My Travel Dilemma...

[Wendy5055]

I have two travel options...

Fly out of on Southwest Airlines for $216.30 round trip or fly out of a different airport on Delta for $216.00 round trip on Delta.

The first is approx. 45 minutes to drive and I have been there many times. The second is approx. 1.5 hours to drive to SWF and I have never been there.

Which would you do? Should I go for convenience and pay for it or should I drive extra and save $200 on airfare?

 

[jcemom]

I have two travel options...

Fly out of on Southwest Airlines for $216.30 round trip or fly out of a different airport on Delta for $216.00 round trip on Delta.

The first is approx. 45 minutes to drive and I have been there many times. The second is approx. 1.5 hours to drive to SWF and I have never been there.

Which would you do? Should I go for convenience and pay for it or should I drive extra and save $200 on airfare?

Either there's a typo in the rates you posted, or you're flying with a group of 667 and that extra .30 per ticket really adds up, lol.

If there's a $200 difference... you're talking an extra 45 minutes drive each way, or a total of 1 1/2 hours round trip. If you add in an extra 15 minutes on each end to navigate an airport you're unfamiliar with you get a total of 2 hours extra time spent to save $200. That's a pretty good savings.

 

[ancestry]

Keep in mind that the Southwest price includes checking two bags where as the Delta price does not. Delta charges $23 for the first checked bad and $32 for the second.

Also, as the previous poster noted I think there is a typing error in the prices in your post so I'm not sure which one is providing the savings for you.

 

[jcemom]

Keep in mind that the Southwest price includes checking two bags where as the Delta price does not. Delta charges $23 for the first checked bad and $32 for the second.

Wow! That is a great point. I didn't realize the fees had gotten so high. I always fly either AirTran or Southwest, and I prefer Southwest because I can check two bags instead of one.

If the OP needed to check two bags per person, at $55, that would eat up over half their savings. (I assumed it was Delta with the lower rate, since they would consider driving to an unfamiliar airport that was further away.)

For a savings of only $90 net, not including the extra gas for the car and whatnot, I'd stick with Southwest and my 'home' airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

The other thing to keep in mind is that Delta routinely changes their flight times...once SW posts times, those are the times you will fly.
I can't say which is the higher fare. Looks like it might be Delta. Only you can decide if it's worth twice the drive to save $200..plus baggage fees. Of course, if you're flying to WDW, you can use RAC upon your return with Delta, but not with SW (unless you are staying at a value resort).
Also...are the flight times pretty similar?? That could make a difference as well.

 

[Wendy5055]

UUuuuggghhh! I apologize for the typos....

The pricing is for one person round trip...I will be travelling with my dd8.

Delta = SWF to MCO for $216.30

SW = BDL to MCO for $368.10

Possible Savings = $151.80 (yes, it helps to have a calculator!!!)

So that would be a savings of $151.80 per person (total $303.60)...minus the $55 baggage fees it would be a savings of $248.60 total.

Is it worth it???

FYI...we can arrive at 11:45am on Delta or around 3:45pm on SW...SW has plane change there and direct flight back...Delta both there & back have plane changes.

Thank you for putting up with my typos.

 

[debster812]

I think I'd probably go with the Delta Flight. That is not an insignificant savings. However, the one caveat you must know, is that depending on how far out your trip is, Delta could (and likely will) change your equipment, your flight time, your seat assignments, or all three. If you know this going in, and know to keep an eye on your itinerary, you should be fine.

Case in point, I booked our upcoming February flights at the end of last March. Both flight times have changed numerous times, but I've always been able to call Delta, get my seats re-assigned, and in one case, move our flight home to the following day, because they changed the flight by more than 4 hours.

If you choose to go with Southwest, you won't have to pay for the 1st two bags, and you can rest assured short of a weather delay, or a mechanical delay, your flights will take off when scheduled.

 

[Wendy5055]

debster...we are exactally 3 months and 1 day away.

Vacationing 4/18 to 4/22 (during April vacation week...crazy I know!!!)

 

[debster812]

debster...we are exactally 3 months and 1 day away.

Vacationing 4/18 to 4/22 (during April vacation week...crazy I know!!!)

I don't think you're crazy. We go every other year during President's Week. NOW that's crazy.

If you're 3 months or so out, I'd book the Delta flight, and just keep an eye on flight times, and seat assignments, but things should be fairly well set. (famous last words, I know...)

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Have you bee keeping an eye on SW prices? They may come down then you receive a credit for the difference if you catch it in time.
Bias opinion here we LUV SW.

 

[Wendy5055]

I have been flying SW for a couple of years now due to their usually lower than everyone else pricing. It is just that I can get roundtrip tickets (albeit with 1 hour layovers) on Delta for the price of the flight one way on SW.

I just wish SW would come on and lower their prices already!!!!

 

[disneylovin24]

UUuuuggghhh! I apologize for the typos....

The pricing is for one person round trip...I will be travelling with my dd8.

Delta = SWF to MCO for $216.30

SW = BDL to MCO for $368.10

Possible Savings = $151.80 (yes, it helps to have a calculator!!!)

So that would be a savings of $151.80 per person (total $303.60)...minus the $55 baggage fees it would be a savings of $248.60 total.

Is it worth it???

FYI...we can arrive at 11:45am on Delta or around 3:45pm on SW...SW has plane change there and direct flight back...Delta both there & back have plane changes.

Thank you for putting up with my typos.

I'd go with the Delta flight. You arrive earlier and you are still saving a decent amount of money even with the bags. And with the bags you can try and keep everything in 1 bag

 

[dreamscometrue47]

I would grab that Delta flight. That's a fantastic price for school vacation week.