IAD *or* DCA to MCO...April 14/18...heeelllllllp - UPDATED

[agnes!]

Our(DH & I) Anniversary is coming up at the end of April. We are trying to plan a trip to WDW. We already have a ressie at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - using a combination of Free Stay Nights & Hyatt Gold Passport points for April 14-18. We thought we could use some United segments for our (free)flights, but that isn't looking too possible right now. Ack, it takes friggin' *forever* to get those #@*^% certificates!!!
SO, does anybody have ideas/tips/hints about getting a cheap airfare from *any* of the three DC-area airports(DCA, IAD or BWI) to Orlando? This is fairly short trip, so I don't want to be connecting through LaGuardia or Detroit etc so we can get to Orlando.

TIA,
agnes!




UPDATE...March 2, 2005
Anyone trying to get from Dulles to Orlando should take a look at Independence Air *NOW*. They are running some specials, depending on time/date for our travel time, the prices one-way were running anywhere from $49/$99 and up. We got a connecting flight down to MCO(through Greensboro!) and a direct flight back for around $173(including fees/taxes).

 

[LukenDC]

BWI usually has the cheapest flights. Southwest has several direct flights to MCO out of BWI.

Try some of the discount travel sites. I have had terrific experiences with www.cheaptickets.com

 

[CarolA]

Try Ifly.com out of IAD.

 

[agnes!]

Just now, when I looked at Independence Air, the airfare was over $300. Have also checked out Southwest out of BWI, ATA, Spirit, etc...the cheapest I could find was (I think) $208 or so...which is not that bad, it's just that we *thought* we would be able to use that stupid United promotional deal & get 'free' tickets...the certificates take about 6 weeks to arrive (even though their system knows how many segments you have in your account). *AND* even if you book on United, *but* fly on another airline you will NOT get a segment credit towards their "Around The World" promotion...ugh.

agnes!

 

[n2mm]

FLYI just ended a sale of Friday 2/25, which means you need to wait until the next sale. They seem to have them every week. Keep in mind that when FLYI has a sale, United/TED and other airlines will usually be doing the same promotion. At this point since the airfare is so high I would hold tight (JMHO) for another week or so to see what the next sale FLYI or TED has. I see some Spring fare sales coming with March starting next week. I booked my spring trip on FLYI (Independence) out of Dulles for my April 29-May 14 trip and am paying $116 roundtrip--non-stop.

Also while checking your fares keep in mind that sometimes if you arrive a day earlier or stay a day later, it can change your airfare completely. Sometimes more than enough to pay another night for a room. Good Luck and hang in there!

 

[agotta]

You could do what we are doing, only backwards. Fly to orlando on Indedence for $104 and fly home out of SFB (about half an hour from Disney) on TransMeridian for $49. Budget, National and Alamo all have car rentals at both airports so you will be able to pick up at MCO and drop off at SFB. Good luck!!

Amanda

 

[addictedtoWDW]

Hey Agnes, we're facing the same dilema. Our family trip (6 adults 2 children) is also scheduled for 4/14/05 to 4/18/05. I have been watching the airfare for weeks and there haven't been any great sales yet. I'm hoping this week coming up, being the first week of March, may bring us a good deal. I would wait to see what the sales bring on Tuesday.

 

[agnes!]

Hey, Airlines!!

It's Tuesday, you're supposed to be putting your airfares on sale today! Did everybody forget? I'm waiting and checking all the air-travel sites and even installed >DING!< on my desktop...

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

Updated information in first/original post.
Take a look at Independence Air, anyone who wants to travel from Washington/Dulles to Orlando(MCO)...the prices seem to have gone down today. Our flight down is $49!!!!(connecting through Greensboro, departing/leaving from same gate).

agnes!