flight suggestions CA to Orlando?

[California Mom]

For 5 people, finding a flight to Orlando from Cali is close to $3000! yikes! No more are the $99 one-way SW fares that I got in 2005 and 2000 for our last 2 trips.

I'm usually pretty good in locating flights, but this one is a challenge....flying out to Orlando for first week in January 2014....any creative suggestions on airlines, flight routes, etc to find an inexpensive airfare?

 

[n3rf]

ouch!

thats expensive...I tried doing the same as you one-stops etc, jetblue had the best deal i could find back in April for our August trip... But that was becuase it was leaving out of Long Beach and was (I believe) around 310.00 a person (4 people)... but the drawback it was a stop over in Texas with 3hrs wait!

Ended browsing, changing dates etc through Kayak/orbitz .... ended up with the best deal by leaving midweek (Tuesday), even non-stop, redeye to arrive early and allow daughters to sleep in plane via UNITED Airlines at 357.00 a person (round 1700.00 including taxes)

 

[Karlzmom]

I played around on Hipmunk a bit. Looks like SFO - MCO would be worth looking into. I was able to find flights for $150 pp less than flights out of Sac.
I found JetBlue flights for $347pp.

There are also flights from SJC-MCO at $396 on Delta.

Virgin America can frequently have good sales, but its a bit of a nail biter worrying the prices won't drop or that you won't have availability as you wait for the dip.


Good Luck!

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

we got lax to mco 5 people direct flights right around 1700. that was the best I could find though, 350 pp is a good price IMO. Look and if you find it book it,

 

[DisneyHeather]

We ended up jumping on some tickets from SFO to MCO that were $400 each for early December and they have just kept going up since we bought them. We needed 9 tickets but at least have direct non stop flights on United.

 

[Pakey]

I go from CA to MCO fairly regularly, I've done it 3 times in the past 12 months. If I go out of LAX or SFO and can get under $400 I book. Other airports, I'm happy at $500 anymore.

If you are flexible with dates, try moving them around a bit. Midweek flights are often a little less. I would also look at the times of the flights. Those peak midday return flights out of MCO are usually $50 more than the early morning flights.

 

[southlakejr]

We are looking to fly out of the Bay Area at the end of January. So far JetBlue seems to be the best rate for us- 159 each way. You'll have a layover, but the price is a lot less. We're looking at doing a red eye and getting in on a Saturday morning/early afternoon. That way we aren't paying for a hotel room that we aren't getting to until 9 at night.

Good luck!

 

[Lyn-CA]

I posted this on a similar thread as well.

Around early October, be on the lookout for Southwest's 40% off sale. Cross your fingers and toes that they will continue to offer it. I learned about it through the Transportation forum here on the DIS. I bought our tickets in October for our late January-early February trip from OAK to MCO. Total cost for 3 Roundtrip tickets was $692.43 or $230.81 per person. This is the closest deal I found to the $99 each way fares back in the day.

Hope this helps. And good luck.

 

[California Mom]

Thanks, everyone for the suggestions and great ideas. Lyn-CA, was thinking that we should try and get tix within the next month or so, BUT if you have experienced sales in October.....then I may just wait and see how it works out. We are in Sacramento area, but my hubby said that we should also consider flying out of Oakland, since it's sometimes better priced, even if it's 90min-2hrs to drive.....gonna keep my options open as well as keep checking out THE DIS for great ideas.....and tips.