Is this too much to pay for plane tickets?

[NvrBnToWDW]

We're first time flyers and have no idea how much tickets cost. Is $842 (just dropped down from $882) for 2 adults & 2 children (ages 9 & 11) to fly from Dallas to Orlando? Will there be a better deal closer to May (our trip time)? Or should I book now?

 

[JenniferW]

Which airline and is it non stop, the times you want?

Jenn

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

I would definitely wait. You still have plenty of time and there may be better rates later. I don't know what the rates are in your area, but that sounds high. Shop around first. Check your major airlines and cheap tickets, etc. and keep checking back. We got an excellent deal from South West.

 

[karebear1]

I think that sounds pretty high too! Usually you'll get rate drops in airfare about 3 months before your trip. If you go to travelocity and sign up for the farewatcher it will notify you when rates drop and good deals are available. You have plenty of time- I'd keep watching.

 

[my3kids]

Can't you fly Southwest? Those tickets are usually priced pretty well.

 

[tracy51]

That's coming out to $210 per person and I'm guessing that's on American I just went to their site to get a price for budget purposes for a trip in June. Contray to what some others are saying, that's not bad for American from Dallas to Orlando. I've been keeping an eye on flights to Orlando from Dallas for a bit since I have family in Fla. However, I'd still wait a bit. You've got time and they might drop their rates.

Check out Airtran also. Very often they are doing one-way from Dallas to Orlando for $79 which would be $160 roundtrip. I've flown them before and they aren't bad. But I did notice that their schedule for flights between DFW & MCO isn't as good as American.

As for Southwest, you'd have to leave from Love Field if you're near Dallas. That means that you can only take a direct flight out of state to the surrounding states You'd have to fly to Houston (or some other city that you can fly to from Dallas) and probably transfer planes for a flight to Orlando from Houston. Not sure if you want to do that with 2 kids. Also, with that extra airport stop you'll be hit with more fees and I'm not sure how that will work with any savings you might see on Southwest. In general I've found that out of Dallas Southwest isn't the best way to go unless you are going some place you can take a direct flight to from Dallas.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

It doesn't get much cheaper for direct flights from DFW to MCO.

It seems like DFW just never offers the "deals" that the NE states often see.

My rule of thumb is around $200-$210 for direct flight. Occasionally you might find $189 or so, but I jump on the $200-$210 so I don't have to wait around and worry about it.


I would NOT fly anything but direct flight with children. Switching planes and the time delay is just a nightmare, IMO.

Good luck!!!

 

[pixiedustforever]

An average of $210 per person is pretty darn good!!! Sounds like you have a winner!!! Unless Airtran (always fly direct with the kiddos!!) comes through with an awesome sale for you!

We're booked for november 20-27 on Delta. They changed our flights with the announcement of DFW flight cutbacks. (growl!!!)
They did find an alternative flight for us and didn't charge us anything extra. And hey!! We ARE getting to WDW 4 hours earlier!!! Praise God & pass the BBQ!!!!!





:thewave:


marylee
"Pix"

YEE HAW!!!!

 

[NvrBnToWDW]

The price I got was from the AA website. There are a good choice of flight times. We've been waiting for Southwest to publish their flights for the first week of May, but we've never been on a plane and don't even know the route to take to get to Orlando (since SW doesn't fly direct from Dallas). I know they're cheaper, but is it worth the hassle?

 

[WaltD4Me]

In my opinion it isn't worth the hassle, especially with kids, I'll pay a little extra for a direct flight any day. I don't think $210 is bad at all. Direct from Cleveland to Orlando is about the same right now. Continental is the only airline that flys direct to Orlando from Cleveland and I didn't even bother checking other airlines, just waited for Continental to drop. When I first started checking the flight was $265 and has gone up and down alot in the past 8 months. I lucked out and got the R/T direct for $175 with tax and fees, but I would have paid the $206 it's at right now for the direct flight.


Lisa

 

[tinkerbell13]

We are on AA and got a flight from ONT(Ca) for $226. It's hard to imagine that it doesn't get any lower from DFW. We have kids(4, 13,16)with us and do have to make the stop in DFW. We are thankful for the 2 hr stop, enough time to eat and run around for the 2nd leg of the trip.
If I had been a better planner, I would have scheduled a really long layover in Dallas on our way home and gone to the Cowboy game! What was I thinking?!? Being in Dallas on a Sunday...Go Boys!

 

[Rebeccapaige!]

Hi! I paid $189 on MIdwest express without taxes It came to around $215 with taxes! I was so happy to even get that rate and mine is also direct flight! I wouldn't do anything but direct even if it was just me flying lol!
Becky, Paige and Hailey

Paige is 5
Hailey is 2 1/2

 

[janette]

Originally posted by NvrBnToWDW
The price I got was from the AA website. There are a good choice of flight times. We've been waiting for Southwest to publish their flights for the first week of May, but we've never been on a plane and don't even know the route to take to get to Orlando (since SW doesn't fly direct from Dallas). I know they're cheaper, but is it worth the hassle?

Southwest will not be cheaper from DFW, only if you are willing to drive somewhere else to catch the flight.

If you can find flights under $200 with non-stop & the times you want I'd buy then. I'd give it until about Feb / Mar before you'll really need to buy. Start checking the airline sites www.orbitz.com , www.travelocity.com & www.expedia.com . Use them to find the best prices and buy the tickets direct from the airline to save the transaction fees.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

I paid $542 for 2 adults and 2 kids on ATA direct flight fom Indianapolis to orlando. It went up to $950 most planes will give you a voucher for the difference if your flight goes down that you can use within a year. I say book it if you can but chances are it will go down but it can get higher. Its a gamble. Do you like to gamble? If you wait you need to check EVERYDAY for prices because they can change prices at anytime. My flight went on sale sometime in the morning and by 8pm it was high again.

 

[robsmom]

just a hint on the not knowing the route that you need to fly. You never need to know the routes, just your starting point and destination. The airline/website will come back with the possible routes.

I agree with all of those who have said to stick to a direct flight with kids. Connections can be tough even for adults because you always run the risk that the 1st flight is late and you miss the second one. I would only do the southwest with a connection if the price is so much less that you just can't pass it up.

 

[NotUrsula]

"It's hard to imagine that it doesn't get any lower from DFW."

Remember that DFW is AA's primary US hub. AA flights that terminate there are always going to be fairly expensive, as there is not much competition there for non-stop flights.

 

[sphere99]

$210 isn't bad. I bought ours non stop on AA from DFW for $188 but had I bought them a month earlier they were going for $160. I would wait, you have pleanty of time.