Is this a good price for airfare - CLE to MCO

[nicolep91]

I need help on making a quick decision!

I've been looking for airfare for our November trip and today I found a decent price on a non-stop (which I really want) flight from Cleveland to Orlando through Continental. With taxes, etc., it comes out to be $217 per person. The only thing is that the tickets are non-refundable and there is a $100 penalty per ticket for any changes. I'm pretty sure are dates are solid (we have our hotel ressies already) but of course something could always come up. Are most airlines going the non-refundable route now anyways?

I think I might be able to get a cheaper flight flying out of Akron through AirTran but it's a further drive for us and I've heard some bad things about them lately (although we've flown them before with no problems).

Would you wait and see if a better price came along that wasn't non-refundable or go for it? I'm afraid if I wait too long this price will be gone and I'll regret it!

Thanks in advance!

 

[apagano]

If you can live with paying $217 a person, then go ahead and book it. When I was booking our May trip, prices from CLE ranged from $200-250 per person. At the time we booked the prices were:

$212 pp on AirTran from Akron
$217 pp on SWA out of CLE
$220 pp on Continental out of CLE

We booked the Akron flights only to find SWA dropped to $198 just days later. We could have saved ourselves both time and money, but I got nervous and booked because it was already March and we were only 8 weeks out.

So chances are that you might find something cheaper down the road, but if $217 is comfortable for you then jump on it. Cheap nonstops out of CLE are hard to come by.

 

[ls1222]

I just had this same dilema. We are going in September (CLE to MCO). I always watch Continental as we love the direct flight. Last year I waited and watched and the cheapest the flight went was 257.00. I just found the same flights for September for 216.00 per person. I held it for 24hrs and the price went up to 236.00 pp. Luckily, they held the price so I went ahead and purchased. I think if you are willing to get a connecting you may be able to get a little bit cheaper. We live in the Akron/Canton area but always choose to leave from Cleveland for that direct flight. I have also heard negative things about Airtran (never personal experience). I personally watch CLE to MCO all the time and 216.00 was one of the lowest I have seen (again, for the direct flight). Hope this helps.

 

[ncligs]

Since we only fly Continental and US AIR(for FF miles) we fly out of Cleveland and Pittsburgh a lot.Especially since we are 1 hr from 3 airports(Cleveland,Pittsburgh,Akron).

I always check all 3 airports for our flights to Orlando. We just booked direct Pittsburgh to Orlando for Feb 2004 for $195 total(taxes inc). Continental at the time of booking was $254.

My general thinking is if you can get a flight with good times,non-stop,etc for around $220 or less, I jump on it. Air Tran doesn't put out there prices until 6 months out, Major Airlines put them out 330 days in advance.

If I were you I would book the flights at $217 if you can.

 

[nicolep91]

Thank you all for your replies!

I went ahead and bought the tickets. I'm not even going to worry if I could have gotten them cheaper - at least I have them and it was right around the price I was hoping to get them for. I am definitely willing to pay a little more for a direct flight and I'm glad I don't have to drive the 1/2 hour more to Akron.

I checked AirTran's website and even though their flights weren't scheduled for my dates yet, from the other ones there it looks like I might have been able to get $92.00 each way ($184 roundtrip) but it would have been about the same price after taxes and I don't know if I could have gotten a nonstop flight at the times I wanted. (The times through Contintental were perfect - morning flight down and midafternoon return!)

Now I'm so excited that I actually have our flight booked - it seems more "real" somehow!

Thanks again, I feel better knowing other's experiences on this!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by nicolep91
Thank you all for your replies!
I went ahead and bought the tickets. I'm not even going to worry if I could have gotten them cheaper - at least I have them and it was right around the price I was hoping to get them for. I am definitely willing to pay a little more for a direct flight and I'm glad I don't have to drive the 1/2 hour more to Akron.

"Good for you"....have a safe trip!!

 

[ls1222]

I did the exact same thing, booked it and don't worry about it then. I will keep checking rates but I seriously doubt non-stop from CLE to MCO on Continental will get any lower than 217.00, the flight to MCO for Sept only had about 10 available seats left, when I called the airline they said a convention was booked on that flight (I guess that is why the seats are already full). Good Luck.

