Jacksonville Aiport instead of MCO???

[antmaril]

We will be on the Wonder on February 13, 2005. I'm shopping for airfare right now and everything into Orlando from Detroit is very high. I started checking Jacksonville and got a rate of $218 per person (about $150 less per person than anything else I've found at that time into Orlando). We will be flying in the morning before and the return flight leaves JAX at 6:00 p.m. - so we would have plenty of time for the drive. I'm wondering if anyone has done this - it is a significant savings for us.

Any thoughts?

 

[staylor]

I don't know how far it is from JAX to Orlando. I do know TPA is about 1 hr 10 min. I know airlines don't always follow the same path, but last year they had a good airfare sale in Oct. Air traffic slows down after labor day (when kids are back in school). So, I'm hoping to see lower fares then. We are going in January and still have not purchased our tickets. You can look at sidestep.com to compare airlines. It does not include southwest, though. You'll have to go to southwest.com for them.
Hope this helps, some
Staci

 

[antmaril]

Jacksonville is about 160 miles from Port Canaveral. One reason why Jacksonville is going to be cheaper in February is because it's in Northern Florida and not as warm at that time of year and therefore not as desirable as Orlando or Tampa. I checked Tampa - same as Orlando. I'm not going to buy just yet. I will wait a bit and I will, of course, check Southwest when they open up for my time period. Right now SW is booking thru 1/14/05.

I was just relieved to know that I could at least get down there at that time of year without spending $400 per person (for four people). If I don't find anything in my price range in Orlando, I'm going to go with Jacksonville. It isn't my first choice, but it is doable.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[CM_Mom]

Just make sure the savings in airfare make up for the cost of the rental car. That shouldn't be hard if you save $100 per person but thought I'd mention it.

 

[moinab]

I live in the Jacksonville area. It's an easy drive to Port Canaveral from here - straight down I-95, although it will take 2 1/2 - 3 hours, under normal conditions. You'll be coming down the week after the Super Bowl, so Jacksonville will be pretty quiet, but that's the start of Speed Week, so Daytona will be insane (also, that's why airfare to Orlando and Tampa is high.) Good luck!

 

[antmaril]

I wondered about Daytona. I was surprised the air was so high because it is the week before Presidents' Week. I was also thinking it was high because it's the weekend of Valentine's Day. Sometimes people do something fun for the weekend.

I've already rented a car. I found most companies to be quite high, but was able to get one through Avis which wasn't much more than it would cost in Orlando - so that is handled.

Thanks for the help.

 

[BELLE16127]

Did you look into flying into SANFORD???? I live in Pennsylvania and they have flights from Youngstown, OH to the Sanford airport. We saved about 350-400 for 3 of us flying in there. Look at a map it is on 417 but north instead of down where Orlando International is. My daughter is a student at University of Central Florida and the campus is allmost right between the two so when we fly in she just goes a different dirrection to get us. Have a look at that am not sure if you can get a flight but it's worth a try....GOOD LUCK

 

[webray]

If your cruise isn't until february..wait. There are sure to be better prices before then.