Can I ask what you paid???

[Hockeychic]

If this offends you please don't answer. I have never flown March break before and am a little blown away by the rates, I expected higher but WOW the one way SW prices are high.

What did you pay last March break for your flight???

Thanks

Kim

 

[Hockeychic]

Well I just bit the bullett and booked my flight down to MCO on SW. $571 one way for 3 of us. Non-stop flight.....yikes....we always have spent less then that return for 4 of us in October when we usually travel Oh well......good luck to you all getting cheaper flights.

Kim

 

[Me2Me]

Hopefully you'll get that ding fare. I haven't flown SW yet as I can't wait for their fares to open up. We went US Airways last year and the round-trip cost was US$229.20 per person (taxes incl.). I think the pre-tax listed fare was US$97 one-way.

 

[mkmommy]

I think it really makes a difference when you travel, if you are willing to go during the week it is cheaper and I think last year there were some cheaper flights for a Tues or Wed departures, but this year is more expensive because the spring break is around Easter, so I don't think you can compare.

Just remember how much cheaper it is from Toronto. I booked Air Tran March 6-16 for $1000 for 3, and I have not seen anything with Directs flight out of Toronto for less that $2,600. There have been some connecting flights on NW from Kitchener for about $400 US return, but I do not want to connect in March.

 

[101DalmFan]

Are you planning to fly out of an Ontario airport, or drive down to the states (I always fly out of Buffalo, for example) and catch a flight there? You'll find you'll save money, sometimes a lot, if it's possible for you to do the latter

 

[son3disfan]

March '07 - Southwest out of Buffalo to Tampa

$54.00 one way , non stop

$339.00 for a family of 5 , one way, all taxes included

Total Cost roundtrip: $678.00 in US dollars ( with exchange:$810.00 Can.)
The dollar is alot better then it was last Jan when we bought the tickets.

Super Deal for a family of 5.
They were offering the same rate from Buffalo to Orlando.
This rate was an "internet special", not a ding fare.

We waited for a ding fare this year and last year , and nothing for first two weeks in March. Don't count on it. Book a good deal when you see it.
We will drive this year , unless something great comes out.

 

[drag n' fly]

March '07 - Southwest out of Buffalo to Tampa

$54.00 one way , non stop

$339.00 for a family of 5 , one way, all taxes included

Total Cost roundtrip: $678.00 in US dollars ( with exchange:$810.00 Can.)
The dollar is alot better then it was last Jan when we bought the tickets.

Super Deal for a family of 5.
They were offering the same rate from Buffalo to Orlando.
This rate was an "internet special", not a ding fare.

We waited for a ding fare this year and last year , and nothing for first two weeks in March. Don't count on it. Book a good deal when you see it.
We will drive this year , unless something great comes out.

HOLY you know what! Us poor saps pay 2 grand to fly from Calgary for our family of five. I swear I still may drive to Seattle one day LOL! Congrats on the fantastic deal!

 

[son3disfan]

I learned so much from this forum...

Alot of Southern Ontarians go to Buffalo or Detroit for great deals. My Dh couldn't believe the price.
Now , I have a hard time even looking at anything over $80 !!
The best was it was non stop flights!

 

[101DalmFan]

I learned so much from this forum...

Alot of Southern Ontarians go to Buffalo or Detroit for great deals. My Dh couldn't believe the price.
Now , I have a hard time even looking at anything over $80 !!
The best was it was non stop flights!

In 2005, I saved just over $500 CDN (!) on a return flight from Buffalo to Virginia (almost $800 CDN to fly out of Pearson vs about $250 CDN to fly out of Buffalo). The savings paid for my hotel

I agree with your DH, sometimes the savings are unbelievable

 

[calgarygary]

HOLY you know what! Us poor saps pay 2 grand to fly from Calgary for our family of five. I swear I still may drive to Seattle one day LOL! Congrats on the fantastic deal!

Don't laugh, I drove down to Spokane back in 2002 when it was basically AC or nothing out of Calgary. At that time, fares were over $600 return from YYC where as Spokane was 212 U.S. That was a huge difference for a family of 6.

 

[tmli]

The fares with SWA have been taking longer to drop than what they used to. The last couple of flights this year there were times when I wondered if they would drop at all but they did. Hang in there, they'll get better.

Just an observation.....it would appear that Detroit may soon be worth a look. The fares have been lower than buffalo, the dings seem to be more plentiful. I think its because SWA has more competition out of Detroit, more airlines doing direct flights at reasonable prices.

 

[Hockeychic]

We only fly out of Buffalo now and have for about the last 4 or 5 year. Although I would love to support the Canadian Economy, I can't justify the additional cost. We usually travelled in Oct as my kids high school would get a week break then but we have dodged to many hurricanes and DD just doesn't want to miss any school.....(she doesn't get that from me ) So March break it is and we did expect to may more but this is a bit crazy but DH totaly hates to drive. Last year 4 of us cruised for $500 less then it is costing for 3 of us this year. But I am pretty sure there will be no hurricane in the caribbean in March

That flight to Tampa must be earlier in March is it? I tried March 7th to Tampa as I really like that airport and it was the same price.

