Feeling a litle abandoned...

[Muppet_Girl]

I am in the process of planning a trip with points for Apirl. I have been struggling with finding a good deal on airfare. What is bothering me is that DVC members that use points can't use Disney affiliated (not sure if that's the correct term) travel agencies to plan vacations. I feel a bit abadoned. DVC members are faithful Disney vacationers and I feel that they should be given as much help in planning as anyone else if not more due to their loyalty. Does anyone else feel this way?

Following that, has anyone found a way to get some assistance, especially with airfare while planning a trip with points? I reached out to 2 agencies that told me they only book packages or just resorts and no DVC.

Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

I was told by our AAA rep a few years ago that it is typically cheaper to do your own airfare unless it is something that is an all inclusive type trip (ie: overseas, etc.).

We have always booked our own airfare, even when we used travel agents or Disney to do our trips. We found it was just easier and cheaper this way.

I can imagine how frustrating it is right now. I think airfares are up, at least they are for me. I booked my August trip and paid just under $270 per person for our round trip flight. Last year, I was able to get that trip much closer to $200. Still hoping Jetblue lowers fares between now and then so at least I can get credit for my next flights.

Good luck!

 

[ToddyLu]

I am sorry but I am not understanding your problem. Are you abondoned because you need a travel agent to assist you in making arrangements for DVC or flights. If you are the DVC member you just call MS to book the room and then go online and book your flights. ADRs are made by you online as well. I am just wondering why a travel agent cannot book your flights....it shouldn't matter if they are on points or not. I want to help you but I do all this myself and do not rely on a TA for help. However, I will see a Disney TA at a DIS meet this coming weekend and ask her a question if you would like me to--then get back to you.

Generally I start out using Expedia. That gives me the arilines and flights out of my area. Then I go online with that specific airline and book directly through them, not on Expedia. So all of my DVC trips I organize on my own.

I am so sorry you are feeling this way and can certainly understand how scary navigating certain aspects of travel can be when you are new at it.

 

[ToddyLu]

Is this the first time you are planning a trip on your own?

 

[mouseaider]

I know it can be frustrating finding good airfare but not impossible.

I look at some of the booking sites like expedia, kayak or orbitz to see what airlines are flying into the destination I'm going. I compare their flight times and prices and then when I decide what airlines I want to fly, I go directly to the airlines website and book.

Out of Rochester, we usually end up with Airtran or Delta. This next trip is a free flight on Delta.

If flying out of NY City, I'd check out Airtran and Jet Blue.

Good luck and let me know if there is any thing I can do to help you !

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I am in the process of planning a trip with points for Apirl. I have been struggling with finding a good deal on airfare. What is bothering me is that DVC members that use points can't use Disney affiliated (not sure if that's the correct term) travel agencies to plan vacations. I feel a bit abadoned. DVC members are faithful Disney vacationers and I feel that they should be given as much help in planning as anyone else if not more due to their loyalty. Does anyone else feel this way?

Following that, has anyone found a way to get some assistance, especially with airfare while planning a trip with points? I reached out to 2 agencies that told me they only book packages or just resorts and no DVC.

Thanks!

Most travel agents will book airfare for you, but I beleive that they usually charge a fixed per ticket fee. The reason some don't charge such a fee if you book a package is that DIsney pays them a reasonable commission in connection with booking a resort. Airlines don't pay much, if any, commissions. And, of course, TAs cannot earn a commission for booking at DVC using points. -- Suzanne

 

[sissy_ib]

I am in the process of planning a trip with points for Apirl. I have been struggling with finding a good deal on airfare. What is bothering me is that DVC members that use points can't use Disney affiliated (not sure if that's the correct term) travel agencies to plan vacations. I feel a bit abadoned. DVC members are faithful Disney vacationers and I feel that they should be given as much help in planning as anyone else if not more due to their loyalty. Does anyone else feel this way?

