has anyone booked there air for Aug2002?

[andychris14]

I am starting on the planning of our 2 week trip to disney in aug. I am still a little nervous to fly but I am trying to be realistic and bite the bullet. We are from Ny so to drive, it will take about 20 hours if not longer. To take amtrack it is just as long. So to spend 2 hours in the air, not bad. I am concerned that maybe some of these airlines might go under. I usually only travel on american,twa or delta. I hope these guys stay in business. I would hate to be out the money if they don't. Which airlines are you most happy with. I do hear a lot about us air and jet blue. Should I give them a try? HELP!!! Is it tooo early to book flights now, or am I better off waiting.

 

[TZMOM]

Good question. We're going in May 2002 (seemed like ages away when 1st started planning in September) - but I think I'm going to wait until Feb/Mar timeframe to buy tickets. I've been checking the prices so far - it's amazing how they go way up, then come back down in a few weeks for the same flight/times, etc. I'd wait for a little while yet but keep checking so you'll know what a good fare would be. Good luck - have fun!!

 

[zulaya]

I have a Dec 2002 trip planned and was advised on this board not to book before Sept/Oct. for the best deals. So start seriously checking about 3-4 months out. I know what a good rate is for me out of MSP so if I see one in the meantime I might consider scooping it up.

 

[inkkognito]

We generally start looking about six months in advance. We are going to Orlando almost every month in 2002, and so far we have our airline tickets for Jan., Fer., March., and April. I tend to check on a weekly basis starting six months prior to a trip, and then switch to a daily basis if it is getting really close and I haven't found a good deal yet. You have to jump on some of the deals quickly. For one trip, I pulled up a great rate on Orbitz for American. In only five minutes (the time it took me to call my husband and show him), the rate was unavailable already when I hit the "Buy" button!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Sheree]

we bought our air for Aug/Sept already. I check Continental and Delta out of Newark and US Air out of Phl. We got US Air for $170 pp non stop

We also did our Nov 2002 air since coming out of NJ that week is tough! That was $196 pp on Continental.

Delta did away with most non stops. I think COntinental is real safe!

 

[KathyT]

I already purchased our tickets for our Orlando trip in late August. I like having everything done ahead of time. I went through Delta for the flight and I have also purchased our hotel stays, Universal tickets as well as Discovery Cove and limo/towncar transport. Now I can sit back and wait for the time to pass.

 

[atigeg]

Hey Kathy, I am glad to see that I am not the only anal planner!
We have nine Disney cruises coming up in 2002, as well as a WDW trip sandwiched in between the cruises. All nine cruises are booked, and we have the air for four already. I keep checking the air and buy that whenever I get a good deal, and I do the towncar ressies a month beforehand. I actually have a file envelope for each of our trips to keep them organized. We have two sets of cruise documents at present, as our next trips are Jan. 17 and Feb. 7.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Kathy T - you are having the same vacation that we are! (except that we rent a car) Ours is all planned as well.

I made my airline reservations months ago for the end of August. The price per ticket has already gone up almost $40.00. We are flying on Delta out of Syracuse, NY. The rates in our area never seem to go down as time goes on.

 

[DVC-Don]

I usually only travel on american,twa or delta.

Did not TWA already go under?

 

[nuts4sn00py]

Hi everyone! I too am one of those early planners & booke my 8/2002 Cruise & 10 day WDW stay in 8/2001. I like to be well prepared. I also have started looking @airfares for August & have decided that as soon as I see a price I think would be good I will book it! So far I have been seeing approx. $180 pp from JFK to Mco on delta & American. I have only flown TWA dwon to Mco & now that they have merged with American I don't know who I will fly with. By the way AndyChris14 when will you be in WDW? I will be down there from 8/15-8/24 @ Y&BC...4 days before we will be on the Wonder! First time we have ever taken a 2 week vacation & I can't think of a better place to do it! If I see any good air prices I will certainly let you know, keep me in mind too! Kathy

 

[minster22]

Andychris14, did you check the JetBlue website? Their airfares do not come up on Orbitz, etc just as SW do not. My son lives in Burlington, Vt. and has flown them often to NY and loves this airline. They have all leather seats, new planes and a TV at every seat. I emailed and asked if they were coming to Boston and they replied that they are looking at coming to our neck of the woods in the next 4 years. SW and Jetblue are supposedly the only airlines that are still in good financial shape after all the tragic events this fall. Their airfares always look great!

 

[mep319]

I definately believe you need to know your airport to know when it is a good time to book your flight. I usually do it as soon as possible. Flights to Orlando from Phila range a lot but
the cheap ones fill fast--and we are a US Air hub so we have little options other than US Air or Air Tran for an inexpensive flight. I usually book at least 10 mos in advance. Last year I tried to book 2 tickets for September in March (6 mos ahead)and they would have costs over $700 (and I checked frequently) and the times were terrible. I ended up bagging the trip. 3 tickets booked in 1/01 for 12/01 cost only $160 each. I guess if you have more competition in your area/airport you can afford to wait. In Philadelphia, if you want decent times, in my experience you can't!

 

[andychris14]

thanks for all the advice, here is what I just found out. Jet Blue$170rt,Delta$155.26rt and us air$164rt. These prices are a steal. So what is holding me back?? My dh says book it. I have cold feet. I am coming around a little, just thinking of the end result DISNEY!!! Thanks again everyone!

 

[Sheree]

grab the one with the most convenient time that's non stop! That's a great rate!

 

[ducklite]

I already booked my tickets for August-September trip in 2002. Got $148 r/t PHL to MCO, non-stop with great travel times on US Air.

Anne

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I have always booked our June flights in January. I've gotten about $195 per ticket. I booked our December trip in late September and got a rate of $138! Now I'm spoiled and that $200 doesn't look as good (5 of us). I'm waiting for at least $170 out of Detroit or Toledo, and if we don't get it I'm driving!
Robin M.
Poly 6/2000\
BWV 6/2001
Poly 12/2001
BWV/VWL 7/2002

 

[katefromny]

out of Philly to MCO for $127 pp round trip on Delta (booked through Expedia)--glad we did, I haven't seen those rates since then. One thing I did notice...we booked very far in advance because we wanted to get an early arrival time to MCO and a late departure time from MCO (who wouldn't want to get the most out of their Disney trip!). AFter 9/11, the schedules changed and before I knew it, we were on a 11:15 a.m. flight home from MCO--when our original flight had us returning at 5:30 pm. Jumped on the Delta website and found return times closer to our desired 5:30 slot...called Expedia and they wouldn't/couldn't do anything. However, when I called Delta directly to complain, they were extremely nice and changed our flight back to a 4:40 departure from MCO and didn't charge us for the change (which they shouldn't have anyway!). So-if booking way ahead of time, check periodically to make sure your flight time hasn't changed significantly. The Delta rep told me that if I had waited too much longer to call, that 4:40 flight would have most likely been booked and I would have been forced to accept the 11:15.

 

[Sheree]

My only issue with Delta is no non stops out of PHL. I got $160 on US Air for Aug.

Delta only has 1 non stop out of Newark and I"m leary of that in case they cancel it. For $20 pp more we got Non stop on Continental for November (teacher's convention week)