I am glad I booked at the $571 down yesterday as the price today is $769

Thansk all for your info.
Kim

 

[RedRuby]

If this offends you please don't answer. I have never flown March break before and am a little blown away by the rates, I expected higher but WOW the one way SW prices are high.

What did you pay last March break for your flight???

Thanks

Kim

I haven't flown at March break, but I did a lot of looking at Christmas/December holiday flights which are also high season.

In short: mid/late December fares for ~$230US / under $300Cdn last year,
*early* December fares for $190US / $210Cdn this year
(Those same early December fares have since doubled, at more than $400US!)

Details:
The best I could get to FL (Ft Lauderdale for a cruise), was $91US on USAir down with a connection, and $139US on SW back (direct, I think.) So, that was ~$230US pp, (so, under $300Cdn) booked about 2.5 months in advance; the best I could do flying out of Toronto Pearson or Hamilton was $500Cdn. The difference was substantial for our group of 9, and we still saved money after paying for hotel rooms before and after, and the extra gas.

We're going to WDW in early December, and got much better rates because we planned far enough in advance to catch the June release of December SW fares: $69 down, $79 back, BUF/MCO (Orlando) return, *direct*. With taxes and currency exchange, it was just over $200Cdn pp. As we're travelling with two 'nervous traveller' grandmothers and three excited girls (age 5 & 6), I was thrilled to grab the direct flights in both directions.

I'm not sure if we'll get any better, but I will keep my eye open for a DING! fare nonetheless.

 

[son3disfan]

That flight to Tampa must be earlier in March is it? I tried March 7th to Tampa as I really like that airport and it was the same price.

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Yep! Early March '07. First two weeks in fact. But we booked in Jan ( might have been in late Dec. ) again, NOT a ding fare, an internet special.

Lots of dings came for Jan . and Feb. , just didn't see any for March.
They were in the $49 to $59 range one way flights.

Is there other airlines that people use out of Buffalo or Detroit other than Southwest for great fares? I thought I heard " JET BLUE??" Any others?
Care to give your opinions on them?

 

[RedRuby]

Is there other airlines that people use out of Buffalo or Detroit other than Southwest for great fares? I thought I heard " JET BLUE??" Any others?
Care to give your opinions on them?

We flew down last Christmas on USAir, since they had the best peak season rate I could find. I honestly didn't notice much difference between that experience, and on SWA. The only PITA was booking the seats in advance, actually, since we had a group of nine - it took about 45 minutes (mostly on hold with an agent working on it) to get our seat locations confirmed for both flights (BUF-Atlanta, Atlanta-MCO). For most people, being able to book seats in advance is probably a plus.

The in-flight service was similar, although I like(d) the snacks on SWA better.

I personally have *never* seen great or even competitive fares on Jet Blue out of Buffalo. Other NY state airports, yes, but I don't fly from those :-( Over time, I've concluded it's not worth my time to specifically check the Jet Blue rates for the BUF/ Florida routes. Other peoples' experiences may be different....

 

[Hockeychic]

That flight to Tampa must be earlier in March is it? I tried March 7th to Tampa as I really like that airport and it was the same price.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep! Early March '07. First two weeks in fact. But we booked in Jan ( might have been in late Dec. ) again, NOT a ding fare, an internet special.

Lots of dings came for Jan . and Feb. , just didn't see any for March.
They were in the $49 to $59 range one way flights.

Is there other airlines that people use out of Buffalo or Detroit other than Southwest for great fares? I thought I heard " JET BLUE??" Any others?
Care to give your opinions on them?

Sorry I just realized you where talking about March 07 fares not March 08.....duhhhhhh sorry hopefully those prices for Tampa come out again I would be more then OK flyng into Tampa.

Kim

 

[101DalmFan]

I personally have *never* seen great or even competitive fares on Jet Blue out of Buffalo. Other NY state airports, yes, but I don't fly from those :-( Over time, I've concluded it's not worth my time to specifically check the Jet Blue rates for the BUF/ Florida routes. Other peoples' experiences may be different....

I have no idea if this is competitive or not as I didn't make the travel arrangements -- and this was my only trip to NYC so I don't know what it costs to fly now -- but a few years ago myself and several friends flew return to Kennedy out of Buffalo on JetBlue for $99 US return. I think it was a good price.......

 

[who's ur daddy?]

I personally have *never* seen great or even competitive fares on Jet Blue out of Buffalo. Other NY state airports, yes, but I don't fly from those :-( Over time, I've concluded it's not worth my time to specifically check the Jet Blue rates for the BUF/ Florida routes. Other peoples' experiences may be different....

Yeah, Jetblue out of BUF is nuts! Not even close by any stretch to being a good price.