Have to share my steal on airfare!

[KSUWildcat]

I don't intend this to be bragging, but I got an amazing deal on airfare from KC to Orlando and I'm so excited I have to share with fellow Disney fans!!

We originally were planning on flying to WDW on Friday Oct 18, returning on Thursday Oct 24. I budgeted $1400 for roundtrip tickets for 3 (based on rates that I'd see were most common). Shopped for weeks, signed up for email updates from SouthWest and AirTran (I liked their flight schedules the most and were generally cheaper than other airlines).

And then.....

Southwest had a special flight fare to locations that have SeaWorld b/c of a new plane they got (has penguins on it)... But only running the special for 4 days! And the special fare did NOT apply on Fri-Sun. Still helped the budget quite a bit, but not enough.

Sooo, did some checking. If we would fly out on THURSDAY Oct 17, we'd save almost $300 on airfare! Started doing some phone calls, did some comparison charts (Planning OCD went in overdrive! LOL). The extra night at Caribbean Beach would be $200. Extra day of airport parking was $7. BUT MNSSHP is held on the 17th. so...

We're flying out on SW at 9:40am (NOT crazy early 5am like past trips) on a DIRECT flight (great for my DD6's first ever plane ride) and getting to WDW, checked in around 1:30. Plenty of time to relax, explore, get costumes on and hit up MNSSHP (Saving a day's cost of a PH Ticket and still getting into a park). PLUS we're SAVING almost $100 by going to WDW a day early!!

Oh, ended up paying $850 for 3 roundtrip flights!!! AND since we booked through SW website, even though we fly back on AirTran, we still get the two free checked bags/person!! I called SW and double checked!

How awesome is that! Extra day, free luggage, direct flight... AND SAVED MONEY!

 

[sam_gordon]

Good for you!

 

[browniemtb]

I'm jealous.....when I see those special air fare deals by the time I finish pondering them there gone. Thing is, when they come up you have to jump on them quick before they sell out. Enjoy your trip!

 

[pooch]

we are flying on Friday both ways so I expect no sale to apply to our flights. But..... I did snag $91 fares each way on the first day of release. So we have non-stops leaving BDL the day after T-day and returning the following Friday for $182 each r/t. Guess I shouldn't complain!!! And I paid with points so OOP cost was really $5 each!! Free flights and Free Dining .. life is good

 

[treeface]

That is a great deal! We were able to use the same deal to rebook our flights into San Antonio for my daughters college graduation in December (had originally booked into Houston).

 

[hsmamato2]

nice I love that SWA allows changes....our last vacay we saved a LOT by leaving one day earlier too.....

 

[bianca]

Congrats on the great deal! We,too, scored a great deal a few weeks ago. Got $59 each way from Detroit to Orlando for our October trip. It is Spirit airlines, but we are okay with that. There are deals to be had out there if you wait and seek them out.

 

[Thumper4me]

I'm jealous. Our flights have been very expensive the last two years. With your Air Tran flight, you may be seated away from your son since you booked through Southwest and don't get to choose your seat. However, not having bags fees may make up for that.

Kelly

 

[KSUWildcat]

I was worried about us 3 not sitting together, but since my daughter will only be 7 I figured they'd make sure we sat together once we get there. AirTran generally doesn't assign seats until you check in, and since we can do the online-check in at CBR the full 24 hours before flying, we should hopefully get our seats together.

And there's always the whole crying-so-people-take-pity-on-the-mom/daughter-not-sitting-together and I'm sure SOMEONE would be willing to switch seats. There's still good people in the world.

 

[Thumper4me]

The fact that you are flying mid-week or at least during off-peak times should help you with not getting separated.

People get very touchy about their seats - especially when they have to pay for them. Just be prepared.

Kelly