Flying out of Boston

[New England Eeyore]

I was wondering if you all could give me an idea of what you consider a good price for airfare for Boston to Orlando.

I have 2 trips planned - November when the dates are flexible and December when the dates are rigid (Dec 1-4). We've used JetBlue for our past 4 trips, but they haven't announced fares that far in advance and when they do it's always really high at first. Right now Delta has the Dec dates for $177. I'm wondering if I should just grab that now? Last year we paid about $200 on JetBlue. But then what are the possibilities of the flight times changing this far out? Since it's such a short trip, times would be crucial (arrive early, leave late) and it would really mess us up if we didn't get what we originally chose.

Help! I'd love to hear your opinions. Thanks in advance!

 

[madalynns mom]

Delta is the cheapest as of right now as far as I know but you could always fly out of providence and fly with southwest

 

[New England Eeyore]

Southwest isn't a viable option for us. We're over an hour from each Providence or Manchester, and only 30 min from Logan. We always get someone to drive us to the airport and no one's going to drive us that far!

 

[minster22]

As tough as it is to wait to buy those plane tickets ( I love to buy them asap), in this case I think you would do well to wait for awhile for Jet Blue. They have a lot of reduced fares during both of these time frames, although you may not get a great deal flying over the weekend in Dec.I kept track of JB fares last summer for our upcoming October 2006 trip, they started March 23, 2005 at $355 and they kept going down and the lowest was $135 on 7/19/2005. Song/Delta was similar in prices but I am leary about using them because they change their flight times so often and probably wouldn't get the TV's now. Unless you have a lot of people to buy tickets for, I would hold out for even awhile after they release those Nov/Dec fares.They will issue a credit on your account if the flights are exact matches and the fares do drop. Hope this helps.....

 

[momrek06]

I would check daily for a while before you buy on JETBLUE. DH & I bought tix JETBLUE last October '05 for Jan '06 travel and we got $39.99pp going down and for our return the best I got was $59.99pp....well the VERY NEXT DAY, like not even 24 hours that same flight return went down to $39.99pp and I quickly emailed JETBLUE to tell them it was not even 24 hours earlier that I booked could I get a credit of $20.00pp and they offered me a credit immediately but to use as future travel so all in all we got $78.00pp from Logan to MCO!!! So keep looking and check everyday until you see a fare you really like. Also try AIRFAREWATCHDOG for some good airfares.

 

[mainewmn]

I would buy airfare from BOS to MCO for $79 or less. The last time we flew in January we paid $69 per person on JetBlue. I would say wait and see what happens when they make their rates past September available.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

The lowest I've ever seen is $59+ from Boston and $49+ from Providence one way per person. So if I can pick up something for $500 total or less for the 3 of us I jump on it right away. For April 2004, my wife hates to fly, my daughter was 3 and we couldn't come up with a decent Airfare, so we drove straight through in 22 hours; it wasn't that bad and I would have no problem doing it again. Last April 2005 we went non-stop on American Airlines, $504 for the 3 of us. Last August I jumped on a non-stop Song flight for the 1st week of April 2006; $496 for the 3 of us. For April 2007 if I see something for $500 or less I'll take it without thinking twice. Otherwise, if all goes well, the creek don't rise and there ain't no melt down...we drive.
Good Luck All,
Joe

 

[cranbiz]

I have got $49 from Boston and $39 from Providence but I don't expect to see those now. The best I've seen lately is $49 from Providence and $69 from Boston.

The recent fare from Boston was a JetBlue sale and Providence was a Southwest DING.

Those best prices were Independence (won't see that ever again) and Southwest

 

[cepmom]

last August, we flew Logan to MCO for $155 rt on Song...I have been checking for this August and nothing that cheap yet. I am hoping for a good rate from Southwest. We are probably near each other....we are about 30 minutes from Logan too....DH has been flying out of Providence a lot for business and really likes it better than Logan. He drives himself and pays for parking ~ $20 per day. It might be worthwhile for you to drive yourselves to either Providence or Manchester if you can get a good rate from Southwest.

 

[beattyfamily]

I've paid anywhere from $100 RT per person up to $220 RT per person with the average being about $170 RT per person.

Depending on when I'm going and how popular a time it is, I decide what I'm willing to pay.

My preference is Jetblue so I try and wait till they come out. I haven't bought my October tickets yet since Jetblue hasn't released October yet.

Good luck!

 

[New England Eeyore]

Thanks everyone for the input. I think I'll wait for JetBlue. I really don't want to take a chance on flight times changing with Song this far in advance. Besides, obsessively checking airfare costs gives me something to do between now and then!!

