$$$ For SouthWest - PHL/MCO Mid Oct??

[PSUGuy]

It appears Airtran dropped the early direct flight we used to use so I'm looking at SW from 10/11 - 10/18 and I have no idea what constitutes a good price. Obviously I'll jump at anything around what I'm used to out of PHL but I have no clue what to expect when fares are released. Anyone fly SW from PHL in this time frame and care to share?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[mb187143]

It appears Airtran dropped the early direct flight we used to use so I'm looking at SW from 10/11 - 10/18 and I have no idea what constitutes a good price. Obviously I'll jump at anything around what I'm used to out of PHL but I have no clue what to expect when fares are released. Anyone fly SW from PHL in this time frame and care to share?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

The last 3-4 times i've flowd from PHL to MCO we paid about $120 each way plus fees.

 

[pamkas]

We always fly out of Philly, usually in Oct., and we've yet to pay more than
$200 rt(incl. fees) on SW...and no baggage fees on that airline!

 

[DisCookie]

I see you are going to WDW to celebrate my birthday, maybe I should book another trip, too.

 

[emilymad]

We consider anything in the $110-$120 range one way pretty good. We are flying in mid January and we got $89 one way.

 

[PSUGuy]

I see you are going to WDW to celebrate my birthday, maybe I should book another trip, too.

Happy Birthday! I'll have a drink to your Day, not that I need a reason.

Thanks to all for the info, $119 per leg is what I'm seeing for Aug., as far out as they go, and I'd be happy with that.

Bill From PA

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

There really is no reason to buy a ticket for October travel this far out, even if you could. Southwest always runs sales, some better than others. During their last winter sale I booked Orlando-Chicago for $65 each way plus tax (for January travel) and I believe Philly was the same price. Sometime next summer they'll run a sale that includes the after Labor Day but before Thanksgiving period, a notoriously slow time for air travel. But sure, if you see $99 each way before then you might go ahead and take it. But $119 each way is not a good deal for October travel, IMO.

BobK/Orlando

 

[PSUGuy]

There really is no reason to buy a ticket for October travel this far out, even if you could. Southwest always runs sales, some better than others. During their last winter sale I booked Orlando-Chicago for $65 each way plus tax (for January travel) and I believe Philly was the same price. Sometime next summer they'll run a sale that includes the after Labor Day but before Thanksgiving period, a notoriously slow time for air travel. But sure, if you see $99 each way before then you might go ahead and take it. But $119 each way is not a good deal for October travel, IMO.

BobK/Orlando

Thanks for the tip. The reason I often buy early is that i've been booking my own flights out of PHL, ABE, AVP and EWR to WDW since 1999 using just about every carrier except SW. I know what a good price is with the carriers I've used because I watch the rates even after I buy, so I'll jump on a fee that is historically good as soon as we decide to commit. Since we've paid for a BoardWalk DVC room already, we're pretty committed. I'm inclined to wait a little with SW, I just looked 8 weeks out and there are still $119 fares available, so it looks like Summer might be early enough.

Bill From PA

 

[PatMcDuck]

Lately that early first nonstop flight down to MCO from PHL has completely sold out early. Even the 2nd one books up (and that may not even be a nonstop)

I had trouble getting it for my upcoming 2 trips. Only got it for one, actually. And I mean it has been COMPLETELY sold out, not just the cheapest fare. I could not get it in mid March OR late April, and that was trying for it months ago. (and I do not mean the weeks before and after Easter).

So if the OP wants that first nonstop flight of the day, PHL to MCO and it is $119, he may want to take it, and watch for later price reductions and take the credit for any difference. For the return flights, I have non seen any such issues, so you could book it if having a future credit is ok with you, or wait to book the return.

OH, we usually pay $89-119 on SW for PHL-MCO/MCO-PHL flights.

 

[PSUGuy]

Lately that early first nonstop flight down to MCO from PHL has completely sold out early. Even the 2nd one books up (and that may not even be a nonstop)

And that's the flight I'm looking for. AirTran used to have a 6:00 or 6:30 am direct out of PHL, I even remember the number was 620, and that's gone now. I refuse to lose the first day to travel, and I'm not surprised that the SW early flights sell out fast. WHen you throw in the free checked bag, $119 each per leg is as good or better than the total we paid for AT. We did get AT out of ABE last time for less than $119, but that's a late afternon flight and I don't have the vacation time to burn on that. I'm told that our dates will come out in early March when we'll actually be in FL, 4 days in WDW, and I'll jump at $119 for an early direct.

Bill From PA

 

[luvdisney00]

I am looking for a flight out of Newark in August (have never flown SW) and my dates have not yet been released. Is it better to grab them as soon as they come out or wait. I'm looking for a morning flight on 8/21 for 5 people. The rates I looked at for earlier August looked very high. I have been watching JB (my favorite airline) but they are sold out on a lot of flights and they are still pretty high. I'm not sure if they open more flights as time gets closer, or if they release more seats or what. I've never had a problem before getting an August flight on one carrier or another for $200 or so RT. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[lurkernj]

I am looking for a flight out of Newark in August (have never flown SW) and my dates have not yet been released. Is it better to grab them as soon as they come out or wait. I'm looking for a morning flight on 8/21 for 5 people. The rates I looked at for earlier August looked very high. I have been watching JB (my favorite airline) but they are sold out on a lot of flights and they are still pretty high. I'm not sure if they open more flights as time gets closer, or if they release more seats or what. I've never had a problem before getting an August flight on one carrier or another for $200 or so RT. Any advice is appreciated.

