March Break 2021 - Flight Strategy

[Frozen2014]

I know there are still 2 months before flights for next year's March break opens up, but trying to understand the best strategy. Last March Break, we booked the April prior from Toronto to Miami and did ok. We purchased separate one-way tickets and purchased right when the each way opened up. (It's annoying as most airlines release daily...but then stall right when they get to March break days).

Next March Break, we have a cruise out of Port Canaveral, so am a bit more worried getting a flight form Toronto to MCO where our flights aren't more than our cruise. Cruise is Sun-Sun so could leave Fri or Sat. We would want to fly direct to get there (would consider 1 stop on the return if it made a difference).

Do others find the best strategy is to purchase separate tickets right when flights open up? This would limit the option of considering say Detroit where we had to drive to the port (as return airport would need to be the same). Or do you wait until your return flights have opened up and book both ways together? Or do you wait...and see all options of different airlines? Some airlines such as WestJet seem to release a bit later than say Air Canada. I have a feeling this flight is gonna be $$$ with many Ontario families wanting to go to Disney or cruise our of PC.

As another question....For Orlando, would anyone consider flying into Miami or FLL? Toronto flies direct to these airports and sometimes the cost is better.

 

[TommyJK]

Last year I lucked out with Air Transat. On a whim I checked for flights to Orlando the week after March break ended and they had flights available that early and they were CHEAP (For March Break). Got Friday to Friday direct flights YYZ to MCO for $440 each for this March break.

So my advice is check early and check often and you might luck out like I did

 

[hdrolfe]

Miami and FLL are quite far from Orlando, and I'm not sure they would have better prices. Plus you would then have to get from there to Port Canaveral. If you are looking at Toronto I believe there is also Buffalo across the border which may have better prices, but I think they are released later. I, personally, would book as soon as possible.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks . I've heard that Air Transat has great prices, but I think we would avoid that airline when trying to catch a cruise. The issue is that they run one flight a day, and not every day, so it's risky if anything goes wrong.

Also..that's the thing....Buffalo releases flights so much later, and Southwest even later so then is it worth waiting? Plus, yes Buffalo (and Detroit) are a few hours away but if we have bad weather in March (which could bring snow storms), then that's a risk.

 

[SaraMc]

If your willing to fly out of Toronto, did you look at Hamilton or Buffalo?

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Miami and FLL will definitely not be cheaper as so many cruises are from there.

We ultimately decided not to cruise in Feb or March due to flight prices and decided on April as they are so much cheaper after the Easter and spring break seasons are over.

 

[Frozen2014]

Miami and FLL will definitely not be cheaper as so many cruises are from there.

We ultimately decided not to cruise in Feb or March due to flight prices and decided on April as they are so much cheaper after the Easter and spring break seasons are over.

Yeah, this is my fear. We need to stick to March break as we don't want to take our kids out of school.

If we don't go Toronto to MCO and drive a bit, we'd rather drive on Florida side as you can get snow or ice storms in March.

 

[grantclaire]

Hi, I have found that booking as soon as possible works well for us. I use a Westjet companion fare for March break so I wait until both flights there and back are released.

 

[Frozen2014]

Hi, I have found that booking as soon as possible works well for us. I use a Westjet companion fare for March break so I wait until both flights there and back are released.

Thanks for the feedback. That promotion probably helps.

 

[Frozen2014]

For the return flight, anyone flown MLB to Toronto? There are no direct flights so don't want to fly there with a stop, but would consider it on the way back if the savings were worth it.

Just looking at options. Am thinking its best to book as soon as the flights open....but once we book our way there, we need to book airport to airport back (i.e. Toronto to MCO there and MCO to Buffalo back won't work as we won't have a car at the receiving airport)

 

[Kmac19]

Hi,

I think you need to look at the number of departures and capacity on flights from YYZ to MCO. I sampled some dates from YYZ to MCO in February and March of this year (Fridays and Saturdays) and found an average of 8 direct flights per day on AC (5) and WJ (3). This is also not to mention WJ and AC connecting flights through YUL or YOW or US carriers with 1 stop flights.

AC’s Rouge equipment for direct flights out of YYZ appears to be either a 767 or an A320, with seating capacities of 280 or 160 respectively. That’s a good amount of capacity every day before you even factor in WJ’s 737s.

Unless you have a sub-$400 return deal right off the bat, give some consideration to waiting a couple of weeks so that you can book your flights together. If saving money matters and/or you’re really patient, you can also continue to monitor for price drops or deals throughout the spring and summer (sign-up for seat sale emails). Seat sales for Spring Break start in the fall.

In my view, most people don’t have the money to commit to pay for flights a year ahead so there should be good availability for a good period of time. Finally, book the earliest flight time you can tolerate; if weather becomes an issue, it will maximize the number of flights available to re-book on to get you from point A to point B.

We are leaving for MCO in a couple of weeks ourselves and we have booked a full 48 hours before our cruise in addition to taking the first flight of the day. Best of luck with your planning!

 

[TammyLynn33]

My new piece of advice wait until school calendars are officially confirmed . I just learned the hard way and it cost me and additional $1300

 

[grantclaire]

My new piece of advice wait until school calendars are officially confirmed . I just learned the hard way and it cost me and additional $1300

That is good advice! Maybe we will find out about school calenders soon.

