HELP!! Airfare is unreal

[DisneyMom2008]

I am in need of help to find a decent price for airfare to Orlando from Chicago. I need the flights for Sept. 25- Oct 3. for 4 people. I have codes for Airtran but after adding baggage fees it really isn't a deal. I would like to fly Southwest but the prices are high.

I would appreciate any help or codes.

Thanks!!

 

[parkers*momma]

I'm not sure which airport out of Chicago but the cheapest I found so far is on Kayak.com. $198 pp with Airtran, United, or American Airlines. If you can fly out the night before it's $10-20 cheaper.

 

[pixleyyy]

Southwest has it for $98 there and $79 home. Plus they don't charge for baggage, so that will save you a ton! Good luck!!!

 

[chyam]

You may also want to consider flying out of Milwaukee, that is what I always do it is always cheaper than the 2 Chicago airports, it is also less congested and I believe even the airport parking is cheaper, or you could always stay 1 night in a nearby hotel and park for free with some of their deals.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

Hi-
It is because you are flying out on a Friday. Chicago has tons of business travelers traveling home on Fridays so they can get a higher $ amount. I have learned to fly out on saturdays instead, it is cheaper. I just looked on Expedia and I see flights at $198 RT but on Saturday it is $154 RT. That can be a big chunk of change if you have several people.

 

[SaraJayne]

You may also want to consider flying out of Milwaukee, that is what I always do it is always cheaper than the 2 Chicago airports, it is also less congested and I believe even the airport parking is cheaper, or you could always stay 1 night in a nearby hotel and park for free with some of their deals.

We're flying out of Milwaukee to Orlando...and I booked our flights as soon as a price came up that I didn't mind paying ($150 per person).

Your fare will be higher if you are flying on a Friday.

 

[DisneyMom2008]

Thanks everyone! We are going on the Disney Cruise that Saturday so we would like to leave the day before. We had a bad experience before with having an emergency landing so now I am afraid of missing the cruise and want to arrive the day before. Hopefully Southwest will have a ding special or sale in the next few days!

 

[somcgregor]

Here is another tip never look at airfare on the weekends, Tuesdays are the best day to book the trip, not necessarily fly, but to book since most business travelers are busy looking, plus I have noticed fare sales come out on Tuesday, other thank that good luck, hope you find better prices!

 

[tjcrabb]

The thing to remember about SW is that their prices are like rubber balls, they bounce a lot! For example I just bought 2 one way flights from CMH to SLC in Oct. When I first started pricing the flights they were 160! (keep in mind this is one way before taxes and fees) There is no way I wanted to pay that much on a one way. So I kept checking then a day or two later the price was 130. Much more doable because it was a non stop, so I booked. I booked then because I was okay if the price didnt go down anymore but knew I could get credit if I did. Well the following evening I checked the prices for my flight at it was down to 93.00! So I of course rebooked my flight and now I have 72.00 in credit for my return flights I then checked my flight again that evening (I booked around 630 or so and checked again around 1130pm) and it had gone back up to 130. Since then it has also been 99.

Moral of the story: check fares often!

Plus something to remember is that fares may seem initally less money but dont forget to add baggagge fees each way.

~Tricia, the obsessive fare checker! LOL
(who is off to check again!)

 

[bcarson]

check Indy as well. Much cheaper to fly out of. Of course we have family there to drop off and pick up. But I would still do it.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Here is another tip never look at airfare on the weekends, Tuesdays are the best day to book the trip, not necessarily fly, but to book since most business travelers are busy looking, plus I have noticed fare sales come out on Tuesday, other thank that good luck, hope you find better prices!

Actually - Saturday mornings are said to be the best time to check for airfares since most business travelers aren't looking then and most people are busy then. I have found this to be true for me.

 

[mrsklamc]

Flying on a Friday, I do not think your price point is going to get better than that $98.

 

[MAH4546]

The airfare is already below $200. That is a great price. I can't believe people complain about paying $198 for round-trip airfare and then complain when airlines add baggage fees.

 

[chyam]

The airfare is already below $200. That is a great price. I can't believe people complain about paying $198 for round-trip airfare and then complain when airlines add baggage fees.

Ain't that the truth.....I didn't know that that was what the rate was....I know whenever I fly up that way that I am very happy with anything below $225.00 RT there is no way anyone could drive it for that! Just the gas alone one way would be almost that, and then you would almost have to figure in 1 nights hotel stay on the road and then figure in how beat you would be once you arrived.....the only way cheaper would be on the back of a bird!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

What about Detroit. I see the Airtran RT is $170 but if you book one way tickets you can use 2 of the $25 coupons and knock the price down to $120 rt.

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

I paid 180 roundtrip for later this year for about the same dates are you... its truly the best you are gonna find.

 

[tophatne1]

In the future if anyone needs Southwest Ticketless Travel funds let me know.
I have $299.60 that's good until November 2009. I would be willing to sell it for $240. That'll save someone almost $60.

I accumulated this from business travel the last few month but I have since been laid off so I need the money more than a round trip ticket!

Anyone interest can PM and we'll talk about the details.

Thanks,
Byron

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

I just booked airtran tickets for Bloomington to Chicago to Orlando for $69 each way online. It ended up being just $165 round trip with taxes/fees! What price are you getting out of Chicago?

 

[MrsPete]

I am in need of help to find a decent price for airfare to Orlando from Chicago. I need the flights for Sept. 25- Oct 3. for 4 people. I have codes for Airtran but after adding baggage fees it really isn't a deal. I would like to fly Southwest but the prices are high.

I would appreciate any help or codes.

Thanks!!

You may not be able to control the cost of the flight, but you CAN pack light and avoid checking bags. You're only going for a week -- you CAN do that with a carry-on. My family just came back from a 19-day trip, and we only did carry-ons. I did laundry three times during the trip, which was less than two hours of hands-on time in the evenings. It was well worth it to avoid the hassle of checking luggage.

We avoided the problems with toiletries by mailing ourselves a package at our hotel. A large flat-rate box costs about $13 to mail.

 

[DisneyMom2008]

I just booked airtran tickets for Bloomington to Chicago to Orlando for $69 each way online. It ended up being just $165 round trip with taxes/fees! What price are you getting out of Chicago?

Thanks! I was getting prices of $114 and up each way, when it is usually $69 each way.