Flying Southwest PHL to MCO

[wdwfan]

The price between these 2 airports on SW is just off the charts! I know it's comparable to other airlines, because I've checked, but still.... so disappointed with the pricing on SW lately. They used to have the best prices out there and now they have joined the ranks of the gouging airline companies. I bought my tix down to MCO at a decent rate that I was so happy to get, but coming back from MCO to PHL, that's another story. Over $200 for nonstop one way flights. Seriously? I miss the old days on Southwest.

 

[DebbieB]

The price between these 2 airports on SW is just off the charts! I know it's comparable to other airlines, because I've checked, but still.... so disappointed with the pricing on SW lately. They used to have the best prices out there and now they have joined the ranks of the gouging airline companies. I bought my tix down to MCO at a decent rate that I was so happy to get, but coming back from MCO to PHL, that's another story. Over $200 for nonstop one way flights. Seriously? I miss the old days on Southwest.

From what I heard, they used to have a deal on cheaper fuel. That deal is over so they had to raise fares. Plus they bought one of their competitors - AirTran.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Over the past couple of years I've used US Airways more. Sometimes round trip, sometimes one way and then SW the other. The price is the same or cheaper and they have more direct flights. One of these days I'd like to try Frontier out of Willmington, but the only three times a week thing hasn't worked out for me.

 

[TeachTink]

The price between these 2 airports on SW is just off the charts! I know it's comparable to other airlines, because I've checked, but still.... so disappointed with the pricing on SW lately. They used to have the best prices out there and now they have joined the ranks of the gouging airline companies. I bought my tix down to MCO at a decent rate that I was so happy to get, but coming back from MCO to PHL, that's another story. Over $200 for nonstop one way flights. Seriously? I miss the old days on Southwest.

It's not just PHL/MCO. It's like that everywhere it seems. Your flight home may be more expensive because of the day of the week you are flying. Our flight from PIT to MCO was cheaper than the flight back, but that's because we are returning on a Sunday (aka a more popular day to fly).

 

[PatMcDuck]

Flights just cost more now. Fuel, and all the other overhead has gone up. You need to adjust your expectations on what is a "fair" airfare. I fly out of PHL often, too, and now I have to accept that $125/130 each way is normal. (not $89/99 like the good old days! LOL). If I see $120/130, non-stop, good times for me, I book.

SW is usually still cheaper, when you factor in 2 free checked bags. And the ability to change flights without a charge is very important to me, too. And I am flying Tuesday to Tuesday, the last trip I booked on SW for the fall.

That said, I do fly other airlines along with using SW. JetBlue, and to the west coast, Virgin America.

 

[Lynne G]

Yeah, the days of cheap flight is not around as much. I am paying more to fly SW in August than I did at Christmas and to LA last year. Oh well, we still like to fly SW out of PHL.

 

[bookwormde]

Yes the flights for PHL went up more than many other airports Air Tran no longer competing is a big part of it.

I am now flying out of BWI most of the time even though it is another 30 minutes farther.

 

[PSUGuy]

We're using SW for the first time in Oct, $141 each way. We could have saved a few $$ on JetBlue out of Newark, same distance to drive for us as PHL but the traffic and that tram system at EWR are too much hassle. We're resigned to the cost, I wonder how high they have to go before we cut down on WDW trips.

Bill From PA

 

[MinnieGirl33]

They charge more because they can. Flights are still full.

SWA & USAirways are now the only non-stop options out of PHL.

No DINGS anymore (or when there are they are laughable), rarely included in sales.... and I can't tell you the last time when I had a flight that was on schedule (arrival or departure) and we do 4 PHL/MCO runs per year.

I so wish Virgin America would give them some competition!

 

[shoes99]

I'm going to MCO from EWR the last week of June 2014 and
I just booked $308 on United. My sis told me to check Frontier out of TTN Trenton, it was a few $ cheaper, but not accessible by NJT as easy as EWR is.
I booked last night, and this AM the fare was $338 RT. I had a $10 travel bank on United so I paid $298. That is the highest I have ever paid out of EWR. I looked at PHL but it is to far to travel.
We have a cruise booked for May and we paid $259RT out of Newark.
I'm still not used to paying that much to Orlando..

 

[beccasmom]

We have been booking on US Airways the past few years because it has been cheaper than SWA (not taking luggage fees into account). We booked SWA for our July trip; round trip cost per person is around $245.00; USAirways was much more, but I can't recall the numbers.

To be honest, I prefer SWA; I think their service is much better (though I must admit USAirways has improved IMHO; let's see how their merger affects that.)

I think SWA is gradually pulling out of the Philly market. There are routes that have been cancelled or sharply curtailed in recent years. Philly is a major hub for USAirways; it has always been tough to compete with them. I've also heard that Jet Blue is gradually adding some flights. I would be thrilled to have them both, but it will probably be one or the other in a limited capacity.

