learning the ropes of flights

[pickles]

Ok, now that we will be owning a vacation home in FL aka DVC. I am looking into flights. One person gave me good advice about the travelocity fare watchers.
I am able to fly out of STL, Desmoines, or MCI(KC) only want non stop flights

recently a fare from delta came up out of MCI that is attractive. However, we don't have all our arrangements yet( still ened to close our DVC deal) trip is planned for the start of sept.

My questions are..should I take the risk and buy now(at $178 plus fees, this seems a pretty good deal) or is there a chance prices will get even better(like a last minute type flight) there will be 5 of us traveling.

What are the hints for getting "cheap" flights? How does one book online?
What risks are there for booking these type flights? Like the same refundable ticket is over $1,000!

Thanks for any advice

 

[Lenc324]

I prefer flying Southwest. I always have good service and good flights and cheap fares. I am leaving for Vero Beach next sunday, flying into West Palm Beach airport. Cost was $69 each way. I was happy

 

[lovewdwdvc]

southwest is a good choice. Go to their web and down load DING to alert you of discounts.

go to the transportation site on this board for lots of help.

sounds tome like thatis a pretty good price though

Southwest is more flexible if you need to change flights

 

[dianeschlicht]

Those of you who live in "Southwest Airlines territory" make the rest of us green with envy! I think your prices are GREAT for when and where you need to travel from.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Have you checked airfares on sidestep.com? I always check there as well as orbitz, travelocity... If I find something I like then I go and check the actual website because sometimes it can be even cheaper. I don't like using Southwest from the West coast because there is always at least 2 connections and with young kids it kinda drags out the trip. I find lots of great deals with Delta or American Airlines.

 

[JimMIA]

Three comments:

SW doesn't fly into Miami, so I have limited experience with them (one trip, which was fine), but everyone I've ever known who flew them loved the low fares. There are a lot of tricks with SW (just start with the fact that you don't have assigned seats), so I'd go over to the travel board and benefit from the experience of those who fly them a lot.

I have had very good experience getting very competitive fares on American via their website. I find that the travel websites (Travelocity, et al) have good fares, but the flight selections they offer are often bad times with worse layovers. So I look on those sites to see what the low fares should be and then go to AA.com to get the same (and occasionally lower) fares with much better itineraries. STL and MCI are both served by AA, and of course, STL is an AA hub after the acquisition of TWA.

[ETA -- my recent experiences (six segments) with Delta have all been good, but my basic approach with Delta is I hope and pray for same-day service. Just about all of their flights to Florida go through ATL, and that can be a gruesome adventure at times.]

If you are going to WDW, I don't think I'd look as far away as West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami...but I WOULD look at Tampa (TPA, I believe). Tampa is an easy 90 minute drive to WDW and it's a great airport with easy in-out.

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

www.farewatcher.com or if you have aol use keyword farewatcher]

you can set up a profile with your favorite airports and how much you want to pay. you get emails when the fares are in your pay range. Is very good to know, the only one that is not listed is southwest. But after you find them on farewatcher then go to the original website and book there then you do not have to pay the extra transaction fee.

Kimberly````````````````````````````````````````````

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Try Kayak.com for checking airfares.