Flights for March 2012

[Cdn Gal]

So the flights have just opened up for next year, but... the prices are really, really high! We would be paying almost 2/3 more for what we have paid 2 years ago. Do you think it is just the high gas prices or what? When do you begin to book? Do you think that the prices will go down later on? Thanks!

 

[gilsan]

I usually book flights about 3-4 months out. I am flying out of Halifax. The prices are the best usually around that time period. You can sometimes get a great deal within a month but there is also a risk of really expensive flights and not getting a great price on the days you want. We also try to fly Monday-Thursday prices are usually lower on those days.

I use Kayak to watch flight costs, they allow you to set up a price alert, air canada does as well.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Because my DH and I are both teachers we are not flexible on our dates so Tues/Thurs. is a no go. I am just worried about gas prices going up! I will look into kayak price alert- thanks!

 

[mkmommy]

I was actually surprised Toronto to Orlando for March 10-18 opened up on Air Canada at just over $600 taxes in, and out of Buffalo Delta was over $500, so I think Buffalo is just getting more and expensive then other places for Spring Break anyway.

 

[lizabu]

Its way too early to buy airfare for March. I'd be buying in Dec or Jan at the earliest. Prices are always high at first and drop once they realize the plane isn't full.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Do you have set times? $600 is a brutal price to pay. The best I can do right now is $500 all in from Syracuse with the times that we want. This past March when we flew from Syracuse to San Antonio we booked a year before and got a great price, and then it just kept going up and up. If we hadn't booked early we wouldn't have had a good price. I am worried that with gas prices it is just going to get higher throughout the summer. I am soooo torn wight now!!!

 

[mkmommy]

Its way too early to buy airfare for March. I'd be buying in Dec or Jan at the earliest. Prices are always high at first and drop once they realize the plane isn't full.

The last 3 years I have gotten weekend flights for March break in May and never saw anything less expensive. If I was willing to go weekdays you can find less expensive flights but this years opening fares out of Buffalo and Rochester were really high.Maybe when Southwest and Jet Blue open up there will be better fares. I did see flights under $350 out of Detroit to Orlando but we are going to LA next year for a change.,

 

[mtmbyck]

I disagree about waiting until Dec to book a March flight unless you are super flexible which It sounds like you aren't. But there is no way all of the flight options have been posted. Usually March doesn't open until June. You should at least wait to see what west jet, AirTransat,and sunwing offer out of Montreal or Ottawa and out of Buffalo, Airtran, JetBlue and southwest.

You said it's been 2 years since you flew and prices went up significantly this past March. It was as cheap for us to fly out of Montreal direct than Syracuse. I still haven't found direct out of Ottawa that works. I saw nothing less than 400 each and this was direct Thurs - Sun of March Break (10-20).

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

I wasn't able to book the following flight, mainly because my daughter's friend hasn't confirmed her attendance yet, but yesterday I found on Expedia the following flights:

Halifax to Orlando (return)...stop over @ JFK
Feb 29 - Mar 8 2012
Delta airlines
$357.30 Canadian each ($1429.20).

Add in the additional $50 for baggage fees and the price is approx $400 Cdn each. That is a great price this far out...AND for March Break !!

This morning the price has increased $300

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I set a target price ... whenever it gets to that price or better ... SOLD. I've never had an identifiable pattern.

 

[Kat&Dom]

I set a target price ... whenever it gets to that price or better ... SOLD. I've never had an identifiable pattern.

Me too.

If I can find a flight out of Calgary to Orlando for under $400 - I jump at it. I booked our November flights in February for $361 Cdn on Delta which made me very happy because Delta does not charge for your first bag and I got to pick our seats.

I think you are very wise to start watching prices now and if you see the price point that you want, book them when you see them! Good luck - I hope you get an awesome deal!

 

[gilsan]

I set a target price ... whenever it gets to that price or better ... SOLD. I've never had an identifiable pattern.

I agree decide how much you want to pay and don't look back. I usually decide by checking the prices 3-4 months out from when I start to look they are usually the lowest and then watch for those prices for my dates. I will pay more for direct or better arrival/departure times and more Fri-Mon.

By checking for lowest prices you get a good idea of what to pay. The last time we went down was early Feb no direct flights down but there were back. My target price for the direct was under $229/person plus tax I think I paid $219. About 2 weeks before we left they were going for $129.

 

[Cdn Gal]

I would like to pay about $350 pp but I don't think that it is going to happen. I think that I will wait though until June to see what the other carriers bring out. Do you know if it is early or late June that Jet Blue, Southwest etc release their prices?

 

[M&M mom]

Me too.

If I can find a flight out of Calgary to Orlando for under $400 - I jump at it. I booked our November flights in February for $361 Cdn on Delta which made me very happy because Delta does not charge for your first bag and I got to pick our seats.

I think you are very wise to start watching prices now and if you see the price point that you want, book them when you see them! Good luck - I hope you get an awesome deal!

I thought delta did charge for all checked bags. It would be nice if they did allow one free but I don't think they do.

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

I wasn't able to book the following flight, mainly because my daughter's friend hasn't confirmed her attendance yet, but yesterday I found on Expedia the following flights:

Halifax to Orlando (return)...stop over @ JFK
Feb 29 - Mar 8 2012
Delta airlines
$357.30 Canadian each ($1429.20).

Add in the additional $50 for baggage fees and the price is approx $400 Cdn each. That is a great price this far out...AND for March Break !!

This morning the price has increased $300

Don't forget that a stop in JFK could also mean= snowstorm
Be carefull with the stops.........

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Don't forget that a stop in JFK could also mean= snowstorm
Be carefull with the stops.........

Understood, but without a direct flght, we have to stop somewhere. Montreal or Toronto wouldn't likely be any less hazardous for a winter storm.

I just want as few connections as possible to reduce the risk of storm delays or cancellations

 

[mkmommy]

I was actually surprised Toronto to Orlando for March 10-18 opened up on Air Canada at just over $600 taxes in, and out of Buffalo Delta was over $500, so I think Buffalo is just getting more and expensive then other places for Spring Break anyway.

I see AC has increased the prices they are now over $800

 

[Ted in Halifax]

DisneyRookie2007 took the words right out of my mouth ...

 

[grantclaire]

WestJet also had some flights out of Toronto direct to Orlando Mar 10 to 17 for 567.00 inc taxes but only the first day they released those dates. A day later they were at 600 and still climbing!

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Direct Air from Plattsburg has some good prices