Flying Northwest out of MSP

[Jenn Lynn]

Do I have a chance of getting a rate lower than $233/person for the last week of September or is this going to be about the best I can get? I am looking to fly out on the 7am flight and return on the 1:15 flight. I know they are a few $$ cheaper if I flew out later, but it's not that much of a difference.

I also don't like Airtrans non-stop flight times and DH won't do connections.

Any experienced MSP fliers have advice for me?

 

[kimmikayb]

Which city is that (sorry for my dumbness)? I just got tickets through Northwest out of Moline IL for $128 (+taxes).

 

[CarolMN]

Have you checked Sun Country? They go non-stop MSP-MCO, use the bright, clean smaller & more convenient HHH terminal, still serve meals and their flight & gate staff are very nice. They are not in bankruptcy, either.

Just for fun, I checked the fare for 9/23-9/30 (thru Hobbitt Travel) and found non-stop RT for $245 pp. Depart MSP at 8am & Arr MCO 12:05pm. Return Depart MCO at 1pm Arr MSP 3:20 pm.

IMHO, it's worth a few dollars extra to avoid NWA right now.

Best wishes -

 

[zulaya]

If you are travelling Sat-Sat, that is probably the best you are going to get. NWA has been raising prices something fierce. September is supposed to be a slower time for FL so you'd think you'd see the airline's best deal.

The best I have ever gotten on NWA was $197 but that was shortly aafter 9/11 and it was travelling Weds-Weds, which is a cheaper day to fly.

If your dates are firm, I'd take it. You never know when they will raise it.

I'd also consider Sun Country. They have been very reliable for several years and their schedule is consistent. As CarolMN said, they leave from the smaller terminal. They also serve meals on their flights still as part of the fare.

I'm hoping I can get a price approaching yours for my early December trip. Right now, for my ideal flight times (which are yours ~ leaving on the first flight in the AM and a mid afternoon flight home) is $414 on NWA, $315 on Sun Country.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Thanks for the Sun Country tip. I have never flown them before. Is that a good rate for them?

kimmikayb-I have flown out of MLI before (used to live in the QCA), but now it is a 5 hour drive for us to get there. It's not horrible becasue IL's live about 1.5 hours from Moline, but I don't want to have to drive that far on the way back.

 

[dudspizza]

Thanks for the Sun Country tip. I have never flown them before. Is that a good rate for them?

kimmikayb-I have flown out of MLI before (used to live in the QCA), but now it is a 5 hour drive for us to get there. It's not horrible becasue IL's live about 1.5 hours from Moline, but I don't want to have to drive that far on the way back.

Ok, I will pipe in on the Sun Country talk here. Last June I flew for $203 all included. That was leave on Tuesday and back the next Wednesday. Sun Country always offers their best prices on tues/wed flights. Is $245 a good price for them, I don't think so, BUT, they have been higher the last 6 months or so.

Right now, Airtran is the best priced airline out of MSP. Their times are not great. I booked the only non-stop each way in October 10:07am out fo MSP and 9am coming back from MCO, but the price was right. Airtran also changes flight times a lot, so you have to be prepared for that.

My number has always been $200 all included out of MSP. If you can get that, you have done well.... if you can get it for slightly higher and are very happy with the flight times, then buy.

Basically set a price you are willing to pay and then buy when it gets to that price.

Have fun!

Duds

 

[kimmikayb]

Have you checked Sun Country? They go non-stop MSP-MCO, use the bright, clean smaller & more convenient HHH terminal, still serve meals and their flight & gate staff are very nice. They are not in bankruptcy, either.

Just for fun, I checked the fare for 9/23-9/30 (thru Hobbitt Travel) and found non-stop RT for $245 pp. Depart MSP at 8am & Arr MCO 12:05pm. Return Depart MCO at 1pm Arr MSP 3:20 pm.

IMHO, it's worth a few dollars extra to avoid NWA right now.

Best wishes -

Just wondering...is there a reason other then price to avoid NWA right now? Maybe you know something I hadn't heard yet? Which could explain why I got such a low rate? Agg, now I'm worried.

 

[pugdog]

Nothing to worry about Kim, NWA just hoses all of us that fly out of MSP.
Jenn lynn I also use the $200 marker to buy too. Thats about the best your going to get nonstop. The cheapest I have gotten in the last 5 years was $99 on AA but then you have to transfer somewhere. Last December we got $ 150 NS on NWA. So it can be cheaper but you can't count on it.

 

[CarolMN]

NWA is in bankruptcy - they still do not have a "bankruptcy judge approved" contract with their pilots. Even though I think all will be well in the end, I'd rather avoid them (and the worry) for now. If the pilots ever decide to strike, NWA will have to liquidate. (Probably not a huge chance of that, but there is no reason for me to risk it if there are viable alternatives).

We have an early December trip coming up and I'm waiting for some better fares, too. If Air Tran or Sun Country is within a few dollars of NWA, I'll be choosing one of them.

Best wishes -

 

[m1ckeym0use1]

I'm also a fan of Sun Country. I think last year we paid $158 plus tax for roundtrip MSP to MCO in September.

For this September, I went with Air Tran as I was able to get $146 plus tax through Disney's CRO.

 

[rhiansmom]

Mid September I'm flying out of Ft Dodge, IA to MCO for $208 roundtrip... we go to MSP first so it's a longer flight. Crazy that it's cheaper.

 

[kkmauch]

I like to use NW for most of my flights as well, mostly because they offer the best times to choose from. I like to leave early and come home late. Usually I can fly any day of the week, so my mark is always $200 total. If I can get it for cheaper great, if not I try to be as close as possible. I am going in a little less than a month now and I got it for $223 total, flying out at 7ish and arriving back at 9ish, non-stop of course. I have used Sun Country a few times in the last couple of years. I've found them to have good prices but few choices on flight times. But, one redeeming quality for them is that if I have any money left over when I fly home, I can purchase a one-way first class upgrade at the ticket counter for $75 or sometimes even less. It's a great way to end a vacation.

 

[hercamore]

Hi JL

Read any good books lately, LOL?

My inlaws flew to Orlando last week on SunCountry. They were very pleased with the good seats and FREE FOOD on the flight.

SC has good dept and return times, too. Plus, it's at the Humphrey terminal. Easier parking, less hassle.

herc.

 

[deide71]

We booked Airtran this year in Oct. over MEA because of two free flights thanks to the Wendy's deal. I agree, anything around the $200 range out of MSP is about the best you could hope for.

A friend of mine booked through Disney and got 177/pp in sept for nonstop flights, this was through Airtran though.