Help! I can't find affordable airfare!

[wrldpossibility]

I know so many of you know so much more about this than I do. We're going to Disney Dec. 10-20, and I just started looking seriously at airfare. Maybe I should have looked, found, and THEN made Disney reservations, but we really are not flexible on our dates now. Anyway, I always have trouble finding reasonable airfare when we travel because we fly out of a small airport, and have limited choices. Our closest major airports are 4 and 6 hours away, respectively. We don't think we can fly out of either of those because a) it would add two days of vacation time to our trip if we spent the night coming and going, and DH doesn't have the extra vacation time, and b) after gas, hotel cost, and parking cost, it hardly makes it worth it.

Our airline choices are Horizon/Alaska or United. I can't find anything under $600/person. Is that reasonable? Doesn't seem like it to me! The only cheaper fare I can find is for a redeye (we're in Oregon), but I am very reluctant to do that with three small kids. They won't get any sleep, and we'll start our trip miserable. My kids have a hard time sleeping as it is! Any advice? We're mileage members with Alaska, if that helps, but we're using up miles for a summer flight elsewhere. I keep reading about super low fares...are they impossible for me to get?!

 

[rparmfamily]

I know so many of you know so much more about this than I do. We're going to Disney Dec. 10-20, and I just started looking seriously at airfare. Maybe I should have looked, found, and THEN made Disney reservations, but we really are not flexible on our dates now. Anyway, I always have trouble finding reasonable airfare when we travel because we fly out of a small airport, and have limited choices. Our closest major airports are 4 and 6 hours away, respectively. We don't think we can fly out of either of those because a) it would add two days of vacation time to our trip if we spent the night coming and going, and DH doesn't have the extra vacation time, and b) after gas, hotel cost, and parking cost, it hardly makes it worth it.

Our airline choices are Horizon/Alaska or United. I can't find anything under $600/person. Is that reasonable? Doesn't seem like it to me! The only cheaper fare I can find is for a redeye (we're in Oregon), but I am very reluctant to do that with three small kids. They won't get any sleep, and we'll start our trip miserable. My kids have a hard time sleeping as it is! Any advice? We're mileage members with Alaska, if that helps, but we're using up miles for a summer flight elsewhere. I keep reading about super low fares...are they impossible for me to get?!

What airport in Oregon do you fly out of?? As far as small kids go, we just took our two small kids to Hawaii and they did great on the redeye.

Rex

 

[magicaldisney]

Try this site... airfarewatch.com.

Crossing my fingers that I got the site right, but if not it's something like that. You can sign up and they will let you know when super deals come up. The deals might only last for an hour or maybe for a very long time, but it's nice to get a heads up. One deal came up for me at $168 round trip. We weren't ready to commit and now we are, and I am kicking myself!!!

 

[Disneyrsh]

I also have small kids who have the energy of portable nuclear reactors, and I also wouldn't rule out the redeye.

Either way, flying's tough on kids.

 

[magicaldisney]

Correcting the above link!!! Sorry!!!

airfarewatchdog.com

 

[taekwondo mom]

Try travelocity .. I got a Great rate for Dec.17-25 ( I had our package booked at Disney AKL for 17-23) But with the great air fare I added 2 days at the Pop.. You still have time to to be flexable with your dates..

Good Luck!!

 

[freckles and boo]

Sorry you are so geographically challenged with regard to airports. I hope the scenery makes up for it! This might be one of those times when contacting a travel agent would be worthwhile. I usually make all the travel arrangements for our family online and have only used a travel agent once (outside of work travel), but she was really great and seemed to know her stuff. Good luck.

 

[goofy!]

Correcting the above link!!! Sorry!!!

airfarewatchdog.com

THANK YOU

I thought I knew all the sites, but hadn't heard of this one yet.

I was also looking at over $600.00 per person for a Thanksgiving trip to MCO. Cheapest I could find was $365.00. But using the Buddy booker - I just found a RT for $280.00.


Thanks!

 

[wrldpossibility]

Thanks for the help. Our airport is so small, it isn't even listed on the watchdog site. But at least it only takes 5 seconds to get through security there! (We are in Southern Oregon BTW, so the airport is Rogue Valley). And yes, a beautiful place to live...but we do like to go on vacation too!

I used the Buddy site to find something at least in the $300s, so that's a start! I don't think redeye is for us...we have a hard time getting over loss of sleep. Thanks for the help!

 

[mytwotinks]

Did you ask Disney? My sister and I are going at the same time and she if flying out of some teeny tiny airport in Iowa and she got great airfare. I asked about kansas city and it was really high. She was shocked that they even had her airport available. Worth a try!