Last minute airfare - am I out of luck?

[5terre]

We have room and dining reservations for President's Day week and I have not purchased airfare. Prices are super high, am I out of luck? Been checking Southwest a million times a day, missed it when the prices went down to $300 two weeks ago (saw it as I was heading to work in the early morning, needed time to think about it, when I got home that night the price was gone). Now that we're less than a month out, there's pretty much zero chance that prices will go down, right? I am a school nurse and don't get to take any time off so we can only travel around the weekends of school vacation.

I've been so indecisive about this trip, since we just went last year I didn't think we'd go again this year. I thought we should wait until the Fantasyland expansion is done next year. But the cold weather is giving me the bug and our DD 7 still likes princesses this year and I'm worried some of the magic will be gone next year. Last year was her first trip. DH is MAD at me that he is not going to Disney and getting out of the snow in February. ; I am kind of mad at myself, too, I want a vacation and a pool! Although last year we had amazing weather in February, I keep reminding myself that 85 and sunny for 7 days in February was not the norm!

 

[klmrph]

We are going one week before and prices for airfare are just going up now, so I do think you are out of luck especially since you are going during break week.

 

[JennSaint]

Unfortunately you most likely are out of luck this late in the game if you can't be flexible with your dates. You could maybe try priceline as long as you don't care about flight times.

 

[poohbear8]

Keep checking..daily...hourly if you can. Here's my story:

I decided to train for the Royal Family 5k after my trip 2 weeks ago. DH told me to go for it, since we had upgraded me to APs. Airfare was going to run me $380-$800 depending on when I went down/came home. I kept checking prices and made a chart of the flights I really wanted and the flights I could tolerate if I had to. (layover in ATL, with the total flight time being 6 hours ) I checked them at least 2x a day, so I started to see which ones were going up and going down. I also checked to see which ones had many open seats.

Yesterday my running buddy told me her flights had gone up so she will have to wait until after the weekend to try and book hers. By chance I logged into Jet Blue and found that my ideal flights were down! I'm flying R/T for $259! (Because I am "that" type of planner, I logged back in 5 hours later to double check my rates and the flight home was down $5 more. I called JB and they put the money in my "bank account" for my next trip) This morning, the flights are back up to $309, still cheaper than 2 weeks ago, but more than yesterday.)

So, yes you might be out of luck, but if you know what you want and keep looking, you might get some pixie dust and it might work out. Good Luck!

 

[njmom47]

I checked on Orbitz because I like that you can look 3 days before/after your preferred flight dates. I didn't see any non-stops and prices were at least 400 round trip up to 700+, but I wasn't sure which aiport you were flying out of. You could create an account on a site and let them email you when prices go down but it might be kindof late for that, unless prices go down because flights aren't that full. I'm not an expert but I get emails all the time about airfare because SOME DAY I am taking my family back to WDW!

 

[Thumper_Man]

Download DING from Southwest. Often times, this could be the best way to get a good fare at the last minute. Only thing with DING is you have to book the deal that day if one is offered.

 

[Shelby5514]

Definately keep checking!

I booked my tix back in Oct for 2/18-2/25 for $99 each way. In Nov. they dropped to $91 each way. I still check daily and they've been fluctuating between $129-$259 each way for the last few weeks. Today they are at $99 one way and $152 the other. I doubt they will go lower than the $91 I have but I'll check up until the day before we fly just in case.

Decide on a price you are willing to pay and when you see it, book it!, even if you have to book one way and wait until the other way gets there. Also, don't rule out flying there on one airline and home on another.

 

[LeslieG]

I've found SW to be bad for last minute fares. Can you check another airline?

 

[Tink9295]

I see you live in MA. Are you close to Worcester? You could fly Direct Air. They are having a 50% off sale right now.

 

[silmarg]

I am sort of in the same boat as you. For the past several years we have visited a Disney Park for Presidents week since my DDs also have off for that entire week. It seems like NY and New England schools have that week off. The airlines know that the schools are off and fares out of airports in these areas are crazy for that week ~ $600 RT.

In order to avoid this issue, we have flown out of Philly and Baltimore (and we live within 30 mins of JFK, LGA and HPN). These other cities dont give kids off the whole week so air can be had for less than half the price vs flying out of NY.

This year its not quite working as it has in the past, and as such, we may not go this year - but we are considering driving down to WDW. I did not book a hotel or dining ressies yet.

Something worth noting for future years, one year we went to Disneyland on Presidents week, and it was not crazy expensive to fly to LA from NY (as its rainy season in Feb in LA... and we saw no rain)

 

[Brian Noble]

President's Day week

P-Week flights to FL (or most other eastern warm-wather destinations) from MA is going to be pricey no matter what.

We have also gone with Anaheim in the past for our February break---the weather isn't generally quite as nice, but it's still a lot better than snow and ice, and the overall vacation can be quite a bit less expensive.

 

[5terre]

Thanks everyone. I may expand my search to April vacation (have to look for GP discounts). In the worst case we will definitely go in 2013!

Tink I never hear of Direct Air before. I checked and flights are not available on the days we can go.

Leslie I do check other airlines, but Southwest seems to have the better prices.

silmarg I have found that the prices for this week were high even when SW first released their dates. The airport we like to use for SW is actually in NH, but it is close to the border so even though NH usually doesn't have the same vacation, the prices are just as high. I have also considered driving but it would eat up so much time, plus we' still have to sleep and eat both ways.

Thumper I have had Ding for 2 years and not once has there EVER been a ding for Orlando out of my 2 airports. But I still get excited and check every time it dings!

Poohbear Glad you were able to get a deal! I do check JetBlue, maybe I will start checking more frequently.