Following that, has anyone found a way to get some assistance, especially with airfare while planning a trip with points? I reached out to 2 agencies that told me they only book packages or just resorts and no DVC.

Thanks!

A TA wont be able to find a price lower than you can using Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia, etc. I usually find the flight I want using Priceline then check with the airlines website to see if it is cheaper. If it is the same price or less I book directly with the airline. I'm confused as to why you need a TA just to book airfare?

 

[Lynne M]

What is bothering me is that DVC members that use points can't use Disney affiliated (not sure if that's the correct term) travel agencies to plan vacations. I feel a bit abadoned. DVC members are faithful Disney vacationers and I feel that they should be given as much help in planning as anyone else if not more due to their loyalty. Does anyone else feel this way?

I'm a bit confused as well..are you feeling that Disney should provide trip planning assistance for DVC members? There aren't any travel agencies that are affiliated with the Disney company, although there are several that specialize in booking Disney trips. So this isn't something that Disney does for non-DVC members, and doesn't do for DVCers.

Travel agencies make their money by getting a commission from the hotel or travel supplier that their customers are booking. Airlines don't pay commission to travel agents, so they make no money by booking airline reservations.

You probably know by now which airlines fly from your home airport. Just go to that airline's site and start looking up fares. If you want to see a bunch of different airlines' fares, try Kayak....they're real easy to use. Or Orbitz, or Expedia. That's essentially all the agent would do for you. They don't have any access to special airfares.

If you're really feeling lost, you can always offer to pay a travel agent to help you book your flights.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Following that, has anyone found a way to get some assistance, especially with airfare while planning a trip with points? I reached out to 2 agencies that told me they only book packages or just resorts and no DVC.

Thanks!

This is because a number of years ago airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agents. So, those who book it do so because it is part of a package. They don't book airlines alone.

Your air will be cheaper if you do your research and book yourself online. You can visit sites such as Orbitz, Kayak, SWA and American Airlines to research. Also, be sure to visit our Transportation Board here on the DIS for lots of info on air fares. Good luck!

 

[FigmentLady]

For what it's worth, I have always found better airfare on my own than with a travel agent. Most agents I have worked with have even suggested I book the airfare on my own due to being able to use discount sites and things that they do not have access to.

Not sure if this will help but flying out of NYC, JetBlue has always been the cheapest for me from JFK to MCO.

 

[Nikisha421]

Although it's not definitely related to DVC...I totally understand what you are saying and feeling...two years ago for President's Week I tried and tried and couldn't find the right airfare out of NYC...so I ended up taking the Amtrak from NYC to Orlando...maybe you could give that a try...as another side note...last year when I still couldn't find a great price to MCO we changed our try to VGC and the airfare was cheaper than going to MCO...my first California trip and it was great...

 

[Brian Noble]

You can still use a travel planner to handle your air for you. That's more of a "service" than a "savings", though many find the service aspects well worth it, even with a modest per-ticket fee.

 

[LCARDVERO]

Are you feeling more frustrated than abandoned? I know the airfares are outrageous this year as I am also trying to find airfare in April. I am very frustrated how expensive they are and may skip my April vacation as I cannot justify the cost of airfare for my family of 4. I never use travel agencies as I think you can do better research online. Have you tried websites like orbitz.com or expedia.com. They should show the best fares.

Good luck

 

[JenSop]

Travel agencies make their money by getting a commission from the hotel or travel supplier that their customers are booking. Airlines don't pay commission to travel agents, so they make no money by booking airline reservations.

This is exactly right. TA's are not direct employees of Disney. We get paid commission from Disney on packages/resorts/tickets that clients book.

MS will help you with all the details of your DVC trip. The only thing they won't do is airfare. I was DVC before I was a TA. MS was very helpful when I first joined and needed help setting up my trip. They are there to help you.

TA's look up airfare exactly the same as clients do if it's not part of a package. At my agency, we literally go to Kayak and the airline sites just like everyone else. I'll be honest, most of my clients book their own airfare, and I just connect that flight to Magical Express for them.

