Has anyone used Panam from Portsmouth, NH to Sanford, FL?

[emagirl]

We are thinking of flying Panam out of Portsmouth to Sanford this year instead of Delta which we cannot get a direct flight to Orlando with. The cost is a lot less and I like the idea of a non stop flight. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this flight and the airports. Also, how about a car service from Sanford to (USF first) then WDW? Any ideas?

 

[Ted and Holly]

most Dissers here are going to roll their eyes when they see I'm goign to give my 2cents worth on Pan Am AGAIN! We live near Portsmouth and Pan Am was so very convenient. We took Pan Am twice and will never EVER EVER do it again. Pan Am is famous for mechanical failures and lengthy, unexplained delays lastiing up to 8 hours or more. Pan Am is featured in the Fosters Newspaper quite often with all of their emergency landings and long delays. Check out the archives.

Dec. 2000 was the worst. The day after Christmas, we took Pan Am to Sanford. We were supposed to leave at 11:40 am and arrrive in Sanford aroudn 2:00. The flight took off late, then had to circle Boston due to air traffic problems.... then the windshield shattered mid-flight and we were forced to make an emergency landing (complete with fire trucks and rescue crews) in North Carolina. We then had to wait for 7 HOURS for Pan Am to get one of their other three 727;s find a crew, and get a plane to North Caroliina. The airport didn't do us any favors as Pan Am is not an airline affiliated with that airport. We finally arrived in Sanford close to 11pm.

We received no compensation, no apology, and not even soft drinks on the remaining flight to Sanford.

Pan Am buys out jets that other airlines decide are not good enough to use anymore. When United (I think) retired a fleet of 727's last year, Pan Am bought them. That could explian why Pan Am makes way too many emergency landings for the FEW planes they own, and the FEW flights they have!

I would rather pay more, travel rarther than risk my life on Pan Am..... The planes are LITERALLY falling apart.

Holly

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by emagirl
We are thinking of flying Panam out of Portsmouth to Sanford this year instead of Delta which we cannot get a direct flight to Orlando with. The cost is a lot less and I like the idea of a non stop flight. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this flight and the airports. Also, how about a car service from Sanford to (USF first) then WDW? Any ideas?

Check out Southwest... they have a non-stop flight from Manchester to Orlando... and it's usually a very good rate. In fact, someone posted a promotion about Friends Fly Free to WDW with Southwest.

Definetly check it out... I fly into Manchester all the time from here in Orlando... the last time I flew, they just brought out a BRAND NEW 737, complete with LEATHER seats in coach... It was great!

 

[NHAnn]

We looked into PanAm from NH to Sanford a couple of trips ago...but abandoned the idea because the money and time saved on the non-stop to Sanford was eaten up by the extra time and money getting to the resort from Sanford as opposed to MCO. After reading Holly's post...I'm glad we did

I second the suggestion of looking into Soutwest from Manchester, non-stop to MCO!!!

 

[Kristi1357]

Another vote for running as far away as you can from Pan Am!

I had family friends that had a nightmare similar to Holly's about a year ago. Long story short, they landed in Sanford about 8 or 9 hours after they should have. Horrible experience!

Also, my BIL was laid off from United after 9/11. He got a job with Pan Am shortly after that. Well, again, long story short, he said he wouldn't even fly his own family on them for free...I think that says it all!

I fly Southwest out of Manchester often and LOVE them! I even flew this weekend on their new plane with the leather seats - gotta love that airline. Great prices, non-stop to Orlando and fabulous employees too.

 

[Hollie in NH]

Oh no, I think I might cry. My family is booked with Pam Am in April, out of Portsmouth NH. We usually fly Southwest but no reasonable rates left when I booked.

Does anyone out there have any positve reports on flying Pan Am? Please post. Our tickets are non-refundable. Now I think I don't want to go

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok now...Hollie, don't panic. We flew PanAm out of Worcester a year ago. Flew into Sanford. The only problem we had was that Worcester Airport's runway was wet and because it is so short, it would have been a problem with a full plane and full 'tank' of gas. Yikes. So, we flew into Allentown, Pa. It made us about 1 1/2 hrs late getting into Sanford, but on the whole the flight was fine. I would use them again, but Worcester doesn't have any more commercial flights anymore. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Hollie in NH]

Thanks goofy4tink! I'm out of panic-mode now. I'm sure our flight will be fine. I checked the newspaper archives another poster mentioned. Not as bad as I envisioned. Pan Am just started flights out of another local airport (Manchester NH). That must be a good sign.

