Great deal with Independance Air, BUT

[cranbiz]

you need to act fast!

I just booked 2 tickets to Orlando from Boston for over Veterens day week. The best price was from priceline at $164 rt but as you know, without actually paying for the tickets, you don't know what flights you are on. All of the other sites (orbitz, etc) were getting a minimum of $212 rt and that was leaving Wed at 6am and returning Sun at 6am. Monday returns were better, but still not great.

Jet Blue (my favorite) and Southwest were way to high.

Independance Air is offering a sale on their FLA startup service. If you join their FF program (free and you get your membership right away) you can get your Tickets for 1/2 price BUT you need to book by midnight tonight.

Their normal fare is $99 each way, sale price $49

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

Did you know that Independence Air has one of the highest flight cancellation rates in the industry? Because they offer seats for such low fares, they quickly cancel flights if the flight isn't at capacity or if they need the aircraft someplace else.

 

[cranbiz]

I didn't know that, but this is the kickoff for their new FL service and when selecting my seats, all of the planes showed 75% full as of last night.

At 99.00 RT for that weekend, I'll just take my chances. As of now, every other carrier is much more $$

 

[vasoccermom]

A friend of mine is the safety mgr for Independence Air at Dulles and i asked her the same exact question (when I saw the 50% off sale I was worried that they offered this because flights weren't booking). She said they do this to "advertise" new flights...and the MCO flights were indeed showing 75%.

Of course my flight is at 9:40pm and I am still a little concerned since we only have 5 days in WDW and don't want to miss a single minute!

Karen

 

[cranbiz]

Vasoccermom

Thanks for the words of encouragement. This makes me feel better.

 

[Sammy]

Arrgh! if only I had checked this board YESTERDAY!!! I missed out on this one...

 

[CarolA]

There is a problem with the "cancel" theory. The plane needs to go to the city because there are people waiting on it.

So for example, the flight from Knoxville to Orlando might be empty, but the return flight is full....that plane needs to go to Orlando to get those passengers.

From the transport stats for August (the most recent month I could find)

Airlines with highest flight cancellations

1. American Eagle 3.5%
2. Atlantic Coast Airlines 3.3% (Delta connection)
3. USAirways 2.4%

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

CarolA, you are very astute to cite the flight cancellation stats. But you are MISSING the message. Independence Air IS Atlantic Coast Airlines, with a name change!

So, as I had correctly stated, Independence Air has one of the highest cancellation rates in the entire industry.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

And although an aircraft might need to be in a particularl city, if they pull an aircraft from Pensacola rather than Knoxville, because flight duration is far less, there goes the theory that the flight will depart regardless...

 

[kocar]

We took advantage of the half off Independence Air sale for our flight down and now I'm worried that it will be cancelled. We are flying from Cleveland to Dulles at 7:30 p.m. then on to Orlando. What happens if they cancel our Cleveland to Dulles flight due to low bookings on that flight? Will they put us on another flight with another airline? Are we just out of luck? Do we have to wait for the next Independence Air flight?

Help! I'm a worrier and now I'm very worried!

Thanks,
Michelle