Westjet cranks up the price over March break. Is driving to Buffalo and flying from there an option? We always drive to Detroit and fly Delta. So much cheaper that way over March break.

Yes it is cheaper to fly out of BUF.
I am not a winter driver,I even worry about my son driving to and from work in the winter(I know silly but I still do it).
I know I'll find something ,,,,I just have to be flexible on the dates and times and probably the $$$ toooo.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Hugs Mel

 

[bababear_50]

Yeah... go on Wed and fly back on Mon. That is, Mar 7-Mar 19 or even Mar 20. I know it's not what you want to hear, but if you can avoid those dates when everyone else is flying, you'll do better.

Hi Hon
I trying a bunch of different airlines /dates/ and dept times/return times ,,hopefully something will work.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Hugs Mel

 

[FigmentSpark]

So sorry to hear about your brother.

 

[quandrea]

I think you can wait a bit. I bought August for March Break and paid about $500 with Air Canada. I find Air Canada to be cheaper than Westjet for Orlando about 80% of the time. Fly from YYZ to mco about five times a year.

 

[bababear_50]

I think you can wait a bit. I bought August for March Break and paid about $500 with Air Canada. I find Air Canada to be cheaper than Westjet for Orlando about 80% of the time. Fly from YYZ to mco about five times a year.

Thanks Hon
I'll keep an eye out,I do prefer West Jet over A/C however I agree there usually is a big price difference,,,, especially if I'm going solo and not using the companion voucher that West Jet has.I'm also a non stop-- direct flight --early arrival and late dept kind of Gal.
Thanks for sharing the information.
Hugs Mel

 

[bababear_50]

So sorry to hear about your brother.

Thank-you for your kind condolences
Hugs Mel

 

[FigmentSpark]

I think you can wait a bit. I bought August for March Break and paid about $500 with Air Canada. I find Air Canada to be cheaper than Westjet for Orlando about 80% of the time. Fly from YYZ to mco about five times a year.

Was that $500 return? Can I ask what days/flights you went with and were they direct? I'm struggling with prices, myself.

 

[CKCruising]

Generally I use $500 return as a reasonable price for YYZ-MCO. March Break is generally much more. In 2016, it was about 1200pp from YYZ or 800pp out of Buffalo. The issue with Buffalo is the Southwest calendar doesn't usually come out until August so you have to wait and see. They also know who is flying through there. Ontario March break is the most expensive week from that airport as well.

Just to let you know, you missed nothing by not seeing the flights the day they came out. WestJet released the first weekend and the second weekend at different times. I never saw any of the cheapest category and I was on right away.

Keep looking

 

[quandrea]

Was that $500 return? Can I ask what days/flights you went with and were they direct? I'm struggling with prices, myself.

Yes $500 return, nonstop. I will not connect for a short flight. I would have flown out at 7:30 or 8:05 am and flown home on the 7 am flight.

 

[bababear_50]

Ok I took the plunge,the price and terms I can live with.
YYZ (Toronto) Non Stop MCO (Orlando)
Air Canada
March 13-March 19
Both flights are early morning
Was $609.00 including tax BUT due to a verify by Visa/Air Canada glitch in their system I got it for $559.00 including tax!!
Now the planning can start.
Hugs Mel

 

[dancin Disney style]

Just yesterday I came across my Amex bill that had my MB flight on it. I live 20ish minutes from YYZ but choose to fly from BUF. Last year I paid $275 CAD RT from BUF to MCO we took the last flight of the night on Wedneday and came home on the following Thursday.

The year before paid a similar amount for the same flights. I suggest considering BUF.

 

[bababear_50]

Just yesterday I came across my Amex bill that had my MB flight on it. I live 20ish minutes from YYZ but choose to fly from BUF. Last year I paid $275 CAD RT from BUF to MCO we took the last flight of the night on Wedneday and came home on the following Thursday.

The year before paid a similar amount for the same flights. I suggest considering BUF.

Hi Hon
That is a great deal for those able/willing to drive to BUF, thanks for sharing.
Hugs Mel

 

[morrik5]

I just got a Google Flights alert saying March 23-27, 2018 there's been a price increase for 2 adults and 2 children flying return out of Toronto to Orlando. INSANE!!!!!


10:30 AM – 1:19 PM

WestJet · Nonstop · YYZ–MCO



CA$2,587

CA$1,930 = $164.25/person increase

 

[bankr63]

Just a thought, when is WJ supposed to get their new discount carrier off the ground? (Pun intended.) AC is cheaper these days because they use Rouge I think. If WJ comes through with the new line, there may be a cheaper option before March.

As ones who always travel March break I have learned to book the day the flights release. Yield management used by the airlines will continually jack up the price from there for those break dates. I haven't ever seen our domestic carrier prices go down for the break, or see them add flights (their fleet is fully utilised). Used to book out of Montreal instead as their break dates are different, but I think most of Eastern Ontario has cottoned on to that now - looking at 2018 prices are comparable from all majors in Ontario/Quebec. Fact is Ontario break is big enough to impact all of the neighboring provinces/states as well. That's why we last flew 5 years ago and started driving. Driving is so much cheaper, and we have been enough times that we don't mind the bit of extra time it takes considering the savings.

 

[morrik5]

The Canadian airlines need more non-stop flights that don't require you to be at the airport at 4 am or fly after 9 pm when you are travelling with young children.