How to find cheap airfare?

[Soul Brother]

We always fly out of Buffalo.
If you can fly Monday - Thursday you will pay less guaranteed. As mentioned, you have to watch it daily. As soon as I get it for $69 I book it. Works out to less than $100 per person each way including taxes.

We've found that good deals can be had up until a month before you leave at which point the deals become more scarce. It all really depends on how full the flights are.

Also remember that most airlines charge for bags which should be factored in the cost if you're checking bags. Southwest lets you check 2 bags per person with no fee. That can add up real fast when traveling with a family.

Good Luck!

 

[candielips]

Now I've been beginning to wonder if flying is really all that much better. It seems like we have to pack everyone up and drive to Buffalo, spend the night there, get up early the next day and hopefully catch a flight with no stops, then have to wait for the ME, order grocery items to be delivered, and the list goes on...
It just seems by that time I could have driven there already. I know, I know, each way has their pros and cons and it all comes down to what we want to do as a family but,
Man oh man I sure am indecisive tonight.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Just noticed that we will be there at the same time! We will be driving from Thunder Bay to Minneapolis for our flights!!! That is approximately 7 hrs!!! It saves us sooo much $$$ flying from MSP than our home airport!

Even factoring in the days of travel, gas, hotel food etc we still come out ahead by about $700 or more!!! I would LOVE to drive all the way to WDW some day but my family is in great opposition to that idea!!!

For what its worth, I watch Kayak.com DAILY for the best deals on flights from MSP - MCO. This year we really want the earliest DIRECT NONSTOP flight possible from MSP which happens to be on Delta so I am watching that like a hawk! I find the best days to book flights (prices are the lowest) is on Tuesdays!

GOOD LUCK

EDIT:
JUST CHECKED ON KAYAK FOR YOU FOR THE END OF AUGUST?BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER AND I THINK YOUR BEST BET WILL BE JETBLUE OUT OF BUFFALO!!! THERE ARE DIRECT NONSTOP FLIGHTS ALREADY FROM LESS THAN $300!!! CHECK IT OUT! THEY WILL ONLY GET LOWER AS THE TIME GETS CLOSER!

 

[iluveeyore]

If you drive, you have to factor in the cost of gas (use fuelcostcalculator.com), eating on the road, the cost of stopping for a night, etc. As far as using Buffalo, which I always do since it's 20 min. from my house, maybe you could take a late-day flight so you wouldn't have to spend the night in Buffalo -then you're in Disney sooner - I'd rather pay for an extra night in WDW than an overnight stay in Buffalo!

 

[who's ur daddy?]

Just booked March 15 to 22nd (Tues to Tues) out of BUF for $1035 for a family of 4. Non-stop flights on Southwest.

Pretty good deal for quasi-March break? Same days on Westjet out of Pearson was $1885.

Didn't expect to go anywhere for March break this year, but with the good exchange rate, I'm happy.

 

[DisneyFairytale]

I always use Cheaptickets.com, but to be honest with you, never stick to one web site. Check out a few sites, because you can sometimes find a huge different between what you normally use (like cheap tickets) compared to a regular AC web site or other company. We get our flights off cheaptickets, or directly through air canada. Between 1-3pm and around midnight, the middle of the week is when you'll find some good deals-but you gotta be quick because there arent a lot of seats and they sell quickly and the website gives you 10 mins to hold onto those seats before they are thrown back for grabs.

Good luck!

 

[candielips]

We fly JetBlue out of Buffalo last September and were able to get tickets for $69 per person each way. 2 adults, 2 kids cost us $637 US round-trip.

I keep checking for this September but JetBlue has not listed anything past Sept 6th so far.

Since it's just hubby & I this trip, I keep thinking I may hold off and see if Air Canada or WestJet offers seats for $72 again. Last year *after* we purchased JetBlue tickets, one of those airlines came out with that price. Plus taxes it would have cost us $400 more than JetBlue. But with just hubby & I, it would only be $200 more and I would be willing to pay that to get 2 extra park days instead of staying overnight in Buffalo there & back!!!

Do you remember what month you were able to get the tkts this cheap?

 

[DaniB]

Yes, I keep every expense tracked in an Excel spreadsheet month-by-month for each year.

We purchased the 4 round-trip tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) on February 11th last year to fly out of Buffalo (to Orlando) on Sept 14th. Cost $637.60 US / $689.79 CAN.

We did everything backwards. First we purchased the airplane tickets, THEN booked POP (later upgraded to CSR), THEN went and applied for our passports.

Oh, and then later I realized I had not researched Disney enough and I needed (wanted!) to add 2 more days to our trip. So I ended up paying JetBlue more money to switch our return flight... (sigh).

Now I'm looking for 2 adult tickets for Sept 19th, returning the 28th out of Toronto. If I can't find good tickets, then I guess out of Buffalo for the 20th, returning the 27th... But I really want cheap tickets out of Toronto to get 2 extra park days!

BTW, where-abouts are you? We're in Bowmanville. Opps - never mind! I remember now - LOL

 

[candielips]

Yes, I keep every expense tracked in an Excel spreadsheet month-by-month for each year.

We purchased the 4 round-trip tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) on February 11th last year to fly out of Buffalo (to Orlando) on Sept 14th. Cost $637.60 US / $689.79 CAN.

We did everything backwards. First we purchased the airplane tickets, THEN booked POP (later upgraded to CSR), THEN went and applied for our passports.

Oh, and then later I realized I had not researched Disney enough and I needed (wanted!) to add 2 more days to our trip. So I ended up paying JetBlue more money to switch our return flight... (sigh).

Now I'm looking for 2 adult tickets for Sept 19th, returning the 28th out of Toronto. If I can't find good tickets, then I guess out of Buffalo for the 20th, returning the 27th... But I really want cheap tickets out of Toronto to get 2 extra park days!

BTW, where-abouts are you? We're in Bowmanville. Opps - never mind! I remember now - LOL

I didn't even realize it was you when I quoted your msg. I have def been keeping my eye on the airline sites and hoping to find 3 seats for about $500. That is my budget as we also need a rental car.
Good luck on our flight search as well, and I am keeping an eye out for the $$$.