Do you always take a non-stop flight to WDW?

[Brian Noble]

I usually try for direct flights, but am willing to leave from any of TOL, DTW, or FNT, and am willing to fly into TPA, SFB, or MCO. I'd rather spend an extra 45 minutes driving from TPA to WDW than connect in, say, Atlanta or O'Hare. I might take a connection if it's vastly cheaper, but usually it isn't.

I bought my late Feb/early March tickets this year in August, and got $280 RT PP on NW for a morning flight down (but not the very first) and a mid-afternoon flight back---ideal times for our family's needs. I could have gotten that down to $225 if I took the 6:40 flight down and the 10:00 AM flight back, but that seemed like too much hassle on both ends.

Right now, you can't get flights on those days for less than $280 at all, even connecting, even at "bad" times, and even considering TPA. Most flights are well north of $300 RT.

I don't know why Feb '06 airfare is shaping up to be so much more expensive than Feb '05 was, but it sure seems to be so far. Last year, I paid less than $200 RT PP on direct Spirit flights, with good (but not perfect) flight times, and I bought those in September!

 

[HappyLawyer]

i always fly non stop especially with kids, but if there are no direct flights, what can u do right

 

[maroney495]

DH & I are considering our first ever trip with flying this February. I am concerned about the same. We have never flown and are really worried about the plane change thing. We were told we could not get a non stop flight out of Arkansas, but I have noticed a Delta non stop flight listed on some of the searches I have done, it costs more but am considering it so we won't have to change planes??

 

[Honeybehr1]

In all the times we have flown, I have never taken a direct flight. They werent offered out of TF Green in RI - you had to go to Boston for a direct. Did not want to do that when the airport is 20 minutes away and Boston is over an hour with no traffic.
But now that SW is in RI, we have direct. It was extrmemly important this time because oldest DS has a huge fear flying (actually its the pressure he gets in his head)
I always pack a change of clothing in my carry on - just in case. If luggage is lost at least you have something to change into to do the laundry

 

[Martha7]

Kimmielee~Thanks for all the great tips! I'm going to check them out now!

 

[Servants of Evan]

For me, I likewise have the option of directs out of either Akron (CAK) or Cleveland (CLE). If I'm flying by myself or on business, I'll often take a connecting flight just to rack up more FF miles. If I'm going with the DW who is not exactly comfortable with flying, then it's a direct flight unless the price differs by more than $100. If it's WAY cheaper, then she just has to suck it up, and squelch those fears.

And for all of you who are afraid to fly, just ask yourself -- doesn't the pilot want to go home at the end of the day as well?

Servants of Evan

 

[Martha7]

Servants of Evan, you're exactly right! Not to hijack the thread, but my DH went through a period of being a nervous flyer. He said the realization that the pilots didn't want to crash was the thing that calmed him down. (He's one of those Type A people, who'd rather be in control, i.e., flying the plane himself, if possible!)
Brian~ I was glad to see your post about which airports to consider. I hadn't thought about anything except DTW, to be honest. I think you're right, that the fares aren't going to come down in price at this point for December. My two teenage boys will most likely be relieved if we decide to stay here anyway. My older DS, (17) is absolutely in love with Ann Arbor and it's artistic community!
Another thing: What's with the short connecting times on some of the airlines? Can we really land somewhere and change planes with only a half hour inbetween? Does our luggage really stand a chance of making it? I think I saw the short connections on American, but their fares are so high anyway, that I'm not really considering them. DH could cash in ff miles, but they're asking for 50,000 ff miles per person for both December and April!

 

[ducklite]

I see from your profile you live in Lake Orion. Might I suggest trying Bishop airport in Flint? Both Airtran and NWA have daily NS to MCO. Airport is much easier to navigate than DTW. Good Luck

ANY airport is easier to navigate than DTW. DH and I flew into DTW earlier this year, and had a TERRIBLE time getting around--and we are both very experienced travelers. We wished we could have flown into Flint (which is where we were going anyhow) but we were using FF miles on a arrier that doesn't service Flint. In retrospect DTW was so bad, we should have just paid for the tickets in cash to avoid it and flown into Flint.

Anne

 

[dozeman]

I've been watching fares out of DTW also, and haven't found anything good yet. Everything I'm finding for Dec 16-23 so far, ranges from $1400 on Airtran, to $1580 on SWA for four of us. I think I may have to skip this December trip. I've looked at fares for Spring Break, and they're almost as bad! Too bad it's so far to drive from Michigan! (I also hate the very early departure times from MCO to DTW that I'm seeing. I obviously waited too long to book this trip and the good flights and fares are gone already.)

I just put your dates in the Airtran website and came up with NS flights for $887.60.That is a pretty good price for dates that close to Christmas. Good Luck

 

[Razor Roman]

With only two of us, and it being realatively easy to fly round-trip out of Newark or Philly for $199 round trip or less non-stop, that's the only way I'd do it.

When you factor in time, gas, meals, wear and tear on the car, and one night's lodging each way, it's a much better deal than driving (I think). Especially if you only have a week - last trip in March was the first time we flew down, and I was amazed at how much more time you have flying down on Saturday and flying home the following Sunday! Much nicer than leaving Friday after work, getting down there on Saturday night and then leaving the following Saturday. I got 7 full days in the park, and was home middle of the day Sunday, with plenty of time to unwind before going back to work! Plus I flew right over that awful traffic I alway hit in Richmond.

I've never flown not non-stop, so I don't know what it's like to change flights, but I guess if time is at less of a premium than money, and it's a longer trip it might be worth it - even just for getting a little time to stretch your legs.

I'd be scared my luggage would get lost

 

[Servants of Evan]

To add to another question posted above -- IMHO, 30 minutes on the ground is FAR too short. The arrival time posted is not the time you are able to exit at the gate -- it's the time the aircraft's tires touch pavement. You can be taxiing for 10 minutes to reach the terminal, wait a bit longer for the ground crew to do their thing before you even get to attempt to exit. You've still got the task of finding and getting to your next gate, and trying to be onboard the required 10 minutes before posted departure. Even at a smaller airport, I like to have 50 minutes. If I'm flying into somewhere like Atlanta (especially on Delta) I like longer as you may well find yourself going from one concourse to another -- and they frown pretty significantly about you just running across the tarmac!

Additionally, if you think filling up your car is expensive -- just imagine the cost of Jetfuel / AVGas. While our eyes keep growing wider with each visit to the pump, I can only imagine what the airlines are facing -- Hawaiian Airlines for example (the nations 16th largest carrier), has calculated that for each penny increase in fuel prices it costs 1 million dollars "to the bottom line." Unless fuel prices start dropping significantly, I think many of the airfare bargains we've gotten used to will be a thing of the past.

Servants of Evan

 

[Martha7]

Thanks, dozeman, I'm off to check out those Northwest flights now. I heard this morning that they're getting ready to hire permanent replacements for the striking mechanics.
SOE~ I also agree that it'd be way too nervewracking to try to make a short connection, especially during the busy holiday season!

 

[dozeman]

Martha,
Flights on NWA for those dates are $1024.00 & $887.60 on Airtran. Hope you find something that works for you & your family