Flying out of NY for Presidents week

[corpcomp]

I've never posted on this board but after looking at some pricing for Feb, ranging between $2500 to $3000 for three of us going down Feb 17 through the 25th, I need advice. I've looked at Hartford, JFK, White Plains, Newark, LGA and they all are a huge rip off regardless of airline. We were just there last week for only $950 r/t for the three of us.

Anyone have some advice regarding how to find a more economical rate? Really is not worth going to Disney for $3000 airfare and DW only gets off 5-6 days max from her job so we cannot drive.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I've never posted on this board but after looking at some pricing for Feb, ranging between $2500 to $3000 for three of us going down Feb 17 through the 25th, I need advice. I've looked at Hartford, JFK, White Plains, Newark, LGA and they all are a huge rip off regardless of airline. We were just there last week for only $950 r/t for the three of us.

Anyone have some advice regarding how to find a more economical rate? Really is not worth going to Disney for $3000 airfare and DW only gets off 5-6 days max from her job so we cannot drive.

I don't know what airlines you're looking at but if you can stand to drive to Philly, I swear PHL-MCO is the cheapest flights of all going to MCO.
For your dates on SWA I see and 7 am non stop for $132 then an 8 pm return also for $132. Total for 3 with tax is $856.20. No baggage fees.


There's a Marriott hotel directly attached to PHL (similar to the Hyatt at MCO) so you can roll out of bed and head to the gate.


Same dates on USAirways is 7am departure, 7:35 pm return flight for $1354.20

Airtran: not so great flight times but better ones are avail for more $. Depart PHL 12:45pm Depart MCO 9:42am Total for 3 with taxes: $874.20

Around here, President's Day is only 1 day off school so it's not a popular travel week for us.
The extra drive is a PITA but I think it's still easier than paying out the nose to fly from closer to home. 3 hrs, 6 mins according to Mapquest. We have flown out of Baltimore and it wasn't bad. (Going to Buffalo/Niagara Falls & SWA doesn't fly there from PHL.) Definitely not as convenient as flying from close to home but it was still better than driving the whole way. jmho.

Good luck!

 

[DVCKev]

Check Logan in Boston and Providence in RI. Might be a little drive, but it could be worth it at those prices. I go during April vacation and up here in Boston the prices are similarly outragous. So we are comtemplating taking a train to NY, sleeping over, and flying non stop to Orlando the next morning for our next trip and saving almost $2k after the train there and back and the hotel as well. We might even make a day trip to Manhattan and will probably still save after my wife's spending lol. Good luck!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Also Airtran flies non stop from Allentown, PA. Might be a little shorter drive!

 

[silmarg]

Presidents Week is expensive to fly out of cities where the schools are off for the whole week - which means NY and points north and east.

Most of the rest of the country will only get that Monday off.

We like to goto WDW (or DL) during that week.

We have flown out of Philly (on Southwest) and Baltimore (on Airtran).

And yes, Allentown seems to have some good deals of late.

 

[Elmo007]

Its not the most pleasant airline but Spirit may be cheaper out of Atlantic City

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Its not the most pleasant airline but Spirit may be cheaper out of Atlantic City

I hate everything about Spirit airlines except their prices.

My 21 year old son said he never wanted to fly them again. I booked a trip for November and asked if he wanted to fly Spirit, pay for his own ticket or stay home.

We'll be flying Spirit in November.

 

[Sprockie]

Try Direct Air. We're flying from Plattsburg NY at the end of January. Rates can be as low as about $150 pp return to Lakeland Florida.

 

[BabsBunny]

We usually fly SYR to MCO for Pres Week, and I feel your pain. If I can get Weds to Mon for $400 pp, I'm celebrating. If you don't want to drive to another airport, you may want to consider something like that.

 

[maps]

President's week is always a nightmare for us up north. The week before and the week after are significantly cheaper.

Options would be to travel on a Tues or Wed to get better deals.

Don't bother waiting to see if flights will go down as the date gets closer; trust me, they won't! I've done that for the last 2 yrs and ended up going nowhere since there was no way I was willing to pay those outrageous flight fees.

Good luck

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Actually this is ONE of the few times I would recommend buying the MINUTE tickets go on sale. OP has missed that window which makes things tougher.

I agree that being flexible on airports/flight times is the key.

Do the searches above, if you can find something you like BOOK it. Others are right, chances of a sale are slim.

Comparing that $950 rate to Presidents Day week out of the NE is not really a viable comparison. The airlines know everyone is desperate to get out of there and will charge what the market will bear.

(That said I would stay home before I flew Spirit. I am serious )

 

[Alexander]

Presidents Week out of NY is the most expensive week we fly. Including: Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. We've flown them all and Pres. Week is ALWAYS the most expensive.

If we decide to go to FL over Presidents Week, I book the tickets as soon as they are available. We fly out of SYR, ROC or BUF (upstate, central NY airports). The prices will only continue to climb. If you find something you can live with book it, otherwise you'll continue to watch the prices go up.

 

[123Dis4Me]

Have you checked flying out of Newburgh, NY? I know that Jet Blue, and maybe other airlines, fly direct to Orlando from there. It shouldn't be too bad of a drive from Connecticut. Good luck.

 

[debster812]

Well, President's Week is among THE MOST EXPENSIVE week to fly from the Northeast to Florida, so that unfortunately is your 1st strike.

I actually booked my flights for President's Week 2012 within a couple of days of JetBlue releasing their most recent set of fares. We are flying BOS-TPA and then RSW-BOS. We leave Weds Feb 15th and come back Fri Feb 24th. I scored $230 per person, non stop for the round trip. But, we booked super early. There may be some fare sales, but you'll have to act quick.

I would also be leery of flying Spirit, Allegiant, Virgin America, Direct Air, etc during this time frame. The weather can be very dicey, and if there are delays, some of these smaller, nearly-charter type airlines can have major problems getting you out. We were delayed several years ago, and it took Delta 3 days to get us to Florida!