Is there really any cheaper time to fly?

[jm106]

We just went to WDW in October and drove in order to save cost of flying from NJ. Well after a family vote, we all agreed NO to driving again
We have a 3 night/4 day stay at WBC we have to use by end of Sept 2015. (We also have points for Hilton so we can stay longer at another resort.)

Ppl always have suggestions as to booking on specific days of the week, or fly specific days. Is that true? I haven't found it makes much difference but maybe I just dont know how to do it?

Also, is there a time of year that is less costly then another? Obliviously, holidays are more to fly but is there a low season? I know its different according to where you live and airports. I live in NJ- I can fly from PA, NY and NJ but all seem similar.
Any tips on ways to save? Thanks for help

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Tues and Wed are cheaper.

If you apply for the SWA cc right now they are awarding 50K point - usually enough to buy two rt - when you spent $2k in 90days.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Tues and Wed are cheaper. If you apply for the SWA cc right now they are awarding 50K point - usually enough to buy two rt - when you spent $2k in 90days.

Or not. Honestly this one size fits all advice is rarely 100% accurate. For my next trip the cheapest days were Saturday and Monday late at night And earlier this week someone posted tat the Wall Street Journal says the best days to buy are actually Sat and Sunday in spite of the "Tuesday" chant

You just have to check all your options.

 

[katallo]

Or not. Honestly this one size fits all advice is rarely 100% accurate. For my next trip the cheapest days were Saturday and Monday late at night And earlier this week someone posted tat the Wall Street Journal says the best days to buy are actually Sat and Sunday in spite of the "Tuesday" chant

You just have to check all your options.

So true. Sometimes flying on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is less expensive. Unfortunately all of the other days are really high unless you are willing to leave at 6am or arrive at midnight. I checked when they opened March and every day since. SW has not varied one bit from BWI. Right now, we will drive.

 

[jm106]

Thanks. I'm willing to fly super early and get home late. I wasn't sure of it was fly Tuesday or buy Tuesday. I have played around with dates, no noticeable change but looking far out.

Any difference as to what month or time frame?
I wish it wasn't so darn hard of a drive!

 

[katallo]

I know exactly how you feel. Lately it just seems the prices don't budge. There are family members who were hoping to fly in March (12 total). But, I think everyone has given up. For weekends, average cost is about 600.00 round trip. Each sale, we hope for a drop. I'm sure the month makes a difference in some cases. Good luck. It's frustrating.

 

[jm106]

UGH, Guess I have to suck it up and pick dates. Its not going to get cheaper.

 

[mikehn]

Nothing is absolute, but more times than not, airfare tends to be lower if you can fly during midweek versus during the weekend. Airfare also tends to be cheapest during the fall, when school is in full swing.

 

[jm106]

I had expected October to be a bit less but it was not so we drove. I am looking at Mid week end of June and not so bad. Looking also a week before labor day since its a lower crowd level in Parks but too far out for pricing flights.
Thanks for tips. I am flexible with days of the week this trip(as long as resort can accommodate us.)

 

[mieuxmew]

We fly from NJ quite often. We try to fly out of Newark and Philly. Sometime JFK or Laguardia have good fares, but we don't like the traffic/stress traveling out of those airports. My husband is NO FAN of driving from NJ to Florida and back! We were on our way home from Williamsburg, VA and some idiot speeding and swerving in and out of lanes smashed into our car on 95. Police acknowledged the jerk hit us, but would not write a police report (no injuries), so we had to pay our deductible and deal with the aggravation of getting our car repaired.

A decent fare is $200-250 round trip per person, but have gotten tickets for less. We like Jetblue out of Newark and Southwest out of Philly. Sat night going down and Sat am returning usually have some of the best rates. We have flown Spirit out of Atlantic City and other people we know have had good luck with Frontier out of Trenton. With Spirit and Frontier, understand all the extra fees and rules. before you commit.

This next trip in May, we are flying JetBlue from Newark to Tampa. Fri to Sat $108 per person each way. We had enough points for a free flight. This is our first time flying into Tampa, but it is an easy drive to Orlando (certainly a better drive than from NJ).

Good luck!

 

[jm106]

We fly from NJ quite often. We try to fly out of Newark and Philly. Sometime JFK or Laguardia have good fares, but we don't like the traffic/stress traveling out of those airports. My husband is NO FAN of driving from NJ to Florida and back! We were on our way home from Williamsburg, VA and some idiot speeding and swerving in and out of lanes smashed into our car on 95. Police acknowledged the jerk hit us, but would not write a police report (no injuries), so we had to pay our deductible and deal with the aggravation of getting our car repaired. A decent fare is $200-250 round trip per person, but have gotten tickets for less. We like Jetblue out of Newark and Southwest out of Philly. Sat night going down and Sat am returning usually have some of the best rates. We have flown Spirit out of Atlantic City and other people we know have had good luck with Frontier out of Trenton. With Spirit and Frontier, understand all the extra fees and rules. before you commit. This next trip in May, we are flying JetBlue from Newark to Tampa. Fri to Sat $108 per person each way. We had enough points for a free flight. This is our first time flying into Tampa, but it is an easy drive to Orlando (certainly a better drive than from NJ). Good luck!

We fly regularly, this was first drive. I look at all Of those airports.
I can't ever find fares that low! We were looking at $285 or more for October 2014! Add luggage, parking and we were off site so a car rental and it was killer. I'll keep looking for summer

 

[MommyMK]

We fly out of BWI to either Orlando or Tampa 1-3x a year on Southwest. I try to book on the day the fares open and pay right around $100 per ticket each way.

 

[farrahgirl]

Jan.-march

 

[monorailsilver]

I would of said the Tuesday/Wednesday flights as well and to avoid holidays but...

I got RT leaving in Good Friday band returning 12 days later for just under. $250 out if Hartford.

I am a little bummed because we will still have a 2hr drive to ft. Myers since we are flying into Tampa. But it's better then the drive or the auto train. About 2 months after I purchased the tickets, jet blue came out with their flights and there was a RT to ft. Myers for about $10 more per ticket. Oh well 2016!

Good luck and look every day a few times a day with different options of airports. For me, I looked at Hartford, providence and white plains but I also looked at the NYC 3 airports as a last resort.

Oh and I mean look every day so you can get an idea as a price even if those aren't your dates.

We are flying delta so I was looking daily to see what flights were offered both ways.

 

[jm106]

Thanks. I keep looking but it doesn't change all that much. I always check every airport around me. I looked at different months, dates. February was 450 because of pres weekend, June, July and August were similar to October. I'm going to guess any savings we have arriving in Tampa or other airport would be a wash with getting 4 of us to Orlando.