Expensive flights for 2005

[jeff968]

The family and i travel every year to Florida in February. We travel during president's week as the kids are out of school and the wife is also a teacher. I have always been able to get good prices on flights by purchasing my tickets early. I got non-stops to MCO last year from LGA for $161 but I purchased them in May 03 for travel in Feb 04. Well, this year i have not found any good deals on flights. It is $300+ per ticket to go into Orlando for 2005. I know flexibilty can get you a better deal so I'm looking at going into different airports/dates to get a better price. has anyone else seen these high prices as well? Do you think they will drop? Thanks

 

[Happy2BGrumpy]

We fly out of BDL; probably an hour or so ride for you. Just got $176.70 RT on Song yesterday for travel 1/23. It had been as high as $280 a couple of weeks prior. Presidents Day may be an issue in the pricing your seeing, but you may want to wait a couple of more weeks to see if the prices drop. Also, check Southwest out of BDL.

 

[jeff968]

Thanks happy, I would love to fly out of BDL but they are always more money by far. My sister lives in Glastonbury and could even drive us to the Airport but again, I have been looking for years and never find good prices there, compared to NYC. Again, I'm stuck on president's week

 

[Brian Noble]

DTW<->MCO flights for prime days that week also seemed high, until another DISer turned me on to a decrease in fares with Spirit. I'm paying $200 and, so far, consider it a bargain compared to what else I'm seeing. Not prime times of day, but Saturday flights. If Spirit dropped fares for that week (just yesterday), perhaps other airlines from other destinations will too.

However, consensus opinion on the board seems to be that, for weekend-to-weekend travel, president's week tix will be selling at a premium.

 

[CarolA]

This is at least the third thread I have seen on high airfares for President's Day Week. If they reflect the trend you may have a harder time booking cheap airfare that week.

No one really knows if the airfares will drop. So it is hard to advise you. I will say that based on what people are reporting seats for Presidents Day week are selling which would reduce the potential for sales.

 

[sperk99]

Dude,

Check out song around feb 24th and returning Early March sometime.

Leaving BDL, JFK, BOS

125 rt.......

 

[pumpkinboy]

The best I am seeing in your area for direct flights is Spirit out of LGA at around $320 r-t, or SouthWest out of BDL at around $350 r-t. And for the better times, the flights are already sold out. Otherwise, you could always try connecting flights out of New Haven, and save yourself the NYC parking and travel time to the airport. I expect Delta, via CVG would do nicely for HVN - MCO travel. It's not looking like there are gonna be big fare sales this February break.

Good luck.

 

[jeff968]

Originally posted by CarolA
I will say that based on what people are reporting seats for Presidents Day week are selling which would reduce the potential for sales.

Actually, if you check the seat availability on the flights, there are still plenty of empty seats. So that makes me wonder if I should wait. Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that open seats and seats for sale may not be related. People who buy through packages sometimes don't get seat assignements (or online bookers who skip the seat selection like I can with my office on line service) I often buy tickets on flights with no seats and get on flights that were showing WIDE open on the seat map where every seat is taken. You can call the airline and ask if you want the best info (or have a TA check they can see the total counts)

 

[JennSaint]

Did you check out Southeast Airlines out of Newburgh? We did this in February and were able to get flights for 127.00 each roundtrip. We flew out on the Thursday night before President's Day and flew home on the Sunday after President's Day. For February 2005 we booked as soon as our dates were released and are paying $214.00 per person roundtrip. But we are flying out on the 15th and coming home on the 25th. Can your wife miss any school around that time frame. I know most teachers are not allowed to extend school breaks which stinks because prices are so high Sat-Sat.

 

[chrisn]

Fares are high this year! We always go in February but I am on the other end of the spectrum as we live in Utah. I have always been able to get 99 each way with Southwest but not this year. I just booked at 129 each way because I was paranoid to wait since we are flying out 4 days before President's. Good Luck!

 

[Candlelady]

Thanks so much Happy2BGrumpy!!!
I've been waiting 4 months for the prices to drop. Thanks to your posting I snagged 2 tickets for 1-27 for $176.70 each. For a while I thought we'd be driving again.

Candlelady

 

[Happy2BGrumpy]

Excellent! We'll have the parks warmed up for you! Leaving 1/23, and coming home (to who knows what weather) 1/28. Glad you gotem!!

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

I'm getting really nervous about April school vacation, seeing what is happening with February. I cannot change my Sat-Sat flight dates and if I can't get the airfare for a reasonable price, I will have to cancel Disney!

 

[shelby2001]

I am really happy now I purchased our tickets for 2-19 returning on 2-27-05 which is Presidents week and I was able to get non-stops out of Boston on Song for $212.00 each, and I needed these dates since we are doing the cruise. However I did purchase these on Mother's Day Delta was having a sale that day.

 

[antmaril]

We are taking a Disney Cruise on 2/13/05. I just bought our tickets (Detroit to Orlando) last week and it's costing me $300 per person. I was really hoping for $250 or less, but it didn't look like it was going to happen, so I booked. I actually booked two one ways -- Southwest on the outbound (because I had a $400 credit on SW) and a Spirit return (because Spirit flies non-stop to Detroit from Orlando).

This year, we went during Presidents' Week and our fare was $258 per person on SW.

 

[jeff968]

Well, just when I was beginning to think we were going to be stuck in the cold here in CT next February I found some good flights today and I purchased them.

I couldn't really move my schedule around so I started checking other airports a while ago. Today I found non-stops from LGA in NYC to Tampa for $179 on American!!!! So I grabbed them. Not the best rates I ever found but not bad either. How long is the drive from Tampa to orlando?

Thanks for all the thoughts and for those who haven't purchased yet, hang in there.

 

[musicmom3]

Just booked our round-trip, non-stop tickets for President's week on AA from NYC for $215 each, and I am breathing a big sigh of relief. These are for Friday to Friday travel rather than Saturday to Saturday and my arrival is on the late side and my departure is on the early side...but I will just plan on a nice dinner for us on our arrival day to ease the "pain" of pulling in around dinnertime instead of in early afternoon, as I would prefer to do. It is all about compromise, right?

 

[debster812]

Originally posted by jeff968
Well, just when I was beginning to think we were going to be stuck in the cold here in CT next February I found some good flights today and I purchased them.

I couldn't really move my schedule around so I started checking other airports a while ago. Today I found non-stops from LGA in NYC to Tampa for $179 on American!!!! So I grabbed them. Not the best rates I ever found but not bad either. How long is the drive from Tampa to orlando?

Thanks for all the thoughts and for those who haven't purchased yet, hang in there.

For President's Week, coming out of the Northeast, I'd say you did pretty well. We are paying $250 r/t BOS to Ft. Myers for the same week.

The drive from TPA to Orlando is not bad. Straight across I-4, anywhere from an hour and a half to 2 hours depending on traffic. Maybe a tad quicker if traffic is moving 'briskly'

Great Job!

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

The drive from tampa to orlando is not bad at all
about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half, I did it last year in the rental car since we had a last minute change of plans. Have a great trip, i'm hoping to find a deal like that myself, i need to get tickets soon myself!