flight ??? what would you do?

[yeahdisney]

Southwest has not released Nov 24 date and I am unsure of price of that flight. 5 of us flying. DH prefers to fly back in SW to midway chicago. FLYING THE TUESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING Nov 24 returning sunday Dec 6Kids age turning 11 and 8.

Airtran from IND to MCO 3.5 hours from our house
$58 per person 7AM flight nonstop (total $335)
hotel night prior $88ish --if we drive ourselves the hotel goes to $135 park and fly (there are flight back also for $58)
$30 luggage fees, $50ish gas,
Total $503 just the one way.

I am not sure we can get a drop off there from family cause I would need a vehicle that would hold 6 people 2 checked luggage and 5 carry on. We are taking swimming fins on the checked luggage (so maybe 1 piece luggage).

OR

Southwest to MCO 7AM flight nonstop 1.5 hours from our house
price ??????????
Hotel night prior $128 plus tax
Luggage fee free gas $25ish, (family will take us to MDW, smashed together in the car)
Limo home $150ish
Total without flights $303.

What would you do book IND now? Wait until June 23rd when SW opens. Or book flight there IND and wait for SW to open June 23rd for the return?
Thank you D

 

[kevgraub]

Southwest has not released Nov 24 date and I am unsure of price of that flight. 5 of us flying. DH prefers to fly back in SW to midway chicago. FLYING THE TUESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING Nov 24 returning sunday Dec 6Kids age turning 11 and 8.

Airtran from IND to MCO 3.5 hours from our house
$58 per person 7AM flight nonstop (total $335)
hotel night prior $88ish --if we drive ourselves the hotel goes to $135 park and fly (there are flight back also for $58)
$30 luggage fees, $50ish gas,
Total $503 just the one way.

I am not sure we can get a drop off there from family cause I would need a vehicle that would hold 6 people 2 checked luggage and 5 carry on. We are taking swimming fins on the checked luggage (so maybe 1 piece luggage).

OR

Southwest to MCO 7AM flight nonstop 1.5 hours from our house
price ??????????
Hotel night prior $128 plus tax
Luggage fee free gas $25ish, (family will take us to MDW, smashed together in the car)
Limo home $150ish
Total without flights $303.

What would you do book IND now? Wait until June 23rd when SW opens. Or book flight there IND and wait for SW to open June 23rd for the return?
Thank you D

I'd probably be tempted to go with the Airtran flight - but for us a 3.5 hour drive is pretty common. Tough call though, I could be talked into waiting for SW.

One thing to consider though - there is no guarantee that 7am flight from Southwest will be there when the new schedule comes out. We were going to wait to book flights from KC on SW, and then great prices for Airtran came along and we snagged them. Then, once the SW schedule came out, they had cut several flights and changed the schedule considerably. Under the old schedule, we could have gotten a nonstop that landed at MCO at about 11:00 am. Under the revised schedule, we could not get there until afternoon, and that was with a layover in St. Louis.

 

[dacky041208]

One thing to consider though - there is no guarantee that 7am flight from Southwest will be there when the new schedule comes out.

True, but there is also no guarantee that Airtran won't move that flight time at least once before the travel date. Yes most changes are minor, but some are not, and you can't always change to whatever flight you want to. I think that now you are close enough you can at least wait til SW releases their schedule and see which you would rather book. Flight prices will change regularly, just keep watching and I think you'll be fine.

 

[princessjane]

Since your trip is in November you still have time to wait out fares. Both Airtran and Southwest like to change flight times, so keep that in mind when booking. I would wait, check the dings on SW daily.

 

[dacky041208]

Since your trip is in November you still have time to wait out fares. Both Airtran and Southwest like to change flight times, so keep that in mind when booking. I would wait, check the dings on SW daily.

SW hardly ever changes their flight times, that is one of the reasons they only announce flights 5-6 months out.