Need advice on flying!

[JenDisneylandlver]

Well I'm looking at flying, instead of driving, like we always do.

This week I had some kind of bad reaction (waiting for blood test results to confirm what exactly caused it). The doctors called it angioedema. Basically part of my hand, foot, and lip swelled up. With this there is a possibility of my throat swelling shut. Very scary. So I'm thinking in case this happens again, I really don't want to be in the middle of no where for hours on end (it's about a 10 hour drive for us).

So what's the best way to get a good deal on plane tickets that's already less then a month away? Which airport is best to fly in and out of. Man, this is gonna cost me, and I hate flying! We'll probably rent a car, that wasn't too much. Since we like to go further then walking distance to eat sometimes, plus were doing Universal one day. Did I say this is gonna cost me?

 

[VegasMike21]

If I was flying I would l fly into the Johny Wayne Airport rather then LAX. It's closer to DL and it's also less crowded. The best deal on plane tickets I couldn't help you with, probably just check around the different airline sites. SouthWest is probably gonna have the cheapest fares but I cannot stand that airline, their seating policy is not my favorite and their service is just terrible.

 

[kylieh]

I can't help with the flights, but both my Mum and Niece have angioedema. The Dr has arranged an epipen for both, and medical bracelet. That takes away a lot of the anxiety of being too far away from anywhere. The Epipens can be taken on the plane as well.

 

[Blackunicorn]

Start by checking fares on one of the websites that does multiple airlines, like Travelocity. I especially like Travelocity because you can use it to compare multiple dates or multiple airports. When you have a flight that you like, go to the website of that airline and check it. Usually you can get a better price! Definitely check the different dates and different airports. By delaying our return one day, we saved substantially. Also, lots of people recommend John Wayne over LAX, but when I checked them both LAX came up less expensive for us. My personal opinion on Southwest is that you shouldn't do it with children--they don't have assigned seating, and there's no way I would take a chance on having my kids sit somewhere else. But I know lots and lots of families on the Disboard do fly Southwest, so there's obviously a way to do it with a family.

Take all of my advice with a grain of salt, as this is just the second time I've ever booked airfare for my family, and we normally drive to Disneyland as well.

 

[VegasMike21]

Start by checking fares on one of the websites that does multiple airlines, like Travelocity. I especially like Travelocity because you can use it to compare multiple dates or multiple airports. When you have a flight that you like, go to the website of that airline and check it. Usually you can get a better price! Definitely check the different dates and different airports. By delaying our return one day, we saved substantially. Also, lots of people recommend John Wayne over LAX, but when I checked them both LAX came up less expensive for us. My personal opinion on Southwest is that you shouldn't do it with children--they don't have assigned seating, and there's no way I would take a chance on having my kids sit somewhere else. But I know lots and lots of families on the Disboard do fly Southwest, so there's obviously a way to do it with a family.

Take all of my advice with a grain of salt, as this is just the second time I've ever booked airfare for my family, and we normally drive to Disneyland as well.

southwest lets you board early if you have young kids...the trick with them is also checking in 24 hours prior to your flight and getting Group A boarding and you'll have no problem getting seats together. and make sure your at the right gate too, last month me and the fiance flew from vegas to reno for the weekend...at first the gate was 5C so we were sitting there forever without knowing it until minutes before the flight was supposed to leave we got up and seen they changed the gate to 3C so we ended up being the last people to board the plane and we got split up, i was in the very first row and she was in the very back. luckily it was only an hour long flight.

 

[nunzia]

Southwest has somewhat changed the boarding policy. Now when you check in, you are assigned a number, not a group. That way you don't have to stand like cattle cramped into your group number. You can sit and do whatever, then when you board you go according to number. I think there is a chance kids could get split from you, which would drive me nuts, but if your under the same confirmation number I think it keeps you together. You really have to check in 24 hours ahead of time. I was 20 minutes late checking in a friend who couldn't get to a computer and they were in teh 30's for boarding already.
That said...I like Southwest, and if you download DING you get some great deals offered. I got 2 RT from Albuquerque to Salt Lake City for 406.
What part of Nevada are you from? I've lived in both Reno and Vegas and Vegas is only about 5 hours and if I remember right, Reno was more than 10 hour drive.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

southwest lets you board early if you have young kids...the trick with them is also checking in 24 hours prior to your flight and getting Group A boarding and you'll have no problem getting seats together. and make sure your at the right gate too, last month me and the fiance flew from vegas to reno for the weekend...at first the gate was 5C so we were sitting there forever without knowing it until minutes before the flight was supposed to leave we got up and seen they changed the gate to 3C so we ended up being the last people to board the plane and we got split up, i was in the very first row and she was in the very back. luckily it was only an hour long flight.

Southwest stopped their early boarding, and you have to check in right at the 24 hour mark to get a low number for boarding (the first 20 or so numbers go to people who pay for the "select" seating)...

We use kayak.com to compare airlines, but it always pulls Southwest as "info" you have to check them separately....