I hope that answers your question. Like a lot of others, I was a bit confused as to what your question was.

 

[Amy5000]

Hey Princess Kathleen. Sorry it's been so tough to find flights. I've found the only way to get flights was research it to death and be flexible. We're also in the NY / NJ area and we check all the airports. We've rarely flown from Newark b/c it's often been more expensive so we do flight from JFK or LGA. Also sometimes you need to be flexible with flight times: flying down Friday night and back Sunday night can be more costly.

Good luck. Amy

 

[Sammie]

I think what the OP is meaning and please correct me, if I am off, is that there was a time that you could get a savings by booking packages to Disney that included air fare, room and tickets.

I don't really think that is the case anymore, as air fare is pretty set whether you use a TA or not. It might be hidden in the total cost and seem to be a bargain and some TAs will try to make you believe they can get you deals on air fare by booking complete packages but no so sure that is completely truthful.

As other has suggested the best friend is your Internet.

 

[PKWallaby]

As others have suggested, there are many user friendly websites to track and book your own airfare. Try checking the Transportation thread for some additional insite. Personally, I love kayak. Once you set an account (very simple to do) it allows you to set up a "price alert" that will send you emails (daily or weekly as you so desire) of the trip you are trying to book. I watch it like a hawk, get a feel for what rates are and jump in when a rate comes through that I am comfortable with. Living in a small town with limited service from our local airport restricts my choices, but kayak allows you to set up numerous alerts from various airports on different dates.

It may be a bit overwhelming trying it on your own at first, but once you start playing around you will get the hang of it. It has actually become sort of a contest for me over the years...waiting patiently for the best rate, weighing the odds of another better fare coming and then scoring a deal (or what I consider to be one, I suppose)

Good luck with your search...here's hoping you find great rates for April!!

 

[nolanboys]

Finding cheap airfare can be hard, but it is possible. Normally I would wait to book a trip until I had good airfare. DVC has changed that. I booked our trip for this March at about the 10 month mark. I tHen was on the look out for the cheapest airfare. We have 6, so it gets costly. Right around the 7 month mark, I found cheap airfare, but we would have to change our travel dates from Sunday to Sunday to Monday to Monday - a change that would save us $900. Keep looking and stay on top of it. Airlines usually drop certain fairs on Tuesday or Wednesday. If you don't jump on them, they're gone. The flight we got was more money the next day. Good luck!

 

[csmommy]

Normally the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday through Thursday.

This is what I have heard is the best DAY to book your flight tickets:

1. Log on to the airline's website shortly after 12am (in the airline's time zone) on Wednesday night. This is the best day and time of the week to book a flight because this is when most airlines purge their computerized systems of any airline reservations that were not booked.

2. Find cheap airline reservations by booking your flight on Thursday night if you're traveling on the weekend. Most airlines release their weekend specials on Thursday evening.


HTH!

 

[toniosmom]

I am also from NJ and fly JetBlue exclusively. I have found their fares to be cheaper than Continental, not to mention the fact that the comfort level on JetBlue is way beyond the cramped quarters of Continental.

I am on JetBlue's email list, so I get an email a few days before they open up their schedule. I book my flights the day they open and get the best price. I have seen days where the airfare went up from that morning to the afternoon.

Another way to save big on airfare is to fly on Tuesday or Wednesday. For our April trip, we are flying down on a Tuesday and home on a Thursday. If I had flown from Saturday to Saturday (the week before Easter), the airfare would have been more than double, no exaggeration. Also, I had booked the Tuesday 9pm flight at $79/pp and they changed to flight to leaving at 2pm. So I gain some extra time at WDW without paying the extra money.

I'm waiting for JetBlue to extend their schedule so that I can book our November flights. Sadly, the airlines know about Jersey week in Orlando, so they jack up the airfares that week. Since fares have just increased more and more lately, I anticipate the fares to be quite high.