 

[ZerasPride]

My husband and I are looking for airfare out of Cleveland, Akron/Canton or Pittsburgh and I really want Cleveland because that's closest. I'm going over to Continental's site and plug in our days to see what they come up with. I thought I'd have to wait until closer to our date in November to find something for around $200 out of Cleveland. Thanks so much for the post!

P.S. to the original poster, I don't add my countdown timer until I buy the plane tickets - once I have tickets "in hand" our trip seems more real to me too!

 

[apagano]

FYI for Clevelanders - Southwest Airlines does have a nonstop flight to and from MCO on Saturdays, and AirTran's nonstop from CAK now flies every day. I've heard both good and bad things about AirTran, but every airline has its ups and downs.

 

[nicolep91]

Good luck, Lisa! Hope those tickets are still there for ya!

 

[ZerasPride]

I don't know if it's because our trip ends right before the busy T-day holiday or what but the only fare that comes close to $217 is one for $227 and it's a connecting flight. Dh won't even consider one of those. Plus the times are yucky. I've never flown with Airtran and you guys have had some bad experiences, I'd like to know that before I buy the tix (of course Airtran hasn't come out with their November fares yet).

All this airfare searching makes me want to schedule an impromtu trip for August so off I go to search for August fares!

 

[heathrow42]

Weird, why is that when i book continental out of the dc area through cleveland it is cheaper than your cleveland to mco direct? I just booked a trip for may7th (booked it last week) going through cleveland for $176. I can't see any reason why this should be cheaper, considering they have to fly me to cleveland!!

On a brighter note, even though you have already booked it, keep and eye on their fares. If continental drops prices. call and get a price adjustment. Last year they sent us a $30 travel certificate, and they sent my Mother -inlaw 2 $125 travel certificates (yeah, she waaaaaaayyy over paid for her tickets) We didn't mind the travel certificates since we knew we would be flying again in the next year. And, I am getting to use my DH $30 travel certificate this trip, so they are transferrable as long as you have the pin #

--heather

 

[nicolep91]

What a bummer, Lisa - but good luck on those August prices!

Thanks for the info about the travel certificates, Heather. That's good to know! Isn't it weird how the prices can be so different to get you to the same place (or even further!)? I could go nuts trying to figure it out! Oh well, what are you gonna do, right?

 

[apagano]

Weird, why is that when i book continental out of the dc area through cleveland it is cheaper than your cleveland to mco direct?

That's because airfares have a little to do with distance and a lot to do with competition. The DC market is much more competetive because several airlines fly nonstop to MCO from DC. So if Continental wants you to book them, they have to offer you a lower price. In Cleveland you have only a few choices:

1) Continental flies n/s from CLE daily.
2) SWA flies n/s from CLE on Saturdays only.
3) AirTran has one daily non-stop, but you have to drive to Akron-Canton Airport.

So that's how the person on the CLE-MCO flight who originated in DC can pay less than the person who lives down the street from the airport.

 

[ZerasPride]

I was able to put a courtesy hold on tix for our August trip ($216.50 per person round trip, non-stop and perfect times). I plan to take my 12 year old sister as a surprise. Well the surprise is on me. I just found out from my Mom that my sister will be in New York with our aunt that week. I don't think I can switch to the week before because I don't have enough DVC points for our studio for that week. I can't switch it to the week after because the kiddos go back to school. I am so bummed. The only way we can go is if I drop a day off the trip. It's only 5 days to begin with and I really didn't want to spend the money to go all that way for only 4 days. Part of me says a little Disney is better than none but I want that extra day dang it! I have to decide soon.

Anyway, thanks again everyone for the airfare help. I wouldn't know half that I do without all your insights! Take care everyone.

 

[heathrow42]

Thanks for the insight Apagano. I never thought of it that way

--heather

 

[ls1222]

I still think that it is a very good price. I have watched Continental price from CLE to MCO for 2 years and this is one of the best prices I've found (on Continental) direct flight and they have several times to choose from. I'm not too crazy about CAK aiport (even though it is closer to us). I booked for our Sept trip for 216.00 as well on Continental.