Flying from PA - let's talk flights

6loversofdisney

DIS Veteran
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
711
We have flown in to MCO from all different locations (whatever is the cheapest).

Do you use a certain location? Certain airline?

Thanks!!
 
I'm from PA. I fly out of Dulles in DC I hate Pittsburgh. Haha I hate driving through Pittsburgh and I like Dulles Airport. I've only been to Pitt and Dulles. I liked JetBlue alot. I got United this time. I think from now on tho I'm going Southwest cause they have free baggage claim and you can change your dates!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards
 
Where in pa are u? We r in the williamsport area and find it best and more convenient to drive to Baltimore to fly southwest. If we would fly out of here or anywhere else there is usually a layover and I think it's best to have the kids buckled in the car for 3 hours than stuck in the airport for a layover plus you get 2 bags for free. Also our local airport is significantly more expensive so even with the drive and an overnight hotel we still save money.
 

We have flown in to MCO from all different locations (whatever is the cheapest).

Do you use a certain location? Certain airline?

Thanks!!

Hey there fellow PAer! -wave-

So far, we've only flown out of EWR. It's a comfort thing now more than anything. That, and either way if we fly out of Philly or Newark, it's still an hour drive.
 
We usually fly out of Harrisburg because it's about twenty minutes from our house. I really like the smaller airports. Maybe ten minutes in line for security (and that's including the need for a pat down because one of our kids has a pacemaker and can't go through the scanner). The gates are all within a few hundred feet of the security check point. Last time we took Frontier, which was a breeze. Non stop - we were able to check most of our carry on luggage for n extra cost. We've also flown out of BWI, which was fine. But I loathe that drive down 83S. I'd rather pay more to fly out of Harrisburg. The main downside to it is if there's a problem with your flight, you have more limited options for getting out the same day.
 
We usually fly out of Harrisburg because it's about twenty minutes from our house. I really like the smaller airports. Maybe ten minutes in line for security (and that's including the need for a pat down because one of our kids has a pacemaker and can't go through the scanner). The gates are all within a few hundred feet of the security check point. Last time we took Frontier, which was a breeze. Non stop - we were able to check most of our carry on luggage for n extra cost. We've also flown out of BWI, which was fine. But I loathe that drive down 83S. I'd rather pay more to fly out of Harrisburg. The main downside to it is if there's a problem with your flight, you have more limited options for getting out the same day.

I agree about smaller airports. We fly, Frontier, Allegiant, direct or suffer through USAir connections.
Allentown
Harrisburg
Scranton / Wilkes Barre
I can find fares for approx $55-$77 one way direct, USAir connection from Allentown to MCO saved on tolls, parking and gas over Philly.

In the Spring prices are so high that I am considering Amtrak round trip to Orlando. Adult child less then $200 both one way. Not sure where we cold park. Spring break fares are ridiculous.
 
I can find fares for approx $55-$77 one way direct, USAir connection from Allentown to MCO saved on tolls, parking and gas over Philly.

Which airline and from where? I can't find anything under $200 one way. Though I fly from Philly, my ILs would love to fly from any of the places you mentioned.
 
Philly (PHL) and Newark NJ (EWR) are equidistant to our home, we fly AirTran out of PHL and JetBlue from EWR, those options offer the lowest fares but one must factor in driving and parking, but it's the fact that there are direct flights out of those airports that clinches the decision. We're minutes from Scanton/Wilkes-Barre (AVP) but the fare is greater and there are no directs on a major carrier. I refuse to lose a Disney Day to travel. Next month we fly out of EWR at 6 am, on the ground at 8:30 or so, we'll be opening the establishment shown below for a Guiness breakfast.

Bill From PA
 
Live in Chester County and always fly out of Phila. Airtran usually has the best deals and for about $35 can upgrade to business for one leg of trip if seats are available.
 
We have flown in to MCO from all different locations (whatever is the cheapest).

Do you use a certain location? Certain airline?

Thanks!!

Where do you live? The recommendation might be different if you live in Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh. I live in Pittsburgh, nothing is really cheap, I usually fly Southwest. Spirit has some deals from Latrobe.
 