I will keep positive thoughts!

 

[Kristi1357]

Sorry - I didn't mean to panic anyone! On a more positive note, I have a friend at work who is flying with them out of Portsmouth at the end of the month and he is not worrying about it one bit.

Have a great time!

 

[Hollie in NH]

emagirl, how about renting a car at the Sanford airpot. We found a great rate at Alamo with a code from mousesavers.com. The rate is more than $70 less then the rate I was quoted from Alamo at MCO.

Just a thought!

 

[Ted and Holly]

We took Coach USA once (and only once) and rented a car once. Renting for the day was SO much better. It is an easy drive to WDW from Sanford.

Ted

 

[Ted and Holly]

A Disser named AugustHeather has had good experiences with Pan AM. Maybe she'll chime in if she reads this!

Its hit or miss with Pan Am... just keep your fingers crossed and hopefully you'll get them on a "good day"

An aquaintance of mine's mother works as a flight attendant for Pan Am and she's been with them for a while.... if she feared for her life, she wouldn't work for them, I'm sure....

A friend of ours recently relayed his experience.... he was flying from Sanford to Bangor Maine with a stop in Worcester. The plane couldn't land in Worcester due to weather, so they landed in Portsmouth, sat on a runway with a broken bathroom and stinky smells and no a/c, and then they bussed people to Worcester and the others had to sit in Portsmouth overnight or something ridiculous....

Ted was right about Coach USA shuttle... very unprofessional and not prompt. Alamo and Dollar have onsite car rentals. Alamo is the closest... literally RIGHT outside the door... Dollar is across a driveway, and a 2-3 minute walk.



Good Luck!
Holly

 

[Augustheather97]

Hi.......we JUST flew Pan AM 3/1 going to sanford and returned 3/9 returning to Portsmouth with no problems at all...actually arrived 30 minutes early this past sunday....we have a friend who works at PAn AM as a mechanic and says the planes are in great shape....not to worry......his family flies them ALL the time....another friend flew them on 2/28 and they did have a mechanical problem that delayed them some but Pan Am gave the 4 members of his family $100 vouchers each for the inconvience...We have flown them 6 times now with no problems at all...so it seems like it is a hit or miss to me like ALL the other airlines....we have more problems with Delta EXpress in the past and tons with US air..so don;t worry.....also sercurity was real tight they HAND search every checked bag in front of you...we rented a car at National for only $175 for 9 days ..a mid size all taxes and fees included......Don't worry......they are fine....no better and no worse than any other airline at the moment I am afraid......the airline personnel were very friendly too.....I felt very comfortable flying with them and would again in a minute...they were over $180 cheaper each than SW for me too

 

[Hollie in NH]

Thanks Augustheather that is great to hear. We have also had problems with other airlines so I guess you never know.

Your car rental rate was great! Are they located in the terminal. Also how did the car rental lines seem? Shorter than most airports?

 

[Augustheather97]

yes there are NO lines hardly getting a car in sanford......look at Mousesavers.com for rental codes...and the trip to wdw is only 50 miles a quick ride up route 4 couldn't be easier...as long as your not at rush hour times...I love flying into this airport everything is so easy

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Augustheather97
yes there are NO lines hardly getting a car in sanford......look at Mousesavers.com for rental codes...and the trip to wdw is only 50 miles a quick ride up route 4 couldn't be easier...as long as your not at rush hour times...I love flying into this airport everything is so easy

Quick? I4? In the same sentance???

I cannot STAND I4... it gets very congested at times, and can back up for quite a while. Seek alternate routes, if at all possible. The few dollar tolls you might encounter on them will make them well worth while.

 

[Hollie in NH]

Chip'n Dale Express, this is the route I got from Mapquest. Is there a better way?
From Sanford to Disney:
Central Fl. Greenway (417S)
E West Exwy/Fl-408W
I-4 W

We should be leaving Sanford around 1-2pm. I'll have to get a map!

 

[Ted and Holly]

I believe you can take 417 (a toll road) ALL THE WAY From Sanford to WDW. The exit road for the airport goes for several miles into Sanford, but the exit to 417 is right off of that road...
You just take it all hte way to WDW.... less than an hour ride.

Holly

 

[Augustheather97]

We left Sanford last Sat at 1:30 pm and hit no traffic at all......and coming home Sunday we left wdw area at 11:00 am and also hit no traffic.....so it really depends on WHEN you are traveling