IND-MCO Christmas 2004, is this a good rate?

[Geoff_M]

The booking window for our Christmas 2004 extended family trip is now open. 11 of us are flying together from IND (we think) to MCO the weekend before Christmas and returning home after the Big Day. I've never flown over the Christmas holiday season, so I'm not an expert on rates during that season. Right now we can book non-stop IND-MCO for $227. To me that sounds like a good deal for that time of year. We've flown that route during "off peak" January a couple of times before, and we've paid less than that... but it was only ~$60 less. My guess is that a fare war at Christmas time isn't likely. I'm I correct on that one?

I'm also using our June '04 trip as a possible lesson. I bought the tickets when they were first available in Sept '03. The price wasn't the best I've seen (we flew the same route in June '03 for about $50 less per person... but that was a special fare sale), but decided to bite the bullet and take the bird in the hand. Since then the prices have only increased. Shortly after I bought the tickets, they jumped about $30, and now for the same flights the price has jumped over $150! There are still other flights left at the +$30 price, but not at the times we'd like.

So... some of my extended family is thinking that they want to hold out hoping that the $227 price will drop. I think that may not a good gamble, given the seemingly low starting price, the Christmas season, the uncertainty of fuel prices between then and now, etc. What are other people's thoughts on my feelings???

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Geoff

IMO I would book it for $227. We are also waiting to book x-mas flights. We are flying out Dec 24-31. If I get that price for Pittsburgh or Cleveland to MCO, I will book it quick.

If your times and dates are good and it is non-stop, book it as FAST as you can. Airline travel is up across the USA and airlines know it. They will have only so many "cheaper seats" each flight.

My theory is if I can find non-stop flights with good times for $225 or less, I book it as soon as possible.

 

[jjskribs]

I too will be flying around the same timeframe. We are planning on leaving on December 27th and returning either the 31th or January 1st depending on what airfare I can find. On Friday I will be 330 days out and can start getting some real figures. I'm thinking that if I can get something in the $250.00 range for non-stops from Boston to Orlando I will take it. I could book my outbound right now for $107.00 but I'm not brave enough to do that yet.

To answer your question, I would consider $227.00 a good rate but I have always flown during school vacation weeks so I am used to paying higher fares.

 

[Beast fan]

Geoff..............BUY YOUR AIRLINE TICKETS AT $227.00!!
We flew out of Louisville (SDF) Airport this past holiday season for $223.00.

Have fun!

Dave

 

[nuthut]

I was able to book a goupr of 13 on NWA for Dec 26, and return on Jan 2 for $234.00 from Grand Rapids Mi to MCO non stop. The group is nice because it is cancelable and can make name changes at no charge.

 

[Geoff_M]

Thanks... I'll have to check that out. I noticed on their website that we qualify as "group" with ATA, but I assumed that we wouldn't have enough people in our groups to qualify for any discounts. But those other "benefits" sound attractive.

 

[SB in KY]

We have reservations from IND to MCO during easter week for $123 per person RT, so $227 doesn't sound all that great to me...but then again it is easter week not Xmas week. When we booked it the same fare was available on ATA, SW and Delta. I never pay more than $140 per person RT from Louisville or Ind. But I usually have 4 seats to book, not 11. I think the idea of qualifying for a group fare is a great one, since you could change/cancel later if something better came up. Also if the fare drops significantly most airlines will give you the difference in credit for a future flight (not as good as a refund but better than nothing...keeps you from kicking yourself too hard if the fare drops a lot)

 

[madge]

Originally posted by SB in KY
We have reservations from IND to MCO during easter week for $123 per person RT, so $227 doesn't sound all that great to me...but then again it is easter week not Xmas week. When we booked it the same fare was available on ATA, SW and Delta. I never pay more than $140 per person RT from Louisville or Ind. But I usually have 4 seats to book, not 11. I think the idea of qualifying for a group fare is a great one, since you could change/cancel later if something better came up. Also if the fare drops significantly most airlines will give you the difference in credit for a future flight (not as good as a refund but better than nothing...keeps you from kicking yourself too hard if the fare drops a lot)

we have the same rate out of IND for Memorial Day weekend.

SB, where in KY are you?

 

[Geoff_M]

SB,

We've gotten similar rates from IND too, but as you noted not during Christmas. I see that they have IND-MCO deals in that price range thru June, but you have to fly mid-week and that won't work for us schedule wise. I seem to remember similar restrictions on the cheap fares we've gotten in the past.

The ATA group sales people got back to me and quoted me a "group rate" of $262. I'm not sure if that's refundable or not.