Cleveland, OH to MCO? Wait or Buy?

[Singinglizzie]

The fares from CLE to MCO have ranged from $238 -$250 for the Sept. labor day weekend (Continental non-stop), but just dropped to $179 including tax. However, there is promotional right now for $118 rt but you must travel by June, which doesn't help me but does set up a lower "price' expectation. Anyone remember rates for Sept of 08? Should I buy or wait? Thanks.

 

[disneymom99]

I think $179 incl. tax for a RT non-stop flight sounds pretty good. I would book now. I don't think I've ever been able to find a fare that cheap during that time of year from CLE. We have been flying out of Akron because the Airtran flights have been cheaper. If I were you, I'd take it.

 

[Order66]

I've been watching from CLE in Sept too. I was so mad that for weeks my dates were the ONLY sat flights not going for $178 and when I finally decided to change my reservation dates it went up to $218 for the entire month!!! Then yesterday they went down to $158, but only through the 24th. We were leaving on the 26th.

Last year we went down from Canton/Akron because AirTran sent out $25 coupons and had $94 fares. We flew back on SW for $89. We went 2 weeks after the holiday so I can't say what those prices were, but $79 each way is the cheapest I've seen. I know I'll be jumping on that if it's offered for my dates. I just don't trust waiting for those super low fares from CLE, especially on nonstops to MCO as Continental has the only ones now. Unless you want to go CAK on AirTran. I too have seen those $118 flights but I'd just be too scared to hold out for one in Sept and that I'd end up paying double that. My goal is less than $200pp and I'll be happy.

 

[TSNCS]

I don't know if it is feasible for you, but we got a rt from Cincinnati to MCO for 145. Also, Pittsburgh is pretty cheap.

 

[bcuinohio]

They don't fly everday but Allegiant air flies out of Youngstownand they usually have good fares.

The $179 fare from Continental sounds pretty good. I paid about $300 per person from CLE to MCO on Continental last Thanksgiving.

www.allegiantair.com

 

[allseas1586]

Sounds like a pretty good price. I tend to consider any fare under $200 a decent one.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Well I screwed up! The fares are now back to 250 RT! I figured I would have at least until the memorial day week, before the fares changed, and I didn't buy my ticket. Well, I'm pretty mad at myself right now. I can only hope the fares drop back down. Please send pixie dust my way.

 

[Order66]

OP and anyone else looking for CLE to MCO might want to hurry over to Continental.com. They have $158 RT on Tues/Wed and most Sat flights Aug-Oct. I just booked mine for our sept trip.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Thanks - my dates are now $219 with tax, still not the $179 fares of last week - why am I so stupid? Anyone think I still have a chance of getting a lower fare????


OK I just checked and the rate of $158(179 w/tax) is still on from CLE to MCO, just no longer on my dates! Its a difference of $40.00. Why am I hesitating, oh yeah, I still want to get a better deal. Do I bite the bullet and just purchase or see if the prices drop any. I even counted the seats - both flights are 30% sold 29/104 and 30/104... What to do???

 

[Order66]

Check the seating available on the flights you want and if it looks pretty empty I'd hold out a bit longer. I'm sure they'll offer a sale again. Sometimes 90-60 days out seems to be better for deals. I got a great deal to Orange County about 70 days out. What I did was watch for SW to have a sale, then checked to see if Continental was lowering to compete. They usually do when it's a route in common. Today I just happened to check it, like I do every day, expecting it to still say $218. I was pleasantly suprised it had dropped back down to come out lower than I was budgeting to pay. Now I can send the extra $100 to Mickey for our package.

 

[Singinglizzie]

HI Order66, do you think 30% sold seems empty - it's less than half sold for a holiday weekend, so I'm hoping the rate comes back down? Fingers crossed!!!

 

[beccasmom]

Check out the prices again. I received an email from SWA today for a sale that lasts until October 28, but you must buy the ticket by 5/21 (tomorrow). Perhaps your city is included.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Check out the prices again. I received an email from SWA today for a sale that lasts until October 28, but you must buy the ticket by 5/21 (tomorrow). Perhaps your city is included.

thanks for the tip, but the lowest fares each way are $109 + tax, so it'll run about $240 on SWA. Keeping my fingers crossed that Continental decides to run the lower rates on my dates. I could fly Airtran out of Akron, but it doesn't save me any, as I'd have to park my car there for the 4 days so the parking fees offset any savings. Still mad at myself!@!!

 

[JerJan]

Try flying out of Akron/Canton on AirTran they are pretty cheap.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Try flying out of Akron/Canton on AirTran they are pretty cheap.

Thanks for the tip. I did check (again) and they are the same price as flying Continental out of CLE. I am still mad that I didn't get the tix when they were priced @ 158.00. OK, I need to quite crying about the spilled milk. !

 

[RumpleMom]

Are you willing to drive to PIT?


AirTran had PIT to MCO for Sept. for $58.00 one way.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Are you willing to drive to PIT?


AirTran had PIT to MCO for Sept. for $58.00 one way.

Gee - now why doesn't AKron have the same fares, PIT would be a 2.5 hour drive, so with gas and parking, it won't save me that much since its just me! BTW, the Continental fares are back up to $238, and I still havent bought my tix. I guess I'm hoping for the fares will come down to $118. Last trip I bought my tix too early (like 6 months in advance) and then we need to change our dates by one day and I wound up paying the change fees - ouch. This time I'm waiting to see if I can get the better fares, but am nervous that I will get stuck paying the highest price. Thanks for all the support and suggestions! As soon as the fares come back down, I'm gonna buy!!!

 

[Order66]

30% sold doesn't seem very full to me. But I'm certainly no travel guru. I'm just like you....trying not to pay more when I can pay less.

But I guess waiting a bit longer won't hurt. I really haven't seen CLE/MCO going higher than $238 for the whole year as that's what it started at when I began watching around Feb. I guess it also depends on what your dates/days of the week are. Continental seems to offer Tues/Wed/Sat flights most often, for the lowest fare. My original sat/sat dates were still stuck at $218 so I went ahead and changed our trip from Wed/Wed. Of course it's nice that I can be flexible with my vacation time. If it's not possible for you to alter your dates to save then if it were me I'd just keep holding out. I wouldn't let panic set in until it started getting to close to the 60 days out mark. But before that I'd be comfortable waiting for better prices.

regards

 

[Mickey_Dust]

We are going in the end of Sept. and flying out of Pit. to MCO 4 tickets including taxes and fees less than 550. I couldn't pass that up. I too live about 3 hours from Pittsburgh but I figure I can look for parking discounts I saw one for 50 for the week (I would be paying that at Cleveland too) and as for the fuel cost to get there I can get there and back on a little over a half a tank. I need to fill up anyway. We are flying out on Southwest and it is a non stop flight I checked the same flight out of Cleveland and it was 40 more expensive for each ticket and there was a stop somewhere. Plus Southwest doesn't charge luggage fees. which when traveling with 5 people (one under 2) it helps.

If you haven't finalized anything I would think about it more (flying out of Pit).

Best of luck and have a wonderful trip.

 

[Singinglizzie]

The Cle to MCO fares are back down to $198 + tax for the Labor Day weekend. Fares have been as low as $158 but no longer on my dates?? Should I go ahead and book or wait a few more weeks??? I'm driving myself crazy. i really want a lower fare, but am afraid I'll wait too long and get a higher fare. Tix are just for me, so it doesnt' make sense to drive elsewhere. NEED ADVICE!!!