How to get *reasonable* airfare for larger families?

[RainbowsMist]

Just need to vent a little to people who "get it"..

I've done many trip plannings in the past but this one has got me completely stressed out...I can't sleep, my neck hurts, my head hurts; I think I'm gonna lose it!

I don't think we're being unreasonable or non-flexible...ohhh how I wish those darn airlines would cut us some slack!

Our family of 6 is booked on a cruise out of Miami, Sunday March 10th. We're willing to fly into Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach either the Saturday (preferably) or Friday before. We're also willing to drive and fly out of Boston, Bangor, Portland, Manchester, Moncton and Halifax (preferably). I'm extremely frustrated running into the "1 ticket remains at this price". I thought I found a wonderful deal $539 out of Halifax return but, silly me...that price was only for 2 of us each...the other 4 would have been over $1000 each! Once you put in that magic "6 passengers"...everything skyrockets!

DH doesn't understand what the panic is all about. He keeps saying "relaxxx, there's lots of time...prices will come down". Umm...NO THEY WON'T! He just doesn't "get it"...

I feel much better now. Thanks

 

[pooksma]

Yes I GET IT!

It has gotten to the point that I rarely look at flying from Canada anymore. Even flying from Bangor or Portland is getting more expensive. Gone are the days of the $200 ret.

The lowest fares for us have involved booking 2 one-way flights on separate airlines for the last two trips.

 

[webworm]

Just need to vent a little to people who "get it"..

I've done many trip plannings in the past but this one has got me completely stressed out...I can't sleep, my neck hurts, my head hurts; I think I'm gonna lose it!

I don't think we're being unreasonable or non-flexible...ohhh how I wish those darn airlines would cut us some slack!

Our family of 6 is booked on a cruise out of Miami, Sunday March 10th. We're willing to fly into Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach either the Saturday (preferably) or Friday before. We're also willing to drive and fly out of Boston, Bangor, Portland, Manchester, Moncton and Halifax (preferably). I'm extremely frustrated running into the "1 ticket remains at this price". I thought I found a wonderful deal $539 out of Halifax return but, silly me...that price was only for 2 of us each...the other 4 would have been over $1000 each! Once you put in that magic "6 passengers"...everything skyrockets!

DH doesn't understand what the panic is all about. He keeps saying "relaxxx, there's lots of time...prices will come down". Umm...NO THEY WON'T! He just doesn't "get it"...

I feel much better now. Thanks

I found the following with AirTran on the Southbound and Delta on the return for 6 tickets. I'm not sure when you wanted to return. I guess cruise returns on Sunday Mar 17th so returning on Tue Mar 19th is much less than Mon 18th.

Departing: Friday, March 08, 2013 Earn 1 A+ credit $122.80 - Coach
Boston, MA (BOS) to Orlando, FL (MCO) Flight 176
9:12 AM 12:22 PM
Total Cost of Flight $736.80


OUTBOUNDTue, 19 Mar 2013| 11:00AMMCOto 1:56PMBOS| Nonstop
11:00AM MCO 1:56PM BOS Nonstop2h 56m
Price per passenger: $82.00 (USD)
Taxes/Carrier-imposed Fees: $10.80 (USD)
Subtotal per Passenger: $92.80 (USD)
Total charged: $556.80 (USD

 

[RainbowsMist]

I found the following with AirTran on the Southbound and Delta on the return for 6 tickets. I'm not sure when you wanted to return. I guess cruise returns on Sunday Mar 17th so returning on Tue Mar 19th is much less than Mon 18th.

Departing: Friday, March 08, 2013 Earn 1 A+ credit $122.80 - Coach
Boston, MA (BOS) to Orlando, FL (MCO) Flight 176
9:12 AM 12:22 PM
Total Cost of Flight $736.80


OUTBOUNDTue, 19 Mar 2013| 11:00AMMCOto 1:56PMBOS| Nonstop
11:00AM MCO 1:56PM BOS Nonstop2h 56m
Price per passenger: $82.00 (USD)
Taxes/Carrier-imposed Fees: $10.80 (USD)
Subtotal per Passenger: $92.80 (USD)
Total charged: $556.80 (USD

Yes I saw the Friday with Air Tran...it's a great price. We would have to leave home Thursday as it's an 11 hour drive to BOS. We're returning Monday, March 25th and if it's back to Boston we'd have to arrive early enough that we could drive home the same day. I've decided not give up yet...Southwest may come through when they release their next set of dates on the 27th

 

[webworm]

There is also Allegiant out of Bangor but only booking up to mid Jan at this point. I would think they should open up fares for March before to long.

 

[ckshultz]

Not sure what you have around you but I just got an email this am for Southwest 69$ flights.

 

[lizabu]

If there's any possible way you can drive to the states and fly from there do it. I have 5 kids so there were 7 or us. It was half the price to fly from the US than Canada. With all the money saved with did a park and fly hotel. The kids got to play in the pool the night before we flew out and we had fast food for dinner and still came out $1500 ahead

 

[RainbowsMist]

There is also Allegiant out of Bangor but only booking up to mid Jan at this point. I would think they should open up fares for March before to long.

Yes I never rule out Allegiant either however I'm pretty sure they only fly on Thursdays and Sundays from Bangor to Orlando. Maybe they add more flights during March??

Not sure what you have around you but I just got an email this am for Southwest 69$ flights.

Only applies to travel up to February 13

If there's any possible way you can drive to the states and fly from there do it. I have 5 kids so there were 7 or us. It was half the price to fly from the US than Canada. With all the money saved with did a park and fly hotel. The kids got to play in the pool the night before we flew out and we had fast food for dinner and still came out $1500 ahead

Yes this is what we're going to do and have done in the past. Cheapest way for sure

 

[monkey30]

I feel for you! we are a family of 5 and my mom likes to go to Disney with us as well.

Good luck finding something, it is possible ( I know PITA!) to maybe split you up a bit... so 3 on one flight and 3 on the next? maybe cut costs down, but may not.... I am just hopeful you find something.

 

[drag n' fly]

There is 6 of us leaving in a few days from YYC. We had the same problem. We fixed it by booking 2 one way flights. The more hits an airline gets on a search the higher the price goes. Supply vs demand. Research what you want. If it is still high stop doing hits for 24-28 hours to bring the price down and then try booking then.

 

[dontthrowsand]

When booking for 4 or more people, I like to divide the number in half and book separate reservations on the same flight. Fortunately this time for 4 of us we were fine on 1 reservation but there have been times it was up to $200 cheaper for us to book the two seat sales and the two non sale seats