Crazy Idea or Smart - Keeping costs down

[shannonstar]

Okay, so Houston to Orlando is ridiculous as far as airfare is concerned. Southwest is okay on 11/21 (217), but 11/29 makes me want to cry (399). I am considering booking 11/21 HOU to ORL and then renting a car and driving to JAX for a return to HOU. It's 155 miles.

Am I crazy? I could fly MCO to HOU on Spirit, but the fees scare me! It would add almost $100 per person. So really it's 350.

The return flight from JAX is 202/person. We would rent a van (8 people) for 130, which still puts us at a whole lot less that $399 1 way.

Sorry to ramble, but I am confused What would you do?

 

[Liz]

I grew up in Jacksonville and the drive from there to WDW is sure an easy one. We live out west now and when we fly back to Florida I always look at Orlando and Jacksonville and go with whatever one is least expensive (factoring in car rental, etc). Good luck with your decision!

 

[Greysword]

Check Tampa (TPA), as I think it is closer than JAX and less expensive than MCO.

 

[Liz]

Would the return flight from JAX be on Southwest? You could book it and then if the prices drop a lot with the anniversary sale change the flights back to MCO and cancel the van.

 

[shannonstar]

Would the return flight from JAX be on Southwest? You could book it and then if the prices drop a lot with the anniversary sale change the flights back to MCO and cancel the van.

It is!!! You are so smart, I didn't even think of that.

 

[nacho113]

Definately worth trying other airports. In the past we have flown one ways to TPA, JAX, FLL and even MIA.

Sometimes we book this way on purpose either because of cost, better flight times/days or to save us some driving time. ie: this year we booked 2 one ways, into TPA and out of MIA. We flew into Tampa for the Pirate festival, spent a few days visiting the beaches and local attractions, then drove to Orlando for a 4 days at the theme parks, then drove down to Miami, dropped of the rental at MIA and took the shuttle to the cruise port for a 4 day cruise. Shuttled back to MIA after cruise for the flight home, didn't have to drive all the way back to TPA for return flight which saved 5 or 6 hours driving.

If your renting a car anyway why not make a day (or 2) out of your new departure airport, visit the beach or some local attractions.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Our last trip was tacked onto the end of my best friends wedding in Miami. We drove up from Miami in our rental car (about 4 hours). Because we had used points to fly (gifted to us from my mother) we had to fly back out of Miami.

I was dreading the four hour drive back from Disney to Miami, but honestly... it wasn't that bad!

I would 100% look around for other airports if you can get a deal that makes it worth it

 

[mkarizona]

We always look at alternative airports. Our first trip to WDW came about because of the cost of flying into Charleston.

 

[joelkfla]

Make sure that you're clear with the rental company that the van you're getting can handle your entire party and all of the luggage.

And you'll probably be better off taking toll road 417 out of WDW rather than I-4.

 

[Karlzmom]

We have done the Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale to fly home. I thought it would be a great savings, until I had to work around the one-way fee on the rental car.

I know there are rental companies and codes that don't have a drop fee, so make sure that you are ok with which company you will need to use and check carefully for a O/W fee so you don't simply cost shift with a longer drive to boot!

 

[chartle]

Make sure that you're clear with the rental company that the van you're getting can handle your entire party and all of the luggage.

This ^ Unless its a full size van, not a mini van, there is no way it will hold everyone and their luggage even if its just one bag per person.

Also check and see if two cars are cheaper which may give you move room, assuming you have two drivers.

 

[Hannathy]

And as Karlzmom said make sure you are sure of no one way rental fees.

Make sure you also look at how much time you will be loosing driving 150 miles to your trip. That will be taking a half day off your time in Florida.

Flying in and out of 2 different airports is no big deal we've done it and have done Tampa but you have to make sure it makes sense both financially and time wise.

 

[shannonstar]

Alamo has a passenger van (12-14) for 130 which includes the fee for one way. That should hold our party of 8 and all our luggage one would think.

 

[lovesdumbo]

We are considering flying out of JAX around 7pm and going to St Augustine on the way.

I was all set to book it but car rates went way up compared to what I had seen and now flights are way up.

 

[mmouse50]

I know the flights out of Hou to MCO in November are very pricey - I looked at flying out of Austin and San Antonio which are cheaper than flying out of Hobby but bought tickets from Hobby to Tampa for $120 rd trip cheaper each person. Since I rent a car anyway even if I fly into MCO - this was a great deal for me.

 

[leebee]

Alamo has a passenger van (12-14) for 130 which includes the fee for one way. That should hold our party of 8 and all our luggage one would think.

It sounds like you've done your homework! I think you should go for it. It's going to save you a ton of money, and that's a pretty good deal on the van. We always drive 140 miles just to get to the airport, so I don't think this is too bad!

 

[wendybeth75]

Be sure to check prices out of Sanford airport. It is Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB). A lot of smaller airlines fly out of there and it can be very reasonable. We fly out the airport in Owensboro KY through Allegiant and have found tickets as cheap as $65 one way. It is about 45 minutes to the parks and the rental cars there are very reasonable. We usually use Dollar rental car. If you have some smaller airports around your home you may find that this is a viable option. The airline that is the most common through there is Allegiant, no frills for sure, and you will pay for luggage, but it works out nicely when you can save a few hundred dollars.