buying plane tickets with vacation package? Yes, No, Maybe?

[tinksgilrs251520]

I was just wondering on some advice..... I am planning a vacation in 2010 (late August-Sept) and paying for it with my tax refund in March (hopefully) would it be easier to add the flights on with the package through Disney or wait for a better deal? Help please!!!!!

 

[Missytara]

The first few years, I let them do it. They infamously use lower fares that end up with no non-stop flights, long layovers, etc. I stopped doing that and booked direct with the airline - it is so much easier and you have more control over your flights.

Just remember if you are using DME, to give them your flight information and they will do the rest!

 

[jmartinez1895]

We let DIsney book us on one of our trips and they set us up with Delta. We fly out of Birmingham AL and had to change planes in GA with a layover. We had the same treatment coming home. We also found out that we could have flown with SW for about 200.00 less. We now book our own flight with SW wich saves us a lot of money. SW does not charge for your bags either so that saves some cash too. Anyway, I would recomed checking around and seeing what kind of prices you can find yourself on a flight. You will also be able to pick the time of your flight and even though you get to pick the time of your flight when you book with Disney they changed our flight time 4 times before our trip. Eitherway I hpe that you have a safe and fun trip.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I would check a site such as Expedia. You can get great rates on hotels and fligths(cars) all combined. I think we saved over $500 by booking our hotel and flight at the same time.
It's easy to just get the Disney tickets whenever. Even once you get there.

 

[mckinley]

We let Disney do it for us back in 2006, and we was put on Delta with non-stop flights so that was ok.. But after i had booked i realized we could of saved about $300 and been on a larger more comfy plane than we was.

I also recently used Disney to book our flights for our trip next week. The only reason i did is they was offering the exact same flight i was going to book with airtran.com. If that wasn't the case i would of not done it.

I would check around first more than likely you are gonna be able to save a little if not a few hundred dollars doing it yourself.

 

[DISNEYNY]

I always book my own flights and lately have been using Southwest. If I need to make changes to the flights I can do it myself with no fees.

 

[vicki_c]

Get the Southwest DING! program that tells you about fares. We got $59 flights BWI to MCO for January on a DING fare.

And I agree with the PPs -- I would not book my flights thru Disney, but do it myself.

 

[dudspizza]

I do all of my own bookings, but I will say I have used a package in the past. The only way I use a package, though, is if it is cheaper. Price things separately to see which is cheaper. I booked via Expedia to Las Vegas last summer because it was a better deal.

Best bet is to do some shopping around and find what is best. I personally like to have total control over my itineraries, so if you use Disney or any other travel agency, they have to make changes for you...

Duds

 

[DebbieB]

I've always booked my own flights.

 

[ancestry]

I used them to book the flights last year but quickly discovered I could have gotten a much better rate had I heald out a bit longer and booked the flights myself. But back then I didn't want to hold out longer because I didn't want to lose the room rate. This year I am booking the airfare myself at a later date.

Remember that with airfare it is always a gamble. No guarantee that the rates will come down. My advice would be to book the airfare separately and buy the airfare when it is as a rate that you can comfortably afford.

 

[Thumper_Man]

We price shop. We usually fly SW and have found some good deals on packages through SW Vacations, but not always. For the most part we book our flights separate. Most travel agencies will charge you what the airline would normally charge you, and then tack on their booking fee on top of that. As duds said; price everything out individually and then as a package, and see which is cheaper.