Yeah, Pennsylvania is a very big state. If you live in the South East, flying from Wilmington, DE via Frontier can run you about $69 one way. But they only fly there Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
 
To reiterate, where in PA are you departing from - big state...

I live in the Lehigh Valley. I've rarely flown out of LVIA d/t not enough flights to work with our travel needs.

I prefer EWR over PHL because I hate dealing with Philly traffic and I'm Jersey born and raised :cool1: Also gotta add, we love flying Jetblue.

You can get cheaper parking at the airports if you use one of the many private lots. We've used the new SNAP indoor parking and had a great experience; I usually book through an airport parking reservation service. Not sure if I'm allowed to put the links here, but you can google PHL or EWR airport parking and you'll get a ton of hits.
 
I live about 40 minutes from AVP (Scranton/Wilkes Barre airport). I have never flown from there though because their prices are too high. I have flown out of Philly, Harrisburg. I was going to look into AVP though because I guess they are offering Allegiant air straight through for a good rate. I have to check it ou.

We flew out of Harrisburg last time, got a great rate and found a pretty decent hotel that offered park and fly for free :)
 
We're in Central PA, and flying out of Reagan/National in the DC area. We checked flights in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but our best deal was JetBlue out of Reagan. For us, it's roughly the same distance to any of the three...so we went with the best price.
 
Which airline and from where? I can't find anything under $200 one way. Though I fly from Philly, my ILs would love to fly from any of the places you mentioned.

It was AirTran Harrisburg, now it is Frontier Harrisburg. The cheapest flight was Allegiant. I went to the counter at AVP and last Fall and paid $37 for one, $57 for three and $77 for two from Sanford to AVP, but flew out of ABE for similar cost to Sanford the same trip.
There were pre paid, charges of $25 and $16 or checked and over head bin. Backpack free. Anything more then a glass of water is $$$.

But 1:45 hour to 2:00 hr flight is great. I prefer the smaller airport in a way to MCO, but it is a distance away, and I could not find a hard cart for my luggage. It was all new to me. Security was soooo much better then MCO.

There are limited flights in case one gets cancelled. But I never had hat problem. I just flew back o ABE on Saturday on USAir, from , MCO brought Charlotte. The light from Charlotte to AVP (Avoca) had mechanical dmg so our flight to Allentown was called back to the gate and loaded with those passengers. Most had ides meet hem, or rented cars to expedite getting to he North East.
The tickets were $100. Each one way, ($403 for two of us round trip, purchase 3 months out) connecting flights and check bag $25.00. It was 3:00pm to 11:00 until we got to the car in Allentown.

I stayed the night before at the Days Inn and the car parked free for the week with a shuttle both ways.

All in all I will do Sanford for the cost savings, smaller security accessability.
 
I live about 40 minutes from AVP (Scranton/Wilkes Barre airport). I have never flown from there though because their prices are too high. I have flown out of Philly, Harrisburg. I was going to look into AVP though because I guess they are offering Allegiant air straight through for a good rate. I have to check it ou.

We flew out of Harrisburg last time, got a great rate and found a pretty decent hotel that offered park and fly for free :)

Depending which way you were 40 minutes out, we parked for $59.00 the week at Harrisburg. AVP does not have Allegiant flights in September, I have no idea why? But, otherwise they fly Sunday and Thursday. For 1:45 hr flight you can't beat it if the days work.
I always get travel nsurance through insure my trip.com.
Never had a problem so far with flights though.
 
We're in Central PA, and flying out of Reagan/National in the DC area. We checked flights in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but our best deal was JetBlue out of Reagan. For us, it's roughly the same distance to any of the three...so we went with the best price.

We're in central PA too, and always have to trek somewhere for an affordable flight. Used to be pittsburgh, but that stopped a few years ago. Then we were going from Philly. Southwest merged with Air Tran and really made travel a pain from PA. Now we typically drive to BWI or IAD. I find BWI easiest for my crew.

I have looked into Harrisburg, but it doesn't ever work for us, and Spirit out of Latrobe just makes me nervous! My in laws have had good luck with them though, so who knows.
 



New Posts










Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top