Sw out of Newark doesnt offer direct, and their stops were very inconvenient , adding 2-5 hours to a normally less thn 3 hr flight. We always fly continental out of newark and haven't paid more than $205 rt, last trip dec 2010 was $180 Inc fees. They do charge for baggage, but we have a continental cc that gives us free bags, or we just do carryon. I watch them all the time while planning my phantom trips, and right now they're pretty high, around $291, but they'll go down.

Southwest out of Philly has some direct and prices are decent.

 

[Apopper74]

I booked R/T Phl/Mco for our next trip In May through SW the morning the flights were released and I paid $89 each way. Within a few days the prices have went up to $119-$139 depending on the flight, but some sales I have seen the price go down as low as $109. I keep watching the prices because for our return trip there is a preferably flight that with less than 4 months to go has never been released for Wanna Get Away rates.

Based on price if the price at release is less than $100 book ASAP otherwise maybe wait.

 

[TaraPA]

And that's the flight I'm looking for. AirTran used to have a 6:00 or 6:30 am direct out of PHL, I even remember the number was 620, and that's gone now. I refuse to lose the first day to travel, and I'm not surprised that the SW early flights sell out fast. WHen you throw in the free checked bag, $119 each per leg is as good or better than the total we paid for AT. We did get AT out of ABE last time for less than $119, but that's a late afternon flight and I don't have the vacation time to burn on that. I'm told that our dates will come out in early March when we'll actually be in FL, 4 days in WDW, and I'll jump at $119 for an early direct.

Bill From PA

Have you checked AT our of ABE in the last week? (I dont know how far out they have fares released) They have dropped many of their flights - the afternoon/evening flight being one of them. They now only have a 7:30am flight each day for much of spring. I don't know if they are continuing that pattern into the dates you need or not.

I actually want the evening flight for 2 March trips - and had been watching them for about 2 months. The day I decided to book, POOF they were gone! It wasn't that they were sold out - they removed the flight completely for a 30-day period. The am flights had all been departing at 8 or 8:30am, they moved them all back to 7:30am.

Fares, however, are up up up from ABE to MCO. I've never paid more than $89 each way, I just paid $99 one way and $137 for the other. Ugh. The other trip I'm watching for March I didn't book yet - both ways are $245 each - if that's the case I'll have to change carriers.

So you might want to check ABE again since they seem to be changing things!

 

[vacationclub]

There really is no reason to buy a ticket for October travel this far out, even if you could. Southwest always runs sales, some better than others. During their last winter sale I booked Orlando-Chicago for $65 each way plus tax (for January travel) and I believe Philly was the same price. Sometime next summer they'll run a sale that includes the after Labor Day but before Thanksgiving period, a notoriously slow time for air travel. But sure, if you see $99 each way before then you might go ahead and take it. But $119 each way is not a good deal for October travel, IMO.

BobK/Orlando

I beg to differ on that. Waiting always increases the chances you will pay more. If you do book and they have a temporary price dip, and you happen to notice it, you can call them for a flight credit (though it's only good for travel later with them) But waiting around for a lower price is very likely to force you to pay even more as the current prices either sell out or simply go up. If you see a price you like, just book it.

To the OP, just FYI, you said you've flown every airline except SW. Be sure to familiarize yourself with SW's unorthodox boarding procedure, and figure in another $10 per person per direction for EBCI.

 

[pamkas]

I actually beg to differ the pp. I always find the best price 21 days before my flight date....and this is without exception. I usually fly SW out of Philly. Also,
You can book different airlines for down and back. It's a great way to get
A good RT fare. I like to book very early down and late back to get the most out
Of my vaca. Last trip I booked US Airways down and Airtran(which is now SW)
back. I never pay more than $200 RT.

 

[Propro]

Bill, $119+tax seems a bit high. That's nearly $260 round trip after the fees. 21 days from now....it's still $260 on Southwest. Just remember to factor in any bag fees when you price your flights. I think $79-$99+tax each way would be a solid time to book. If you're a regular going to Florida and see a price drop after you book, just get a credit to use for next year. We fly JetBlue every year out of Newark and book the day the fares come out. It's *rare* when prices drop from there for that route.

 

[DonnaL]

We're regulars on the PHL/MCO or ABE/MCO route.....we've been dividing our time on AT out of ABE and SWA out of PHL for the past several years. I never pay more than $99 + tax for either one way....and it's usually less. I find I get my best price about six to eight weeks out. However, I've also noticed AT has added that second flight per day (early morning) and can't help but feel it's in prep for later in the year when AT fully becomes SWA for booking also. So, I would seriously start watching both websites over the next few months for news of that happening and why drive to PHL if you can get an early AM flight from ABE. We used AT/ABE on our last trip to the F & WF in October, but, had enough points to pay for both of us one way, so only cost us $82 + tx each for the trip home. Unfortunately, I think we're taking this year off.....hubby is getting his other knee replaced in May and our daughter just booked her wedding today for 8/25.....so it's doubtful ....unless we decide over the summer to try and squeeze a few days at the F & W in mid October again.

 

[PSUGuy]

Thanks to everyone for all the eye-opening advice. I thought I was a minor expert on getting to MCO from my neck of the woods but I learned a lot. To TaraPA and DonnaL, thanks for the info on ABE. We took that route last March but at that time there was only one flight, a late afternoon affair that wouldn't fit our Oct plans. I see the 7:30 am flight for spring, I'd jump at that in a minute if it's out for Oct as well, ABE is at least an hour closer than PHL.

Bill From PA

 

[TaraPA]

Just poppnig back in to say that I watch AT from ABE to MCO like a hawk, and some late March dates I was looking at dropped in price. They had been $245 each way, they went to $87 each way. We are BOOKED!! So if anyone is contemplating March, check again!