For Ohio Travelers (?? on airports)

[ls1222]

We are in the Akron area, is it worth driving to PIT to save money on flights? We usually fly out of CLE. I don't really like the Canton/Akron Airport so I've really only been pricing the other two. PIT is around 850.00 for 5 tickets and CLE is running 1300-1500.00. Thanks.

 

[Laz]

I grew up in Cleveland, so I have some idea of what your talking about. If you mean Pittsburgh, it seems like an awful long way. I beleive you have better options. Try aiports like Toledo, Columbus, Dayton. Dayton would be the farthest for you at about 3 hours. If you are talking about flying into Orlando, consider flying into Tampa. My parents live near there, and they swear they can get VERY cheap flights out of Tampa to Cleveland.

 

[emo6565]

Check USA3000 out of CLE. They only flyout to Orlando on certain days of the week but if you can make it fit its worth it. We paid $850 for 6 tickets compared to the $1780 that Continental wanted. It was cheaper for us to fly out a day earlier and spend an extra day at Disney. Plus its also non stop. Good luck.

 

[Ned Land]

ls1222,

Just curious to know why you don't like CAK? I think it is awesome. Small security lines, cheaper parking, rare flight delays, and easy accessibility make this airport a good choice for us.

Try booking your air through Walt Disney Travel Company if you have on site lodging. We booked for $202.50 per ticket (on Airtran). We wanted to fly on a Friday and every airline including Airtran wanted much more money.

NL

 

[Brian Noble]

Try aiports like Toledo, Columbus, Dayton.

The latter two are likely to have better prices, and have a few direct flights to MCO daily. Transmeridian flies from Toledo to Sanford direct, but everyone else is pricy and at least one connection.

 

[CleveRocks]

We are in the Akron area, is it worth driving to PIT to save money on flights? We usually fly out of CLE. I don't really like the Canton/Akron Airport so I've really only been pricing the other two. PIT is around 850.00 for 5 tickets and CLE is running 1300-1500.00. Thanks.

So let's do the math first. Maybe 120 miles to PIT for you? 240 round trip? 5 hour drive round trip? Let's say you get 20 mpg in your vehicle, so 12 gallons of gasoline. $25? I don't know what gas costs around your way. Shoot, let's call it $30.

Let's say you get the cheapest rate out of Hopkins, $1,300. PIT will cost $850 plus $30 for gas, call it $900 total including tolls and an extra snack each way. That's $400 less than flying out of Hopkins.

So this is what it boils down to -- is it worth $400 to save 5 hours in the car? Is your collective time worth $80 an hour? $13 per hour per person? You will save $13 per hour per person by flying out of PIT instead of Hopkins. Of course, if Hopkins winds up costing $1,500 instead, then we're talking a $600 savings by using PIT, or $120 per hour, or $24 per person per hour.

Is it worth $13 - $24 per person per hour to drive to PIT? Your call!

-- Eric (former resident of Cleveland Heights, former worker in Cuyahoga Falls)

 

[Loriannf]

I bought 3 tickets from TransMeridian Air from Toledo to Orlando. Be aware, they fly to Orlando/Sanford, not MCO. This is about a 45 minute drive from Disney. I paid about $99 each way for the tickets. They only have one flight per day down (7:55 a.m) and one flight back (leaves around 8 p.m. gets to Toledo at 10:30 p.m.) I would much rather have gone to Detroit, but my husband wants to leave from here (we live about 7 miles from the Toledo airport/ 45 minutes from Detroit). I'm also finding that rental cars are more expensive in Sanford, but not so much more that it justifies a town car to Disney then renting for pickup in Orlando.

We used to live in Cleveland and flew from there alot. Now living in Toledo, we tend to use Cleveland about 25% of the time, and Detroit most of the rest - depends on whether or not we want to fly direct.

Lori

 

[Brian Noble]

I fly out of DTW all the time, and when I can fly out of TOL, I really don't mind. Parking is either much cheaper or much more convenient, depending on whether you spring for the new structure or not. Fewer lines at security. Less of a madhouse.

Cheaper drinks in the terminal, too!

Sanford is suboptimal, but not as bad as TPA for drive times.

That said, I tend to look to Spirit out of DTW for my Florida flights, but unless their fares come down, I'm going to be looking at TMA more closely, or maybe AirTran from FNT.

 

[ls1222]

Thanks everyone. I booked the free dining package last night so now I must find airfare!! I should have grabbed the southwest ding out of PIT the other night and didn't.

NL- I really don't have a good reason not to like the Akron/Canton airport besides most of the planes are small and connecting (with the exception of Airtran but their prices are not that great for our dates). I guess I like the bustling feeling of a larger airport.

I may end up going with US Air out of PIT for 178.00 roundtrip unless I get something sooner for Southwest. I'm feeling like I need to get air quick now.

 

[disneymom99]

I looked at fares from Hopkins and CAK for a while, but could find nothing under $250. We are flying out of Detroit on Spirit for $133 per person RT. This is a non stop flight that flies into MCO. My inlaws live in Toledo, so we will drive there and they will take us to the airport in Detroit. That was the best deal we found.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

We have flown out of PIT a few times. I think it is worth it if you can get a cheap flight. It is a an easy drive over and back from the Akron area.
Personally I love CAK, I try to avoid the insanity at CLE LOL. Last July we flew CAK - MCO on an AirTran direct flight and it went very smooth.
Happy airfare hunting!

 

[goofytime2000]

I've pricing airfare out of all of the major Ohio airports, as well as several in Michigan for a trip next year to WDW. I'm one where I'm not too picky as to where I fly out of, but I want to fly into MCO and want to avoid any connections in Chicago. From what I've found, flying out of CMH, Columbus, is the cheapest and also offers a decent amount direct flights. I havn't priced PIT that much, as I'm from NW Ohio. Going with what I know, I'd recomend flying out of Columbus, but if PIT is cheaper for ya, go there. It's all a matter of cost vs. coinvience, and it sounds like you know what you are looking for. Enjoy your trip.

 

[jnrrt]

We're in Columbus, and I just booked a Ding! fare for $89 both ways, direct from SWA, which ended up being about $190 a person. I've also seen their internet deals listed as $99 each way, and I've seen ATA out of Dayton for $99.

I would think CMH would be closer than Pittsburgh from Akron, but not tons.

 

[OSURules]

CMH - MCO Ding fare today is $112, a whopping savings of 5%. Ugh....

 

[jnrrt]

OSURules, I'm digging your name. I personally have no interest in sports whatsoever, but you can't live here and not be a fan of other Buckeyes, and you'd be very popular with the men in my family.

I got an ATA email with $89 each way out of Dayton yesterday.