Free Dining Pin but cant afford to get ther !! HELP!!

[pinkerbell]

I have tried priceline ($654 per person) and southwest ($650 per person ) and Disney travel agent ($600 per person) round trip

Amtrack had no sleepers left and a travel time well over 24 hours (kids need a place to sleep)

We are a family of 4 - 2 adult and 2 kids ages 4 and 6

going from Spfld ma (bradley airport) to Orlando

we usually pay around $200 round trip

Are there any other suggestions (driving is NOT an option) on how I might find a cheap way to get to FLA for this trip - we have even tried changes the date 3 and 4 days before and after and keep getting the same prices.
Unless we can find a decent price for a fligh and savings on the Free dining is more than lost by the price of the flight...

suggestions welcome and NEEDED!!!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I have tried priceline ($654 per person) and southwest ($650 per person ) and Disney travel agent ($600 per person) round trip

Amtrack had no sleepers left and a travel time well over 24 hours (kids need a place to sleep)

We are a family of 4 - 2 adult and 2 kids ages 4 and 6

going from Spfld ma (bradley airport) to Orlando

we usually pay around $200 round trip

Are there any other suggestions (driving is NOT an option) on how I might find a cheap way to get to FLA for this trip - we have even tried changes the date 3 and 4 days before and after and keep getting the same prices.
Unless we can find a decent price for a fligh and savings on the Free dining is more than lost by the price of the flight...

suggestions welcome and NEEDED!!!

Schedule your trip to start on a Wednesday and come home on a Wednesday. Much cheaper to fly mid-week than on the weekends.

 

[Missytara]

Is there another airport a bit farther away that offers lower flights?

I am not familiar with your area, but I am halfway between PHL and BWI. It is about 1-3/4 hours each way.

BWI is always consistently lower than PHL for any flights that I book.

 

[ccgirl]

Try PVD. airtran also has god flights.

 

[3princess mommy]

Did you check Logan or Providence they have lower fairs

 

[jog58]

Just out of curiosity why is driving not an option for you guys?

 

[pinkerbell]

Schedule your trip to start on a Wednesday and come home on a Wednesday. Much cheaper to fly mid-week than on the weekends.

not possible due to school and work commitments - tried leaving later and earlier and the trip shrank to an overnighter even thur to tue was $$$$ the entire week is VERY high

Is there another airport a bit farther away that offers lower flights?

I am not familiar with your area, but I am halfway between PHL and BWI. It is about 1-3/4 hours each way.

BWI is always consistently lower than PHL for any flights that I book.

I checked RI and Albany NY and they were high also, and we would then have to add on extra $$$ for parking -we are only 12 minutes from the airport so we get dropped off and picked up

we may have to scrap it with the much higher transportation costs, but have to ask for suggestions before giving up!

 

[iluveeyore]

If you're leaving in six months (by your ticker) could you not just sign up for Southwest Ding! and wait for cheaper air fare? I have never booked a flight out of Buffalo more than 3 months out. I know it's hard to wait, but I would if you can. We went last August, and I booked the beginning of June for 8 of us at $72 each way.

 

[pinkerbell]

Just out of curiosity why is driving not an option for you guys?

we are 20 hours away and I may be going without DH due to work - with a 2 and 4 yr old - to spend two extra day out of the trip each way is not worth it

We bought an AP during our visit in Feb, since we will also be going in Sept, but the kids have already taken time off, so I will not take them out of school again.

We are trying to get the most use of it, but not when it's not cost effective...

example spending an extra $1000 on airfare dose not make $600 worth of free dining FREE anymore

and is Ben a good guy or a Bad guy????? I think the black smoke is good and Jacob was bad???? just my take :

 

[RalphMouth]

Have you tried kayak dot com ?

 

[pinkerbell]

If you're leaving in six months (by your ticker) could you not just sign up for Southwest Ding! and wait for cheaper air fare? I have never booked a flight out of Buffalo more than 3 months out. I know it's hard to wait, but I would if you can. We went last August, and I booked the beginning of June for 8 of us at $72 each way.

sorry for the confusion - we are looking to leave in April -
I got a pin yesterday for free dining in April - June

I realize it is VERY late to book - I NEVER book this late that is why I am at a loss for options, we purchased an AP in Feb and want to get in as many cost effective trips as possible, but it doenst work when the flights are so expensive as they often are when you book so late but I just got the pin so figures I'd give it a try

 

[jog58]

we are 20 hours away and I may be going without DH due to work - with a 2 and 4 yr old - to spend two extra day out of the trip each way is not worth it

We bought an AP during our visit in Feb, since we will also be going in Sept, but the kids have already taken time off, so I will not take them out of school again.

