Flying Hartford to Orlando - big money!!

[magsmom]

JennieMay,
If you can swing it, it's generally easier to get cheaper flights/DINGS that are not on Saturday or Sunday.
My husband has been diligently watching for DINGs for president's week (which I currently have at $166 pp each way - ouch) - I am not optimistic that we are going to do any better.

Last year, however, I saw prices start once the booking window opened at $120, to see dings down to $39.

Generally SWA credits are valid for 1 year from time of booking. I do believe you are able to get a 6 month extension if you call when the credits are about to expire.

 

[sherrie]

delta flights from bdl are starting to drop, i have been watching for 6 months for our may 2007 cruise. they were over 325.00 now down to 266.00 sw is not out yet for my return date. we have always flown non stop w/ delta and never paid more then 189.00. my freing got a ding from SW and pd 44 down and 49 back from bdl. keep watching

 

[JENNYMAY]

I shall keep watching SWA and Delta!
Thanks everyone!

 

[Jenny]

Thanks everyone for your advice!
The only problem with Ding for me is that we don't fly anywhere or usually go anywhere!! The only time we have flown really is to Disney.....and this may be our last trip for a while. It would be a bummer to have a credit with SWA if we won't be using for years.
How crazy is it to wait it out for really good rates, can that happen without buying right away and having to wait for Ding???
I will need to purchase 6 tickets!
Does the SWA credit ever expire??

Thanks again! Love all the help!!!

Yes, it does expire 12 months from your original booking date, but as others said you can let someone else use it. good luck!

 

[Jenny]

Pumbaa - You've made me feel better. I have been waiting for a Ding BDL-MCO for 3/4 and 3/11 - nothing so far ... and I convinced my sister and her crew (6 tickets) to book with SW because we would definately get a Ding fare! She's starting to stress because she's paying for all the tickets. I quess there's still time for a good Ding?????

i have found DINGs come out about 6 weeks before my flight dates so there's still time for March. good luck!

 

[UConnJack]

Have you thought about White Plains instead? I don't know where you are coming from, but weve done Hartford a pain in the neck to fly in and out of and prefer White Plains, also Air Tran has a direct flight. They run specials from $69 up. Very easy to get too from CT. Just take Merritt to King Street Exit, maybe exit 27 not sure don't remember for sure, know it says King Street. Traffic isn't bad unless you are going rush hour. Easier than getting into Hartford unless you live right there.

I have considered going out of Westchester/White Plains (HPN) several times, but never since I've been nervous about parking. The airport website indicates they have limited on-site parking that cannot be reserved/guaranteed, and they recommend being dropped off. I cannot find any off-site parking nearby, either.

3daugters, have you (or anyone else) had experience parking there? Is it often full? Are there any off-site lots I don't know about?

Thanks!

 

[captchris]

The trick is to be patient and check all of the websites daily. I did this for our cruise in September, and it paid off about 3 months out. I got RT on SW for $137.

 

[dgaston]

I'd also like to add in that you might start checking out the BDL to Tampa fares. Sometimes they're much cheaper and the airport is only a 1/2 hour additional driving time. This Feb vacation we're flying BDL to MCO and then Tampa to BDL to make everything work well.

 

[momofbgtwins]

I just found out that UCONN's Spring Break is 3/5-9, the same timeframe I am flying and hoping for a DING. I think a good DING fare looks less and less likely. My sister (with her 6 tickets) is gonna kill me! We picked that week based on the 2006 Spring Break schedule. She wanted to go with Delta but I convinced her a DING would come through, and SW would be cheaper - not to mention the problem with Delta switching/cancelling flights frequently. Anyone have an encouraging word?????

 

[warriorboy648]

Hi, what is DING and how do you sign uo for it? Also, how did it get you the reduced fight prices?

Also, we are going to WDW in mid-August. Is it better to wait to buy tickets? Delta has round trip, non-stop for $229.00 in August. I am thinking that SWA will be cheaper. We are in the middle between Bradley and Providence???

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[newholidayx2]

Hi, what is DING and how do you sign uo for it? Also, how did it get you the reduced fight prices?

Also, we are going to WDW in mid-August. Is it better to wait to buy tickets? Delta has round trip, non-stop for $229.00 in August. I am thinking that SWA will be cheaper. We are in the middle between Bradley and Providence???

Any advice would be appreciated

where are you seeing delta rt for 229 in Aug? wkday/wknd? early/late flights? cos i'll jump on it! Im paying almost $400 Delta in April! Going to WDW Fri-Fri, want to fly down early in the morn and return on a night flight

 

[UConnJack]

Anybody have any info as to my question about parking at Westchester (HPN)?

 

[Ludwig Von Drake]

UConnJack -

Have friends that fly out of HPN, who claim they have never gotten shut out of parking, but it is expensive at over $21 per day, no offsite parking around.

Don't know what part of the state you are from, but we fly out of Newburgh, NY (SWF). The drive from central CT is only about 15 minutes longer than HPN, and it is a great little airport, and parking only $40/wk in the credit card lot, which is close to the terminal.

Jetblue and Airtran just began service between SWF-MCO. You may want to check them out.

Happy planning...if you are headed to MCO for spring break, I noticed yesterday Airtran has some fares on sale!

Kim

 

[UConnJack]

Ludwig, thanks for the info! I'm in Berlin, and will often fly out of LGA or even EWR if I can't get a reasonable and/or direct flight out of BDL. I have often seen cheap rates out of HPN, and have been tempted to take them since it was closer and easier to access than the NYC airports, but the parking unknowns always stopped me. Glad to hear that parking has never been full in your friend's experience. The parking rate is high, but not so much more than the other NYC airports (~$15-17)

That said, yes I am considering SWF as well. For me it would be about 1.5 hrs, closer than NYC airports and a much easier drive, and as you said it appears to be a very easy little airport. If the times and cost are right, I will probably fly out of there for my trip trip to WDW in May.

Thanks!