Flight from LA to Orlando Jan 2013

[KECWDW]

Hi All
We are flying to WDW for our honeymoon, from Perth, Australia. We have already booked our flights to LA, but I haven't yet booked from LA to Orlando. The prices are around $500 per person return. My question is- are they likely to come down closer to the date or best book now? (in Aust we often have sale fares closer to the time unless peak season, which I know Jan is not in Florida).
Also- we arrive in LA at 1:30pm, and I would prefer to fly out straight away but it seems like there are no flights until late that night (on all airlines)- is this because the airport at Orlando is closed late night?
Thanks for any help!!

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Flight time is about 4.5 hours. Then there's the three hour time difference. If you have to change plans, add for that. Flights get into Orlando as late as Midnight.

There is a Southwest Airlines flight (you have to book direct) that departs LAX at 2:10 PM, but that's cutting it pretty close with customs. You might wait for the red-eye, and get to MCO first thing in the morning.

 

[KECWDW]

Thanks, Jean. Thats what we planned on doing (I agree, flying out after arriving into LA that afternoon would be cutting it too fine), so we will wait for the red eye.
Does anyone know if flights tend to go down in price closer to the date (like ours often will?)
Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

Thanks, Jean. Thats what we planned on doing (I agree, flying out after arriving into LA that afternoon would be cutting it too fine), so we will wait for the red eye.
Does anyone know if flights tend to go down in price closer to the date (like ours often will?)
Thanks!

I'll tell you if you give me the winning lottery numbers. No one can say with ANY kind of certainty what air prices will do. There are a lot of factors, but a major one is supply and demand. If there are a lot of seats available, the prices will drop. If there are few seats available, the prices go up.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Sorry. I didn't reply to your original question. No way to know in advance. Prices tend to change with the price of fuel and demand. I watch the ticket price for a couple of months, and then when it goes to the low end, I buy.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There is a Southwest Airlines flight (you have to book direct) that departs LAX at 2:10 PM, but that's cutting it pretty close with customs. You might wait for the red-eye, and get to MCO first thing in the morning.

You cannot make a flight leaving from LAX at 2:10 pm if you are arriving on an international flight which arrives at 1:30 pm!

OP - all US airports close for arriving and departing commercial flights by midnight (as far as I know). If I were you, I'd take a break in LA for the night and fly out the next morning. I found plenty of flights for around $360 RT searching the second week in Jan., which seems to be about as good as you are going for a coast to coast trip these days, unless there is a sale.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Is they wait to fly out the next AM, they lose a whole day in transit with the time change. If they fly out in the evening, they can arrive at MCO between 6AM to 8AM.

 

[KuyaJeff]

Based on my trip in January of this year, I found a decent price for a trip between LAX and MCO for $275 on Virgin America. I know it sounds too good to be true, but I ran into some luck. The first thing that helped out was that I followed Virgin America on Facebook, they have many opportunities to score discount codes by simply entering sweepstakes or participating in certain things(no risk at all or need to sign up for an E-Mail list). I was able to get a 20% off code through a Banana Republic sweepstakes...it's a win win situation if you actually decide to fly with them!

I booked my trip in mid November with what I thought was a decent price and got the $275 price. If I waited a little longer, I probably could have gotten a better price. I noticed that the prices dropped on Cyber Monday (the online version of Black Friday, the Monday after Thanksgiving).

The only downside, like you've already realized, is that there are not many flights that leave mid-day. So you'll have to either leave really early to arrive around late afternoon/early evening...or really late to arrive early in the morning in Florida.

So with everything said, look on Facebook for airlines that appeal to you(I felt spoiled on Virgin America), and check out the prices in November up to and including Cyber Monday! Best of luck on the journey before your journey! I'm sure you'll have a great time in WDW regardless!

 

[cigar95]

As one who has flown between LAX and MCO for 20 years, I can tell you that I've never seen prices as high as they are now. Only once have I ever had to pay as much as $300 for a round trip.

right now, the seating charts on Delta flights are wide open - which doesn't mean no one has bought tickets, but it's consistent with light sales so far. I strongly suspect that sometime within the next 6-7 weeks, lower prices will appear. But I can't guess how low, or when. Last week prices went to $377, but that only lasted a day and then they were right back up to $519.

So be patient - don't buy yet.

 

[keishashadow]

Hi All
We are flying to WDW for our honeymoon, from Perth, Australia. We have already booked our flights to LA, but I haven't yet booked from LA to Orlando. The prices are around $500 per person return. My question is- are they likely to come down closer to the date or best book now? (in Aust we often have sale fares closer to the time unless peak season, which I know Jan is not in Florida).
Also- we arrive in LA at 1:30pm, and I would prefer to fly out straight away but it seems like there are no flights until late that night (on all airlines)- is this because the airport at Orlando is closed late night?
Thanks for any help!!

what day of the week? mid week departures likely will be lower.

if you're saying $500 round trip, that'd be a good price from my neck of the woods to LAX, about the same mileage at the LAX/MCO route.

have you checked Airtran & connecting flight thru ATL? Typically the best rate we find heading back east from the west coast.

how long is your flight from home to LAX? I'd be concerned re a delay and missing the next leg of your flight, suggest an early flight out the next day or a red eye if available.

 

[KECWDW]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Some good points, and I think I will hold off a little longer. We arrive into LA at 13:05 on the 10th of Jan (Thursday) and need to be back in LA on the 26th (Saturday), by 22:30
I am SUPER excited about the trip, just trying (like everyone) to try and do it as economically as possible.
Thanks again!!

 

[travelcoupons]

There's fares from $280 on airtran right now around your dates, unfortunately the flight times would require you to spend a night in LA as their last flight leaves LA at 13:00

 

[KECWDW]

Bother.. would rather fly straight out that night and have an extra day at WDW! Thanks anyway