Help with Indianapolis to Orlando

[littlestix]

I will be flying out of Indianapolis to Orlando in Oct. I want a direct flight and good times ( am depart/evening return). AtA meets these requirements and has a good price $173.00 roundtrip. Should I book with them or look elsewhere?? ATA's hub is here so I'm not REAL worried but still worried just a little. Northwest has a good price and is direct but, I wouldn't arrive until 6:30 p.m. Not exactly what I'm looking for. Southwest takes too long to come out with their fares. Please help me decide.


Thanks

 

[artblessed]

Littlestix
I understand completely what you are going through. We had the exact same dilemma. While ATA's flight option was perfect we just weren't comfortable and we didn't want to loose so much time taking NW's late afternoon flight. WE really wanted a direct flight but we opted to go with Delta anyway. It is not a direct flight unfortunately (chose a VERY short layover) but it was quite a bit cheaper and they have a variety of flight times to choose from. We actually decided to take a flight on a Friday night as opposed to our original plan of Saturday morning. We figured, that way the connection wouldn't bother us has much since we wouldn't be doing anything that night anyway, plus we would be able to start the day fresh (a whole day mind you) on Saturday. Not trying to confuse you further and I suppose if you have small children a connection might not even be an option but we are giving it a try!
Hope you find a solution you are comfortable with.

Myself I just can't wait to get back to the World!!11

 

[jl3614]

Check Airtran. They have non-stop flights between IND and MCO. Last time I checked the flights outbound and inbound were late morning. I do not believe they have Oct schedule yet. The flights for the summer were all the same price - $79 (plus taxes and fees) each direction. I think the total price was bound $190. I have not flown them, but did like the idea that all the seats were the same price - Southwest had tickets at $59, $79, $99, and $129 each direction on the same plane depending on if you were lucky enough to be one of the first people to call.

 

[powellrj]

we have always gone with ATA, but they were so much higher we went with northwest. We are leaving on Monday evening instead of our usual Monday morning, but we are staying until Satuday evening instead of Friday so it worked out. There were no $59 southwest left for our dates but we are only paying $156 RT non stop so I am not complaining.

 

[kelscross]

Southwest flies out of IND to MCO direct flight for very low rates. We flew this December. However, we didn't like the two hour drive to the airport so we'll probably stick with Dayton.

 

[littlestix]

Thanks to all who have replied. I o have a small child however, I wouldn't mind a short lay-over if I could still arrive in Orlando before noon. It;s my parents (they are going with us) they absolutly insist on a direct flight. I didn't realize airtran flew out of Indy. I guess I'll try to wait a little longer and I can check-out Airtran as well as Southwest. Thanks again.

 

[littlestix]

I jsu went to Airtran and plugged in my dates. The results said they don't offer any flights for my dates. I changed my dates to March and it said the samething. I don't thnk Airtran goes from Indy to Orlando.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Is there a chance to fly out the evening before? That's what we did to get the NWA fare, from IND.

We took the ATA flight last trip, but I was nervous with all their ups, and downs.

We drive from Dayton, to get the cheap IND fares. Hate the drive, but it saved us $280.00. this trip.

 

[jl3614]

littlestix,

On April 11 ATA will drastically cut service out of IND. They will go from about 50 flights to only 4 flights a day. One of those 4 flights is a non-stop from IND to MCO.

Sometime in April Airtran will begin operating out of IND. During April and May they will only have flights to there hub in Atlanta - you connect their for other destinations. Starting in June, Airtran will have one daily non-stop between IND and MCO. Leaves IND at 12:50pm arrives MCO at 3:55 pm. The return leaves MCO at 11:00 am and arrives in IND at 12:15 pm. I checked Aug 15 -22, the cost was $79 each way - $176.90 RT including all taxes and fees. Airtran only has a schedule listed through the end of August.

Sometime June or July they will also add a non-stop IND to Tampa (TPA). Assuming you are going to rent a car this may be an option - it is about 90 minute drive from TPA to WDW vs. a 30- 35 minute drive from MCO to WDW. The Tampa schedule is - leave IND 10:40 am arrive TPA at 1:50 pm, return - leave TPA at 1:48 pm arrive IND at 3:03 pm. The price for the same Aug 15 - 22 dates was again $79 each way - $178.40 rt.

As far as ATAs viability at IND. In my humble opinion they can not long term maintain a 4 flight schedule. I believe they will need to expand to at least 10 flights per day or shut down. The overhead is just too expensive. Watch the local news - if Ambassadair (ATAs travel club) goes out of business, or the corporate headquarters moves from Indy, or if George Mickelson is removed from the board of directors. I would think ATA's days at IND are numbered if any of these happen.

 

[littlestix]

I think I'm gonna wait a little bit longer and see if Southwest comes out with their fares soon. If they don't I think were going to just have to except the fact that we will have a lay-over. Thanks to all of who who have provided information.

 

[Santa]

At one time I couldn't get a better deal than IND prices on Comair. Over the last few years I have gotten my best with Aitran out of DAY. All for direct non-stop flights. I just love getting to MCO in 2 hours. CVG (cincinnati) is just way too expensive to fly in or out of. I am still looking for a great deal for our July & November trips.

 

[dznyacct]

I was a very loyal ATA customer who flew non-stop from Indy to Orlando. I loved their early morning flight to Orlando and their late evening flight back home. There has been so much change for ATA in the last few months (and it looks like in the near future too), that I am very hesitant to book anything with them. My mom and dad are in Florida for the winter, flying home on ATA on 3/24/05. My mom has been on pins and needles worrying about flying ATA. I am doing a "girls only" trip to WDW with my mom, sister and niece in June. The only two airlines with non-stop flights (important because my sister is a nervous flyer and my niece has never flown) to/from Orlando are ATA and NWA. The choice was easy (although I wish NWA's flight to Orlando left before 3:20 pm) so I booked our flights today. The price was much better on NWA too. Our flights were $136.90 each, which I thought was pretty darned good. It's sad that ATA is losing loyal customers, but I think they have told a few too many untruths lately.