 

[DebbieB]

We have been booking on US Airways the past few years because it has been cheaper than SWA (not taking luggage fees into account). We booked SWA for our July trip; round trip cost per person is around $245.00; USAirways was much more, but I can't recall the numbers.

To be honest, I prefer SWA; I think their service is much better (though I must admit USAirways has improved IMHO; let's see how their merger affects that.)

I think SWA is gradually pulling out of the Philly market. There are routes that have been cancelled or sharply curtailed in recent years. Philly is a major hub for USAirways; it has always been tough to compete with them. I've also heard that Jet Blue is gradually adding some flights. I would be thrilled to have them both, but it will probably be one or the other in a limited capacity.

SW has decreased PHL service. They tend to retreat from other airline's hubs. They are not the favorite of business travelers with lack of first class and international destinations.

http://articles.philly.com/2014-03-15/business/48225942_1_jetblue-airways-scott-laurence-dan-landson

 

[CaptainEO71]

My "rule" used to be no higher than $200 RT to MCO (from ABE, EWR, MDT or PHL)....now I'm almost paying that per leg. Last summer my spouse had a work committment so we couldn't get the ticket until 21 days out - paid $425. We actually paid $19.99 per leg when Allegiant had a deal, and once $120RT on Frontier. Those days are long gone. Even the days of Allegiant, SW, Airtran & Frontier at $79 & $99 one way seem to have vanished.

We still take a few WDW trips per year, but really have to budget more for airfare, and watch flights on a daily basis. My new "rule" has become anything under $300RT - book it! Although I did just see a few dates out of MDT RT to MCO on USAir for $179 - I hesitated, and poof they were gone!

 

[PatMcDuck]

Yes, I agree, under $300 RT with good flight times (for me) and I book. In October, it was $141 each way (but I used SW points, booked right before they changed the formula points-$$)

And yes, I also used to have a under $200 RT-BOOK it rule. I am lucky because I can fly out of Newark, PHL, or even JFK if I have to. I remember $59 each way on Delta Song, I loved Delta Song….

I was hoping SW would have MORE flights out of PHL with the Air Tran takeover, not less.

 

[jeeperwy]

I know that y'all are a lot closer than we are, but those rates sound pretty good to me. Our local airport is $650 round trip (in June) so we have to drive 4+ hours to Denver so that we can get the privilege of flying SW at $375!

I'm just grateful that we have saved some $ over the last year so that we are able to travel.

Kari

 

[Brocktoon]

They charge more because they can. Flights are still full.

SWA & USAirways are now the only non-stop options out of PHL.

No DINGS anymore (or when there are they are laughable), rarely included in sales.... and I can't tell you the last time when I had a flight that was on schedule (arrival or departure) and we do 4 PHL/MCO runs per year.

I so wish Virgin America would give them some competition!

As you mentioned, it really comes down to SWA and US. USair used to have competitive prices, but this year their prices are insane. Like others, I was at least able to snag an October SWA one way at $141, but US is around $260 one way!!

I see things even worse going forward with SWA slowly pulling out of PHL, and the USair merger will probably push things more towards the AA hub near NYC. The options out of Trenton and DE sound good at 1st, but I know people who had flight delays, and then there were no other alternate flights out of those smaller airports so they were basically stranded or forced to take an 8 to 10 hour detour of connecting flights to get into Orlando

 

[wdwfan]

Flights just cost more now. Fuel, and all the other overhead has gone up. You need to adjust your expectations on what is a "fair" airfare. I fly out of PHL often, too, and now I have to accept that $125/130 each way is normal. (not $89/99 like the good old days! LOL). If I see $120/130, non-stop, good times for me, I book.

SW is usually still cheaper, when you factor in 2 free checked bags. And the ability to change flights without a charge is very important to me, too. And I am flying Tuesday to Tuesday, the last trip I booked on SW for the fall.

That said, I do fly other airlines along with using SW. JetBlue, and to the west coast, Virgin America.

Interesting! My flight going down to MCO from PHL was $141 per person, which I thought was decent considering today's inflated market and fuel costs. However, I'm looking at $217 per person flying back from MCO to PHL on a Saturday, for nonstop flights. I'll be purchasing 5 tickets. That's a big increase from $120/$130. Just sayin!

 

[RexyGirl]

I've been so frustrated over the same thing and glad I found others to complain with - lol. PHL is one of the possible airports I can fly out of (but it is a little further). I check prices anyway. I haven't booked anything and I'm scared I won't get a flight for the price I want. Flight out seems "fair" but flights coming back are INSANE - like what you would pay for a RT a few years ago.

So wondering if I should just gamble and do the 52 or 54 days out thing I've been reading about.

 

[Chilbert]

I know this is an old thread but I was just checking flights in preparation for next fall and noticed there are no nonstops from PHL -> MCO listed. Does anyone know if this is going to be a permanent change ?

 

[_19disnA]

It would be better to start a new thread with your question instead of tacking onto something from 8 years ago.