I broke the bank on airfare to save our March trip!

[quirty30]

We have a 1BR SV booked at BWV for March 19-23; I have been searching for reasonable airfare from ORD to MCO for months and they have been hovering between $350-$400 RT. I was getting close to cancelling since we are only 2 weeks away from having those points go into holding. We had 3 trips last year and only once did our air exceed $200 (when I travelled solo in October and had to pay $203 - lol!) I have 2 kids so I prefer nonstops, but that just wasn't going to happen for less than $350. Today I found an outbound flight on Delta with a stop in ATL. We're leaving after school & work on a Friday, so even if we flied direct we wouldn't get in on time to actually do anything. And I found a nice non-stop return flight on United - late departure after 8PM so we can stay at Epcot til almost 5 our last day. The damage was $286 RT - I splurged and booked it rather than have to cancel. All the banter about the east coast blizzard made me realize how much I wanted to celebrate spring break at Disney World. I'm really glad we were able to salvage the trip (also looking forward to a nice renovated room at BWV - I had an unrenovated studio in October and it was not very nice!)

I hope all you east coast folks looking to get to Disney this weekend are just as fortunate - here's "warm wishes" and a little pixie dust for you

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm travelling on the 19th and 28th, and it's costing me $299...DH is coming on the 24th to 28th...he got $260. The airlines really make out when we do spring break travel. Same flights for a weekend in February, $195. Like you, we're glad to be going!!

Bobbi

 

[Halle]

You have me worried, we're going 12/27-1/2 can only imagine how much$$$ that will cost. We're taking our family (10) or our 35th anniversary, our treat!

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I hear you. We'll be there Mar 20-27 and still searching for decent airfare. Considering flying on the 19th but haven't found anything then either. I think we'll end up driving.

 

[Brian Noble]

I splurged and booked it

I think anything under $300 round trip from the upper midwest in the dead of winter is a very fair price---especially now, when the airlines have very successfully cut capacity to low-revenue leisure destinations like Orlando.

 

[dismedvc]

I hear you. We'll be there Mar 20-27 and still searching for decent airfare. Considering flying on the 19th but haven't found anything then either. I think we'll end up driving.

I assume you know this, but if not have you looked at Allegiant Air directly out of Rockford? They fly into Sanford, so you could not do ME, but it looks like you could get them for 99.99 outbound on 3/20 and 139.99 return on 3/28, plus about $20 per passenger in taxes and fees and $14 (per passenger) in "convenience fees" if you book online. You can avoid the convience fee by purchasing at the airport ticket counter.

Usually you can get decent fairs out of Milwaukee, but not currently for your dates. Also parking is $12 per day in Milwaukee, compared to free in Rockford, but over $20 in Chicago.

 

[alanapapa]

You have me worried, we're going 12/27-1/2 can only imagine how much$$$ that will cost. We're taking our family (10) or our 35th anniversary, our treat!

We are finding anywhere from $480 t0 $850 from Seattle for that period. If you can fly out on Monday the 3rd airfare drops.

 

[quirty30]

I'm travelling on the 19th and 28th, and it's costing me $299...DH is coming on the 24th to 28th...he got $260. The airlines really make out when we do spring break travel. Same flights for a weekend in February, $195. Like you, we're glad to be going!!

Bobbi

Yup, spring break markups. We are also going in mid May and I got fares under $200 again (well I had to pay $12 a piece for reserved seat assignments on Airtran but the fare was $189 including taxes. It was tempting to chance it and see if the airline would dare separate me from my kids!)

You have me worried, we're going 12/27-1/2 can only imagine how much$$$ that will cost. We're taking our family (10) or our 35th anniversary, our treat!

Hopefully you'll do a little better than if you were flying before Xmas. What area are you traveling from?

I hear you. We'll be there Mar 20-27 and still searching for decent airfare. Considering flying on the 19th but haven't found anything then either. I think we'll end up driving.

Oh wow, I don't think I could ever do that drive. I don't have enough vacation days OR enough patience. We used to drive to the FL panhandle with a stop in Nashville. It's too much when you're the only driver.

I think anything under $300 round trip from the upper midwest in the dead of winter is a very fair price---especially now, when the airlines have very successfully cut capacity to low-revenue leisure destinations like Orlando.

And I agree - when I saw that fare of $286, I figured it was about as good as it was going to get for Florida in the winter from Chicago. I'll be happy as a clam if I find another $200 range fare for our August trip.

 

[kristenrice]

We are arriving the night before Easter and airfare is over $400/person from GRR, DTW, ORD, MDW and/or FNT.

So, since there are 4 adults and 2 kids going, we're taking our Suburban and driving down. We're leaving on April 1, right after school, and driving until about 11pm. Then, we're getting up early the next morning and driving ALL DAY until we reach Lake City, FL. We are staying overnight in Lake City and we'll probably hit the road around 11am on Saturday. We have a reservation at T-Rex at DTD for 3:30pm so that should give us time to stop at the hotel (Buena Vista Suites) and check in. We don't plan to unpack since we are checking in to AKV the next day.

We're splitting the gas costs with my parents so with food, lodging and gas, it will cost our family of 4 about $600 to drive round-trip. That does not take into account that I have enough Marriott points (after paying $12.50 to "top off") to cover our first night. I also have a $75 Marriott gift card (earned FREE from MyPoints) to cover our second night, and another $200 in AMEX rewards to cover our half of the room at Buena Vista Suites and our room on the way home.

For this trip, it was pretty much a no-brainer to drive vs. fly.

