Flying into Lakeland/West Orlando

[Sprockie]

I am very excited. Direct Air has added a new route into Lakeland from Plattsburg NY. Very good news for us northerners. I booked 4 of us today for $800.00. I would much rather fly from a small airport to another small airport and avoid the big Orlando International.

 

[proud_canadian]

What are you going to do for a rental car? That is my only hestiation with booking into this airport.

 

[Sprockie]

The airport confirmed for me Friday that Hertz and Enterprise will be at the airport. Perhaps others too, but those two are confirmed. The woman I emailed at the airport said there would be more details this coming week on their website. I figure since they are beginning service in June, they'll have 7 months to get things ironed out before we fly in.
The great rate ($79.00)is over tonight I believe though, but Direct Air has lots of sales.
With our Canadian dollar so strong right now, I couldn't resist booking.

 

[cricket429]

If you dont mind me asking Sprockie, when are you going?

I would be flying Direct out of Niag.Falls to Lakeland next April but only see availability on the day we want to leave, April 6th but nothing for when we want to come home, April 14 or 15. Wondering if those dates are sold out already or if they just have not posted them yet.

Thanks

 

[Sprockie]

We are flying at the end of January to mid Feb for 2 weeks. When I searched, I saw that only Wednesdays and Saturdays were on the schedule for that flight, which was perfect because we have reserved a condo for 2 weeks beginning on a Wednesday. All other days kept showing sold out - so maybe it's a flight schedule issue. Maybe they don't fly your route everyday.

 

[Sprockie]

If you dont mind me asking Sprockie, when are you going?

I would be flying Direct out of Niag.Falls to Lakeland next April but only see availability on the day we want to leave, April 6th but nothing for when we want to come home, April 14 or 15. Wondering if those dates are sold out already or if they just have not posted them yet.

Thanks

Upon looking at their website, my guess would be their schedule only goes to April 9th. There doesn't seem to be anything available after that.

 

[cricket429]

Thats what I was thinking too.
I know I have plenty of time but as soon as I get the airfare out of the
way, I can start to plan the rest of our trip.
Wish it wasnt a year away but the planning is fun.

 

[fitmom3]

I also booked with Direct Air for March break. We couldn't resist paying only $79 pp. My friend just got back today from Clearwater. She flew out of Niagara Falls with Direct Air and had great flights. She said she would do it again. It was hassle free dealing with the smaller airports.

 

[cricket429]

Will just have to wait a bit to see when they put out the rates for April break. I will be doing a happy dance if I can still get the $79 rate for April

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Looking to book to for March 2012, where will it land in Orlando???

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Looking to book to for March 2012, where will it land in Orlando???

It won't land in Orlando

It will land in Lakeland.

Kind of misleading IMHO to try to call this airport Orlando

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

It won't land in Orlando

It will land in Lakeland.

Kind of misleading IMHO to try to call this airport Orlando

Oh...ok. So even further from Port Canaveral

 

[Lewisc]

Isn't the airport closer to Tampa then to Orlando?

Rental rates might wind up being a little higher then we're used to paying. Less competition. Fewer flights means the rental agency will have to cover their fixed costs over fewer rentals.

Probably not a big deal for people who were planning on renting a car. An extra $100-$200 (hypothetical number) to rent a car for a family of 4 may not be a deal breaker.

An extra $200 for a couple who otherwise would use DME might wipe out most of the airfare savings.

 

[Sprockie]

It's about a 40 minute drive from Disney. The bonus for us is to avoid coming into a huge airport. We got such a screaming deal on airfare I don't mind if the rental car is a bit more.
Hertz is locating there and when I called Budget, they said they were having a location at the Lakeland airport as well.

 

[Orlando Vic]

It won't land in Orlando

It will land in Lakeland.

Kind of misleading IMHO to try to call this airport Orlando

Indeed!

Lakeland is 2/3 of the way to Tampa along I-4.

 

[npcougar]

It's about a 40 minute drive from Disney. The bonus for us is to avoid coming into a huge airport. We got such a screaming deal on airfare I don't mind if the rental car is a bit more.
Hertz is locating there and when I called Budget, they said they were having a location at the Lakeland airport as well.

Orlando's airport is very nice. We were concerned flying into it the first time but our concerns were unfounded. If you could get similar or cheaper price into MCO, I'd just go to MCO.

 

[fitmom3]

The airport is close to Tampa. We will only have to drive about 15/20 minutes longer to Windsor Hills from this airport than MCO.

 

[Sprockie]

The airport is close to Tampa. We will only have to drive about 15/20 minutes longer to Windsor Hills from this airport than MCO.

Right, and I'll bet we'll be in our rental car and halfway to Windsor Hills by the time folks in MCO collect their luggage, stand in the rental car lineup and navigate their way out of the Orlando airport.

 

[Lewisc]

Right, and I'll bet we'll be in our rental car and halfway to Windsor Hills by the time folks in MCO collect their luggage, stand in the rental car lineup and navigate their way out of the Orlando airport.

You're going to rent a car anyway. You find great airfare to Lakeland give it a shot.

Luggage comes out pretty quickly at MCO. Rental agencies are busy most of the day. Quick rent programs. Kiosks. Most people get out of MCO pretty fast.

Rental agencies will have a handful of customers from general aviation with the bulk of their business when the few commercial flights land. It's possible some customers will be waiting 30 minutes, or more.