March airfar--ouch

[wdwfan1]

Does anyone know why the fares for March are so high and why Southwest has so many blackout dates on weekends in March?

Airfare going to WDW is over $250 each way for our time period.

 

[ready123go]

Which airports/ airlines are you looking at? Which dates?

 

[dudspizza]

Does anyone know why the fares for March are so high and why Southwest has so many blackout dates on weekends in March?

Airfare going to WDW is over $250 each way for our time period.

It has been that way from the beginning. I did get round trip on Airtran out of MSP on one day..... since then the prices have been nearly $400rt. I am thinking Airtran will have a sale or two, but won't count on it.

BTW, have you looked at car rental rates as well? They are way higher than normal as well!

Duds

 

[ready123go]

Southwest has ISP to MCO $128 each way. Out the 18th return 22nd.

 

[andymattmom]

That is spring break time for lots of colleges and schools all over the country. Seems from mid-March through mid-April anymore is spring break. With year round schools lots of them get off a few weeks in March and then regular schools have breaks anywhere from mid-March on.

They did a thing on the news today about how for Christmas and Thanksgiving airfare was up and there are fewer flights and more people flying. Imagine it is going to stay that way. With fewer flights and more people flying the cheap fares go fast fast fast! I had airfare go up on me as I was booking got 2 at one fare and two at another for spring break ---first week in April.

As someone mentioned...if you need a car book now. Find a decent price and book it. You can always cancel and rebook. Keep watching the fares. I booked 5 weeks ago. Avis rate has gone up while Budget has stayed the same. Alamo and National were $300 MORE than those companies. (This is for travel to Arizona).

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[cindyland]

We booked our airfare in September, close to $500 RT from CA. Paid a little bit more to avoid a red-eye or super late arrival. Keep hoping car rental rates will go down...I'm thinking I better just book it and hope the rates go down!

 

[greenclan67]

I booked mine on Airtran from March 7th to March 18th for $89 each way! Grand Rapids, still has flights for $75!Good luck! Car rentals are nuts!

 

[wdwfan1]

I am booking March 26 through April 2. Southwest has no regular rewards for travel on March 26. They also have March 25 and March 27 blacked-out. Airfare is currently $261 from Islip, NY to Orlando on March 26. Jet Blue from Laguardia or JFK (in NY) has similar rates for the same time.

I cant change our room reservations so I have to stick with these dates. We often go in March, but earlier in the month. I did not book early enough to get earlier dates and I thought it might be nice to be there when the Flower and Garden festival is in full swing--it is usually just starting when we go.

I guess I will just have to bite the bullet!

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[NancyIL]

I am booking March 26 through April 2. Southwest has no regular rewards for travel on March 26. They also have March 25 and March 27 blacked-out. Airfare is currently $261 from Islip, NY to Orlando on March 26. Jet Blue from Laguardia or JFK (in NY) has similar rates for the same time.

$261 doesn't sound bad to me at all!

 

[rdevine10]

Looks like the flight might be a little cheaper out of westchester if you want to consider that airport as well. (although parking is pricey)

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I feel your pain, oh the pain! We had to keep our late March to 3 April dates as DSS is not allowed to miss even a minute of school. So the dates are in rock. We just paid over $500 each X 4 people to get to Disney for spring break.

I asked DH when does common sense override the emotional guilt of being the non custodial parent. I would never pay this much but I do understand why he is doing. I just don't agree.

Everything is at a premium during this time, even the dining plan is up $10 during our stay. So I will be cooking instead and limiting the dining in the parks.

 

[wdwfan1]

$261 doesn't sound bad to me at all!

That is one way for one person. I usually pay $99 to $109 each way, so it is a lot compared to what I usually pay.

 

[NancyIL]

That is one way for one person. I usually pay $99 to $109 each way, so it is a lot compared to what I usually pay.

Oh - one way! Yes, that is high!

 

[melc0305]

I feel your pain. We had to cancel our cruise booked out of Miami because airfare was over $2000 for 4 out of Chicago. We were very disappointed...but have since booked a trip to Universal in March instead. We got tickets for $1013 for 4 flying Airtran. Good luck!

 

[OhMari]

AirTran has that student policy where students up to age 23 can fly standby for $69. Sure it is a gamble, but I know lots of college kids that take this gamble and they usually get what they want. So with spring break, we are probably paying extra for all those students getting on for $69 bucks.

 

[Tara]

I can totally sympathize. Southwest for mid-April is pretty high, too. But everything is. We were looking at April 13-20 and just the 13th has been $288 per person one way since I started checking on October 15. Tonight I ended up booking to arrive late on the 12th instead - it saved us just over $500, we'll get a value room for the night and still save $400.

We're also bringing our childcare person with us, but she isn't coming until class is out on Friday the 15th. Southwest doesn't have ANY Wanna Get Away fares that day and the later evening flight (not direct) on the 14th is $223.

I've looked at other carriers. Delta was $10 cheaper overall for our dates, but of course that doesn't include checked bag fees, and there are no nonstop flights.


Spring break here is the week of April 17th, hence the high prices.