Cost of flights!!!

[dgr1973]

Ok so we have been to Orlando a few times over the past 3 years, once in May twice in early November. Our next trip will be in Late June 2012 and I have been checking airfare everyday and it is still so high(about 1300.00 for my family of 4 from Chicago/Ohare) and in the past we have only paid around 700.00-800.00 total! Should I just assume because it's summer those rates wont come down much or is it still too early to tell? I know summer is a busier time but it's not like it's Christmas or spring break for crying out loud!!

 

[NancyIL]

Have you checked airfares from Midway or Milwaukee, too? Mid-week fares on AirTran from Midway to Orlando (June 20-27) are as low as $217.40 pp for the non-stops.

 

[LWQuestie]

My boss was able to score a good deal around Thanksgiving for his family of 5 by bidding through Priceline.

You have to be REALLY FLEXIBLE to be willing to go that route. He ended up connecting through Atlanta but paying about $170 rt.

If you are not familiar with this process, I highly recommend checking out www.betterbidding.com to read on bidding strategies.

 

[dgr1973]

Have you checked airfares from Midway or Milwaukee, too? Mid-week fares on AirTran from Midway to Orlando (June 20-27) are as low as $217.40 pp for the non-stops.

I have checked Midway to fly southwest and it is about 200.00 cheaper in total but we are going to the airport from my mom's house and they are only about 5 minutes from ohare so the cost of cab fare would cancel out the savings. Havent looked into Milwaukee but it would be the same scenario, thanks!

 

[dgr1973]

My boss was able to score a good deal around Thanksgiving for his family of 5 by bidding through Priceline.

You have to be REALLY FLEXIBLE to be willing to go that route. He ended up connecting through Atlanta but paying about $170 rt.

If you are not familiar with this process, I highly recommend checking out www.betterbidding.com to read on bidding strategies.

Sounds like a good idea except we are not that flexible with days, basically going Sat to Sat which I know doesnt leave much room for better rates.

 

[DiznyMagic]

I feel your pain! We are also going the end of June flying out of Cleveland or Akron - either way they are expensive!

 

[LWQuestie]

Sounds like a good idea except we are not that flexible with days, basically going Sat to Sat which I know doesnt leave much room for better rates.

More flexible around times and connection points than dates. I believe you submit your desired travel dates and they match your bid with an airline that will accept it.

I was told that you can put in surrounding towns as the departure point rather than entering the airport code and that should allow you to bid multiple times per day.

 

[backyardponder]

Another option for you might be Allegiant Airlines out of Rockford. There's free parking at Rockford. For 4 adults, it looks like it is about $1,300. It appears they give a discount for the 11 year old. One disadvantage of Allegiant is they fly into Stanford and DME doesn't operate there. You'd have to arrange transportation to WDW from there.

I don't know your situation, but if I were you I'd consider Midway more seriously. Parking off-site is about $10 per day. I use Midway Park-Ride-Fly. I'm sure off site parking at Milwaukee is about the same.

The other thing you could try is to wait and see if airfares come down mid-January. In past years they have seemed to come down for flights prior to Memorial Day. I have no idea what they will do then...it is a gamble.

When you say that Southwest is about $200 cheaper in total, are you taking into consideration that they don't charge for baggage?

Whatever you do...GOOD LUCK.

John

 

[dgr1973]

Another option for you might be Allegiant Airlines out of Rockford. There's free parking at Rockford. For 4 adults, it looks like it is about $1,300. It appears they give a discount for the 11 year old. One disadvantage of Allegiant is they fly into Stanford and DME doesn't operate there. You'd have to arrange transportation to WDW from there.

I don't know your situation, but if I were you I'd consider Midway more seriously. Parking off-site is about $10 per day. I use Midway Park-Ride-Fly. I'm sure off site parking at Milwaukee is about the same.

The other thing you could try is to wait and see if airfares come down mid-January. In past years they have seemed to come down for flights prior to Memorial Day. I have no idea what they will do then...it is a gamble.

When you say that Southwest is about $200 cheaper in total, are you taking into consideration that they don't charge for baggage?

Whatever you do...GOOD LUCK.