 

[docusmc1]

Did you try Southwest out of Midway. Very good fares My friends always fly Southwest out of Midway for their WDW trips twice a year...

 

[kristenrice]

Did you try Southwest out of Midway. Very good fares My friends always fly Southwest out of Midway for their WDW trips twice a year...

I did....they had pretty decent prices about 6 months ago. My dad was concerned because my mom is prone to "sudden onset" respiratory infections (side effect from chemo about 15 years ago) and he did not want to book non-refundable airfare that far in advance.

Now, the fares are still about $350/person, but we are about 3 hours from Chicago so we would need to factor in a hotel stay for the night before our flight, in order to minimize our chance of traffic delays.

We're OK with driving, it will be our "adventure".

 

[El&Asmom]

We almost always try to fly out of Midway and Southwest, but had the same problem for MLK weekend. We, like you never pay over $200, but had to pay about $350 for that week. We are flying Airtran in April and RT is only about $150. I hate spending a ton on airfare. At least we're not on the west coast.

 

[lulubelle]

We almost always try to fly out of Midway and Southwest, but had the same problem for MLK weekend. We, like you never pay over $200, but had to pay about $350 for that week. We are flying Airtran in April and RT is only about $150. I hate spending a ton on airfare. At least we're not on the west coast.

Welcome to my world, El&A's mom

Last year in Sept we flew LAX-MCO non stop on AA and was astonished to pay only $255 total each (it's usually $300 to $350). This year we are going early Oct and the same flights are $475! I booked right around March 1st last year, so hoping the rates drop this year around the same time. Wish me luck and send pixie dust please. Congrats to everyone going over spring break, have a fabulous trip.

 

[quirty30]

I will have to keep Southwest in mind next time. I could have used them for the May trip instead of Airtran. (I paid $604 for Airtran for 3 RT tickets; just priced SW and it came out to $613, but I wouldn't have to pay for checked bags. Flight times are a little better on Airtran so I'm not upset. We usually only check one large bag for the 3 of us anyway, and then we all bring a good sized carry-on.) I really prefer O'Hare to Midway only because we live very close. Cab fare is flat rate $20 compared to $50 for Midway (but Midway is so much easier to fly out of with kids - it's much smaller than O'Hare.)

I feel for you west coast folks who fly to MCO. I bet it can get pretty expensive. We are very lucky in the midwest as we are so centrally located; we can fly just about anywhere in the continental US for less than $250. Have to say, this was the first time I've exceeded $250 to go anywhere. But it'll be worth it!!!!

 

[sweetdana]

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO with you AIR! I felt spoiled on air until recent. I flew from DTW to MCO 5 times within the past 15 months or so. All of them 39 - 69$ each way. I have been looking for my next trip 08-29 - 09-05 for months I cannot find anything under 115$ each way. I know I should think that is reasonable.. rigth 240 round trip.. only round trip for the 3 of us in Jan, in Dec and in Sept all just passing never was more than 450$ (once just over 300$). In Aug 2010 if it doesn't change it will run me 720$ That is a lot more and enough to cut 1 or 2 of my Disney trips out of the year. :
( I rented points a few times this year, but without cheaper air.. I will have to settle with maybe every 6 months instead of every 3 or 4. I can add 400 - 500$ for a rented room 400 for air fare and for a few nights with AP passes, and modest dining be 1,000 - 1,200$ ). Now this will run, 1,600$ I hope it is a fluke and demand kicks supplies tail end and let's them know there are less fliers out there. I already give all my extra $$ to Disney.. now Northwest wants there share but

 

[etpinge]

Quirty..

if you are close to ORD on the north side, look into Milwaukee as well. It might sound a little crazy, but the airport is as simple as Midway and the costs for the parking is much easier and cheaper than Chicago-land.

Flights are usually $10 cheaper per seat.

 

[iwrbnd]

I'm paying twice the price to go spring break than I did last summer

 

[thelionqueen]

I feel the pain as well. Although we're not as central as Chicago, or total west coast either, what we pay for airfare can vary greatly from day to day.
I was BEYOND thrilled when I saw the one-day United sale on New Year's Day, so I grabbed it!

The lowest fare we ever got from Denver to MCO was $250 per seat in 2005 (non-stop, am departures and pm returns). Last year I paid $350 and was lucky to get it that low.

For our May trip (over Memorial weekend) I only paid $159 per ticket. Disclaimer, the seats were actually $259 (still great price) but we had $100 vouchers for each of us from a previous trip. We paid a grand total of under $700 for 4 of us non-stop to MCO

If I could do this every time, I would likely need to buy more points

 

[SFD998]

The airlines really make out when we do spring break travel.

That is why we started driving down as of last year. We decided if we wanted to go as often as we do we were going to have to start driving. From CT is cost me about $320 RT using premium fuel. Last year we drove straight through down and back twice. This year we will be making a stop in S.C. The hotel only adds about $100 to the total cost. Well below the cost of flying 4 of us down.

 

[bobbiwoz]

That is why we started driving down as of last year. We decided if we wanted to go as often as we do we were going to have to start driving. From CT is cost me about $320 RT using premium fuel. Last year we drove straight through down and back twice. This year we will be making a stop in S.C. The hotel only adds about $100 to the total cost. Well below the cost of flying.

Something like this is too much for me at least. Cape May is an 11-12 hour drive from my house, and it's too much for me to do in a single day now, well, maybe with a friend for company. I used to do it on a lark, going on Friday, coming home on Sunday by myself with 2 dogs. Those days are gone. Enjoy your driving/saving money days while you can!

WDW is about an additional 3-5 hours than the Cape May trip would be.

Bobbi