 

[mell]

I would book now. In this way you get a decent deal at $177 and you pick your times, instead of leaving it to chance. I have flown from Bos several times and always pay around 175 and get the times I want as I book early. I always fly delta and the times have never changed by more than 20 minutes on either end. I have seen rates go down, but also have seen them go up with not as great arrival departrure times. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Dewy]

A recent post cited fuel cost hurting JetBlue profitability. Seemed to indicate that their fares are going up so Delta might be the best deal.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure I understand your reluctance to use "Song". Beginning a booking on their website will link you to Delta reservations. Delta is reorganizing and expects to come out of bankruptcy in FAR less time than it took United.
I wouldn't (and won't) hesitate to fly that airline.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I'm not sure I understand your reluctance to use "Song". Beginning a booking on their website will link you to Delta reservations. Delta is reorganizing and expects to come out of bankruptcy in FAR less time than it took United.
I wouldn't (and won't) hesitate to fly that airline.

I'm not reluctant because of airline stability. As I said in my original post, I'm worried about the possibility of the flight times changing this far in advance.

 

[magiroux]

If that is the reason for your reluctance, ITA, you should be nervous. I booked my Easter Trip (before bankruptcy) with Song. When I booked the plane was les than 1/2 full. They changed my flight time from 5pm to 6:55pm..no big deal. Called and got my seats assigned.

I know to watch the website religiously for flight times 'cause you have to call to get your seat assignment. Well, a few weeks ago they changed the flights by 2 minutes and lost my seats. Unfortunately things were going on in my life where I wasn't paying attention and they will not give me assigned seats. I have to check in at the desk for seats, which now means, I have to get to the airport even earlier and still may end up on stand by because I was told strait out it is "seriously overbooked". Well, my feeling is I booked it before it was "seriously overbooked" and I would like assigned seats back. Talked to three different people and got nowhere and they weren't exactly polite about it.

This is the last flight out of the day on Easter Vacation Week. Needless to say, I would hesitate to book Delta again, especially for a busy time of year. We are also going down to WDW for the DCL 10 day X-Mas cruise. I am definately flying Jet Blue even if I have to pay a little more for piece of mind.

 

[CAP Aircrew]

The flight time changed on me and it happened while I was at Disney. So the return to Boston changed by a few minutes and I lost my seats (4 of them) when I checked in for the return flight. I checked in using the self check kiosk and was told to proceed to the regular check in for seat assignment. The only problem was now they had us split up. While I am a very comforatble flyer, my wife is not and they had us on two opposite ends of the plane. The check in desk would do nothing but I was finally able to to get the Gate agent to put us all together.

 

[magiroux]

The flight time changed on me and it happened while I was at Disney. So the return to Boston changed by a few minutes and I lost my seats (4 of them) when I checked in for the return flight. I checked in using the self check kiosk and was told to proceed to the regular check in for seat assignment. The only problem was now they had us split up. While I am a very comforatble flyer, my wife is not and they had us on two opposite ends of the plane. The check in desk would do nothing but I was finally able to to get the Gate agent to put us all together.

OK, just so I have this strait....Skycap can't help, so I have to check in at the desk and they will give me a seat (albiet, maybe not together) and then go to the gate for further help in seating arrangements. I only ask because I know this flight back to Boston is going to be a busy nightmare and I want to make sure I have the best options for snagging a seat (any seat) as soon as I hit the airport. If we have to sit apart I'll deal with it, although I feel bad for the person that gets stuck next to DD...she will not like being alone.

sorry if I took this off topic, but any help would be appreciated

 

[cepmom]

The flight time changed on me and it happened while I was at Disney. So the return to Boston changed by a few minutes and I lost my seats (4 of them) when I checked in for the return flight. I checked in using the self check kiosk and was told to proceed to the regular check in for seat assignment. The only problem was now they had us split up. While I am a very comforatble flyer, my wife is not and they had us on two opposite ends of the plane. The check in desk would do nothing but I was finally able to to get the Gate agent to put us all together.

wow ...lst August I flew Song and our flight time had changed for the return flight a few months before hand from something like 8:30 to 6:55. I never did anything to get my seats reassigned and had no problem getting my original seat assignments. I sure am glad I didn't have to go through the hassle you did...I would not have been happy!

 

[brentalex]

OK, just so I have this strait....Skycap can't help, so I have to check in at the desk and they will give me a seat (albiet, maybe not together) and then go to the gate for further help in seating arrangements. I only ask because I know this flight back to Boston is going to be a busy nightmare and I want to make sure I have the best options for snagging a seat (any seat) as soon as I hit the airport. If we have to sit apart I'll deal with it, although I feel bad for the person that gets stuck next to DD...she will not like being alone.

sorry if I took this off topic, but any help would be appreciated

I am flying on Song for our Spring break trip and they have changed the flight times too many times to count. Sometimes it is by a minute or two. Each time they drop our seat assignments. Each time I contact them and they have always gotten the seats back for us. I have started checking the web site daily to see if they change it again. I tried to find out why this happens when they are really not changing anything, why drop the assignments, but they have no good answer. I am just happy that they always get them back. I do make sure they understand we are flying with children, so maybe that is why I get them back, but I feel your pain. At the airport they will usually try to get people to move so that families can sit together,especially so children can sit with at least one parent