John

I did look into Allegiant but it wasnt as cheap as that, maybe I will check again and have my parents come to my house since its half way there. Not crazy about the Sanford thing but we are staying offsite and renting a car anyways so we'll see. I checked SW again this morning and yes with no bag fees its a saving around 460.00 so that is definately a consideration. I hate to jump on something since its still almost 6 months away but I am worried the rates will only go up! I can't stop obsessing about all this, it's making me crazy!!!

 

[backyardponder]

If you end up using Southwest, unless you all must sit together, I would not use their early check-in for $10 per person one-way...that would be $80. Most 11 year olds should have no problem sitting alone...my DGD, age 11, flew alone ORD->SEA last summer without problem although we used the airline's unaccompanied minor service.

Although there are often reasons to sit together, I think folks over-use (and over pay) for this service on a 2.5 hour flight.

Also, remember if you book with Southwest now, and the airfare goes down, you can get a difference as a credit to be used within 1 year of the original booking.

Again, good luck.

John

 

[Sandy321]

I have checked Midway to fly southwest and it is about 200.00 cheaper in total but we are going to the airport from my mom's house and they are only about 5 minutes from ohare so the cost of cab fare would cancel out the savings. Havent looked into Milwaukee but it would be the same scenario, thanks!

My husband noted that American Airlines has reduced a lot of their flights - I use kyak.com to look at fares

and if its $200 cheaper that does seem like a lot - until you factor in what it would cost to either park your car, take a cab,

 

[dgr1973]

If you end up using Southwest, unless you all must sit together, I would not use their early check-in for $10 per person one-way...that would be $80. Most 11 year olds should have no problem sitting alone...my DGD, age 11, flew alone ORD->SEA last summer without problem although we used the airline's unaccompanied minor service.

Although there are often reasons to sit together, I think folks over-use (and over pay) for this service on a 2.5 hour flight.

Also, remember if you book with Southwest now, and the airfare goes down, you can get a difference as a credit to be used within 1 year of the original booking.

Again, good luck.

John

Thanks John! I would like us all to sit together but I certainly wont pay extra for it. Last summer my husband and I went to Vegas on Spirit and they had the same thing if you want seats together which I didnt pay for and we were able to sit together anyways. Also I didnt know about the price credit with SW, that may clinch my decision!

 

[dgr1973]

My husband noted that American Airlines has reduced a lot of their flights - I use kyak.com to look at fares

and if its $200 cheaper that does seem like a lot - until you factor in what it would cost to either park your car, take a cab,

Ya know its funny how airlines do that, I guess it just depends on where you fly out of since American out of Ohare is sooo much higher then all the rest but I will keep checking or like Dory said "just keep swimming" Gawd I need a life!!

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I would start watching ITA software. They don't sell tickets but have updated information on how much tickets run. Start checking Tuesday afternoons and watch until late Wed. You can search a month at a time. You should get a good idea of what you should expect to pay. ITA, however, does not give information on Southwest or Allegiant.

 

[dgr1973]

I would start watching ITA software. They don't sell tickets but have updated information on how much tickets run. Start checking Tuesday afternoons and watch until late Wed. You can search a month at a time. You should get a good idea of what you should expect to pay. ITA, however, does not give information on Southwest or Allegiant.

Please forgive my ignorance but is that a website? I do know that the best days to buy are Tues - Wed for lowest prices.

 

[cindyfan]

I feel your pain! We are also going the end of June flying out of Cleveland or Akron - either way they are expensive!

Same here!!! late June out of Cleveland! and I've never seen the cost of flights SO HIGH!

 

[dgr1973]

Well I went ahead and booked the flights anyways. Didnt want to but the times we wanted were almost full and if the price comes down at all it wont be that much anyways and my fear was it will go up! I think we got spoiled with our last two trips being at the beginning of November that the rates are really low then, I had to remind myself our first trip to Disney was in May 2008 and we spent 1200.00 r/t back then so we wouldn't like see 800.00 r/t in June!

 

[cindyfan]

I just don't get it!
The date and times we want..... flights are $414!!
Yet, there are only 21 seats occupied with 87 economy seats still empty and 11 first class empty!!
These flights are nowhere near being full! so why still so $$$ expensive?