 

[Frozen2014]

My new piece of advice wait until school calendars are officially confirmed . I just learned the hard way and it cost me and additional $1300

Ouch ! What date was changed , and for where? So sorry. I thought when they post it is pretty certain? I look at the Ministry of Ontario and they post a few years out.

 

[Frozen2014]

Hi,

I think you need to look at the number of departures and capacity on flights from YYZ to MCO. I sampled some dates from YYZ to MCO in February and March of this year (Fridays and Saturdays) and found an average of 8 direct flights per day on AC (5) and WJ (3). This is also not to mention WJ and AC connecting flights through YUL or YOW or US carriers with 1 stop flights.

AC’s Rouge equipment for direct flights out of YYZ appears to be either a 767 or an A320, with seating capacities of 280 or 160 respectively. That’s a good amount of capacity every day before you even factor in WJ’s 737s.

Unless you have a sub-$400 return deal right off the bat, give some consideration to waiting a couple of weeks so that you can book your flights together. If saving money matters and/or you’re really patient, you can also continue to monitor for price drops or deals throughout the spring and summer (sign-up for seat sale emails). Seat sales for Spring Break start in the fall.

In my view, most people don’t have the money to commit to pay for flights a year ahead so there should be good availability for a good period of time. Finally, book the earliest flight time you can tolerate; if weather becomes an issue, it will maximize the number of flights available to re-book on to get you from point A to point B.

We are leaving for MCO in a couple of weeks ourselves and we have booked a full 48 hours before our cruise in addition to taking the first flight of the day. Best of luck with your planning!

Great advice to check the number of flights and capacity, and including if there are any stops. Lol...DH laughs at me know with my spreadsheets, so can imagine his reaction if I start adding those kind of statistics (but so smart and makes sense!)

Here's my problem/worry.....We booked this cruise 2 years ago and so last year I monitored the March break prices from Tor to MCO. I watched the flights creep and monitored the cost. I was ok picking the earliest flight (cheapest) and the only one I avoided were ones that would get us to MCO at say midnight (as then what's the point of going a day early) and ones that returned overnight/next day to Tor on the return.

In the example below, Day 1 is the first day flights were on sale for that way.

Tor to MCO (one way direct) for 4 of us

• Day 1 = $1179
• Day 2 to Day 4- = $1180 (ok, so the same)
• Day 9 =$1824 for crappy times; $2315 for good time

MCO to Tor (one way direct) for the 4 of us
Unfortunately, I missed Day 1 as it was my son and my birthday so I was distracted and missed checking :-(

• Day 3 (which corresponds with Day 9 above)- $2970 (yikes! this makes a total of $4150 for flights if we add in Day 1 above)
• Day 4 - $2534

The prices from there in the next few days hovered between 2500 and 2900.
If I check today, the cost is $2100 (again, this is one way)

MLB to Tor (with 1 stop) for the 4 of us

• Day 3 - $1401 (so this is better and makes total of $2580 if we booked on Day 1 there)

Tor to MCO and MCO to Tor (return flight) for 4 of us
As above, I missed checking the first day flights opened up

• Day 3 - $4401 (yikes....its similar to the price of our cruise)

If I check return today it is $3699

I also look at options such as flying back from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Myers (for direct flights) and MLB, Daytona for 1 stop.

We could also wait for US flights and try for Detroit or Buffalo, but I'd be too stressed worrying about bad weather for driving 3-5 hrs.

The problem is...airlines know that this is Ontario March Break so they price accordingly.

 

[TammyLynn33]

Pre- labour day start this fall apparently is going to be a thing


QUOTE="Frozen2014, post: 61561925, member: 500629"]
Ouch ! What date was changed , and for where? So sorry. I thought when they post it is pretty certain? I look at the Ministry of Ontario and they post a few years out.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Frozen2014]

Pre- labour day start this fall apparently is going to be a thing

Where do you live? We're in Ontario and have Disney + cruise booked Aug 27 - Sept 4 (with school starting Tues Sept 8)

 

[hdrolfe]

I made a post about the Ottawa English public board starting school early for 2020 (August 31 instead of waiting until after Labour day). I know the Ottawa English Catholic board won't be posting anything until March, so I am now waiting to see the dates before I book a trip. Unless your school board has already posted their calendar, I wouldn't take it as guaranteed that it will start September 8th this year. I've only been following the Ottawa boards but given the reasons the public board gave for their early start, it makes sense it will apply to others. I think March break should be ok though, but I believe they were questioning Christmas break as well, giving options for parents to vote on (I think that has happened before, I remember voting a few years ago whether to have early or late Christmas).

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the post. Current thread is for March 2021. The cruise is refundable but once we book flights, we can't change.

But as above we also have end of summer booked....flight and cruise not refundable.... We are just north of Toronto. Hope we're not affected...and you too in Ottawa. Then again, with all these school board strikes, who knows how things will be affected

Hope they keep things as they are. People do make plans in advance for price and just planning, so kind of unfair to change things 7 months out.

 

[hdrolfe]

The Ottawa Public board is starting March break a day early as well (though I'm not sure if that was to be voted on?) So it would start on the Friday before, which would be great for flights I think! Being able to fly on Friday instead of the weekend and still not missing any school.