Flights

[ecna]

We just got back a couple of weeks ago from SSR and just booked our next trip for the week before Easter. Though it went OK, we've decided it's the last time we're driving from NY to WDW with 3 kids! Anyway, I've been checking prices on flights and have to say I'm surprised at the price. My question is... when do people normally book flights? Do I wait and see if better prices come along? Do I book now as flights fill up (especially around Easter)? Any tips from DVCers?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Demosthenes]

You won't normally do much harm to wait. I wouldn't book until 45 days (or so) out unless you see a good sale.

 

[Lenc324]

I booked my last flight to MCO from Chicago MDW in late Aug for a Nov 2nd trip. Got a great fare on Southwest.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I book SWA as soon as my flights become Avail.

They have the best no fee price change policy in the business.

I have Credits right now but when you end up with RT for under $150 (now sitting at $122 RT ) whens all said and done thats not bad at all.

 

[lisareniff]

We usally go President's Week(Feb), which as you know most of the NE has off. We try to book the only direct flight from ROC in the Aug/Sep. time frame. Our flights were $99 each way. (THis is very good for ROC)

 

[3DisneyKids]

I sugges going to Southwest.com and downloading the DING! program. This gives you daily specials to everywhere Southwest flies. And sure enough, MCO pops up pretty regularly. Flying from NH, for our last 3 trips we have paid $44 each way, $49 each way, and $54 each way. We also have 3 kids, and this is totally the way to go! As others have said, I usually wait until about 6-8 weeks out.

Also check out JetBlue.com. They are usually in the $79 - $89 each way for us. But one time they were cheaper than SW, so we went with them...LOVED it for travling with kids. Huge, roomy seats....and every seat has its OWN tv! My kids just plugged in and we did hear a peep out of them the whole flight! (Mind you, we are really strict about tv time in our house, so this was a huge treat for them!)

Good luck--and enjoy not doing that drive anymore!

 

[Pennyguy23]

Man I wish we had a major airport closer. I hate driving to detroit or chicago to fly out. we pay about 250 or so per person. But we fly out of our little airport that is about 10 minutes away from us. You can't beat being home as soon as you land.

 

[Pluto 2]

they probaly have the prices higher for easter.
i went one christmas and the airlines wanted almost 3 times they normally charge, so i just drove.

 

[UConnJack]

If you were going off-season, I would say you could wait 30-60 days out. The best deals come out around this time. However, even the week before Easter is going to be more expensive and have reduced availability due to the holidays and school breaks, so the deals may not be as plentiful during that time, or may not be offered at all. I would suggest checking rates every couple of days to see trends, and make sure you check the # of seats available on the flights you may be interested in. If it looks like it is steadily being filled, you may want to bite the bullet sooner that later.

 

[fishermouse]

We just got back a couple of weeks ago from SSR and just booked our next trip for the week before Easter. Though it went OK, we've decided it's the last time we're driving from NY to WDW with 3 kids! Anyway, I've been checking prices on flights and have to say I'm surprised at the price. My question is... when do people normally book flights? Do I wait and see if better prices come along? Do I book now as flights fill up (especially around Easter)? Any tips from DVCers?

Thanks,
Eric

We stopped driving a few years back, still do it once in a while if we plan on going somewhere else. Trip to HH this fall cost us well over $200.00 for gas, Then you add on the extra meals and possibly a room if you stay over. We always get a cheap room for the first night, hate to pull in late at night and waste points. I figured out that for 2 people it's actually cheaper to fly especially with Magic Express, 3 is probably a wash or close enough that the convenience is worth the extra couple dollars. We start looking at air fares around 4 or 5 months out and jump on $79.00 or below out of Newark or Philadelphia,I prefer Newark but will drive to Phila for a good fare. JFK does not seem to get the deals, plus Newark is easy to get in and out of and flights are usually on time. If you wait you may get a lower fare but not likely. You could get stuck with $99.-159. or you get lousy flight times with long layovers in Atlanta. We don't like to chance it and $79. is a good price. If you drive it's around $10.00 a day to park with good pick up and drop off in the economy parking lot, you can pay for parking with EZ pass on the way out if you have it. Happy Landing!!!

 

[Para2176]

Just some ideas for booking airfare.

1) Tickets are sold at different rates depending when you buy them. Typically it is about 45 days in advance, 21 days in advance, 14 or 10 days in advance. Keep an eye out.

2) Don't buy airfare on the weekends, they are typically more expensive. The prices tend to drop on Tuesday or Wednesday and then go back up on Friday for the weekend.

3) If you like Southwest, definitely get the DING program. You have to keep a constant eye on it, but the prices are very good. They usually have a morning and afternoon DING fares for various locations.

4) If you are in the ballpark of what your willing to spend on airfare (about $10-$20 per ticket), don't wait for the "better deal" because it might not come. With the fluctuations in oil prices and the bulk in which airlines buy, you might not see the price go down and you'll lose your shot at a good airfare.

5) Know when you are traveling and how busy it can get. Airlines work on supply and demand. If the demand is high, they have no reason to be overly competitive on prices. For example, people travel like crazy at Thanksgiving. However, the next few weeks after Thanksgiving the airfares dump because no one is going to travel again until closer to Christmas.

I was able to get good airfare from New York 21 days out through Southwest. I never saw the same prices on airfare again until it was 10 days out from my proposed travel date. By the next day, the flight was booked.

Good luck.

 

[skelooch]

I don't think you'll see to many discounted fares for that time of year, it's seems from mid Feb. to the end of April are peak travel times (spring breaks).

There are a lot of airports to choose from in metro NY, assuming that'e where you are flying from, make sure you check them all, including White Plains and Newburg. I just got a $137.10 RT from White Plains to Orlando N/S, for early Feb. The best part is it's the closest airport to my home 35min.

If you find something you can live with I think I would book it, it probably won't get much better for that time of year.

 

[ecna]

Thanks for all the great posts everybody.

The BEST deal right now is with Southwest and it's over $300.

JetBlue is over $500 right now!

I wish I saw some of the rates your all talking about.

I don't want to risk messing up the plans, so I don't know how long I'll be able to take the stress of not having the flight booked!

Once again... thanks.

Eric

 

[OKWJan]

If you are locked into specific times, and those times are around holiday/break times, you had best book as soon as possible. I missed the initial release of spring dates by Southwest by about 4 hours, and $275 was the best that was left. My husband and mom, who have more flexibility, are leaving mid week the week before and coming home on Monday instead of Sunday, and are BOTH flying for less than what it cost me for just me. Holiday and break times are not times to wait around

Jan

 

[Kupiecb]

ECNA,

I live in NY and I know what you are talking about. But We just booked from Buffalo to Las Vegas for the week of March 17th through Delta and got 117.00 round trip. After taxes is was 156.00. Everyone else wanted 300.00 - 400.00 a ticket. Just crazy. Check with Delta. Because of the cheap rate to Vegas we are flying into Vegas and then driving to Disneyland! It was worth it to save all that money.