We are trying to get the most use of it, but not when it's not cost effective...

example spending an extra $1000 on airfare dose not make $600 worth of free dining FREE anymore

and is Ben a good guy or a Bad guy????? I think the black smoke is good and Jacob was bad???? just my take :

oh yeah, having one driver and two kids would be tough. I don't have any other ideas, sorry.

Honestly, anyone with any kind of answers on that show lies so I stopped trying to figure it out three seasons ago. Gives me a headache

P.S.
Ben is an awesome guy.

 

[pinkerbell]

oh yeah, having one driver and two kids would be tough. I don't have any other ideas, sorry.

Honestly, anyone with any kind of answers on that show lies so I stopped trying to figure it out three seasons ago. Gives me a headache

P.S.
Ben is an awesome guy.

I think I'm hijacking my own thread, so is it really hijacking then??? anyway

DH and I got frustrated about 3 seasons ago, but felt we had invested enough time into it to just wait it out since the "end" was announced, keep watching and see what happens - but every week are r like OHMG we have to stop wathing....but there's only __ episodes left AHHHHHHH stop the insanity!@!!!

 

[jog58]

I think I'm hijacking my own thread, so is it really hijacking then??? anyway

DH and I got frustrated about 3 seasons ago, but felt we had invested enough time into it to just wait it out since the "end" was announced, keep watching and see what happens - but every week are r like OHMG we have to stop wathing....but there's only __ episodes left AHHHHHHH stop the insanity!@!!!

We watched seasons 1-5 in a two month span. It got a little tough at some points but you're right. You start thinking "oh there is only so many episodes left, I might as well stick to it." I just hope I don't end up throwing things at my TV after the finale.

Oh let me beat anyone to it.

 

[ccgirl]

I am right to assume you are looking at going during April vacation? It is EXTREMELY difficult to get "reasonable" airfare Sat to Sat that week. Supply and demand. I looked at Kayak and if you would consider going Thur April 8th thru Tues April 13th out of PVD you can get all 4 tickets for $675. Times weren't too bad. Check out kayak and orbitz. Good luck.

 

[joe-aka-papabear]

I tried to find cheap flights for those dates but couldn't...You should go the first week in May. The flights are cheaper and thats when all the cool people are going. LOL

 

[thruthelookinglass19]

We always fly Spirit . . . do they fly out of your area? They usually have really good deals!

 

[Sammy]

Unfortunately you are traveling during prime school vacation weeks for both MA and NH, which affects several airports in the area. We are from NH and could not even touch the Southwest flights out of Manchester for the last week in April. We have to fly JetBLue out of Logan and even then, I'm paying more than I ever have for flights. Like you, because of scheduling conflicts with work and school, we have to fly on a Saturday which limited us even more. Good luck and keep searching every day.....you never know when you might catch a quick sale!

 

[francie57]

Not sure how far you want to travel to get to an airport, but have you tried LaGuardia or White Plains. They are usually cheaper than Bradley since they offer more flights. I know JetBlue and AirTran go out of White Plains and basically every airline goes out of LaG. As others have asked, if your kids are so young, do you have to stick to a school vacation trip or can you move your dates. Not sure if you are teachers.

 

[DC7800]

Amtrack had no sleepers left and a travel time well over 24 hours (kids need a place to sleep)

We are a family of 4 - 2 adult and 2 kids ages 4 and 6

going from Spfld ma (bradley airport) to Orlando

we usually pay around $200 round trip

If you really want a bargain fare, you should travel coach instead of sleeper anyway. This close to your travel dates, especially with the sleepers already mostly booked, they are going to be very expensive even if you find availability. It is possible to sleep in coach even for children (take pillows and blankets, etc.), especially for just the one night.

There are some things you can try to find a lower coach or sleeper fare. First, take coach as far south as possible - You have to change trains at least once anyway, but it typically costs a lot more to occupy that sleeper from New York to Orlando than it would from just Richmond or even Charleston to Orlando. There are several trains a day along portions of this route, so play round with the Amtrak fare finder on the website to find the cheapest combination of trains. There can be a significant fare difference between trains #91 and #97, the Silver Star and Silver Meteor respectively, even though both are ultimately going the same place. Incidentally, for April 10-11th, the Meteor does have sleepers available - only the Silver Star is sold out (at least for the entire New York to Orlando segment. It's possible, even likely, that space remains open after some point southbound). Hence, it pays to change trains at the right point sometimes.