--Lisa

 

[dmked]

I always fly into Long Beach, closer to DL and I can always find great fares on Jet Blue.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

Another piece of advice is to carry with you extra strength REACTINE. I have a deadly allergic reaction Peanuts caused by the pesticides they use in growing them. Reactine stops the reaction within 10 to 15 mins. It's my first line of defense with my allergies, and have taken it for over 20 years with no adverse affects. The EPIPEN is my backup, in case my allergic reaction is so severe that the REACTINE doesn't work. All the best for your trip!!

 

[bumbershoot]

"I have a deadly allergic reaction Peanuts caused by the pesticides they use in growing them. "

Wow, now THAT is interesting. Organic all the way for you!!! I recently realized that I'm not allergic to organic flour; I've been baking up a storm the last couple months, and not a single sneeze-fest has happened. With conventional flour, I've had to wet towels and tie them around my face, if I REALLY wanted to bake, to keep the flour out of my face it would get so bad. I'm starting to think that quite a lot of environmental allergies are b/c of pesticides, not the actual *thing*.



OP! Long Beach and Burbank are good airports to look into.

Southwest's boarding isn't bad at all, in my experience. Check in at 24 hours...if you're under different confirmation numbers just open multiple windows so you can just go boom boom boom and check everyone in. On a flight in December DS and I were 2 numbers apart A 17 and A 19 I think, and I went to the A19 spot to be more polite, but A18 insisted I get in front of her b/c of the A17 pass I also had.

If I hadn't had the A passes, though, I would have done the "pre" boarding which takes place between A and B for kids 4 and under and a parent or two.


Also OP, what about if you fly and your family drives?

And also OP, do you take Aleve? I had naproxen poisoning about 7 years ago, and the thing that got me to the MD (hate them in general) was a freakish bout of swelling. First MD I saw said I was fat and depressed and the swelling and other symptoms were b/c I was fat and unhealthy, but a few weeks later I went back in after more bizarre swelling, and I mentioned the Aleve at that appointment, and he immediately knew it was b/c of the Aleve. I can't ever take Naproxen sodium again b/c it could kill me (friend of mine has an even worse reaction, I don't know what made me think I could take it since I am sensitive to medicines).

So if you take Aleve, mention it to your MD, just in case that's the problem.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Southwest stopped their early boarding, and you have to check in right at the 24 hour mark to get a low number for boarding (the first 20 or so numbers go to people who pay for the "select" seating)...

We use kayak.com to compare airlines, but it always pulls Southwest as "info" you have to check them separately....

--Lisa

From what I've seen Southwest still does a boarding for families traveling with young children, it's just not as consistent. I've been on a few flights that they still do it after they board the "select" seating people and on all the other flights it's been after the A's all board and before the B's so there's still plenty of seats that are together.

Sounds like you may be flying from Reno so Southwest will probably be your best bet but as was recommended I would check on a airline consolidator website also. Until a few weeks ago it would have almost been guaranteed that Aloha would have been the best bet, but oh well....another airline gone.

Southwest does not completely participate on the consolidators so you'll still need to check their website. The last time I checked there were direct flights to LAX and Ontario - which wouldn't be too bad if you're renting a car. You'll have a stop if you fly into Orange County. Ding is also a great way to get deals, but you're looking far enough in advance that you'll probably have access to other web fare deals too.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! We are most likely going to fly Southwest, in to Burbank. That seemed to be the cheapest. Any info on experiences with boarding, flying in to LAX or Burbank is appreciated!

kylieh- An epi pen might be a real possibility for me. I'm awaiting blood test results to make sure it's not the hereditary form of angioedema, which means things like epi pens wouldn't help. I think that's really rare though, my doctor didn't seem to think it would be that.

Bumpershoot- I haven't taken any kind of NSAIDS for the last few years. All I can have is Tylenolol. Which is so useless! LOL I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease). Which is an Autoimmune disorder, which accourding to my doctor says can trigger this swelling. Which is so scary for me. I have no idea if something like an epi pen would save me with that kind of swelling or not. No doubt I'll find out more by the end of the week. It's been a long weekend, worrying about something swelling (like my throat!!).

 

[DisneyMomma81]

How far is Burbank Airport from DLR? Jetblue and Southwest would be options for us.

Wishing you all the best and a safe trip.

 

[nunzia]

"I have a deadly allergic reaction Peanuts caused by the pesticides they use in growing them. "

Wow, now THAT is interesting. Organic all the way for you!!! I recently realized that I'm not allergic to organic flour; I've been baking up a storm the last couple months, and not a single sneeze-fest has happened. With conventional flour, I've had to wet towels and tie them around my face, if I REALLY wanted to bake, to keep the flour out of my face it would get so bad. I'm starting to think that quite a lot of environmental allergies are b/c of pesticides, not the actual *thing*.



OP! Long Beach and Burbank are good airports to look into.

Southwest's boarding isn't bad at all, in my experience. Check in at 24 hours...if you're under different confirmation numbers just open multiple windows so you can just go boom boom boom and check everyone in. On a flight in December DS and I were 2 numbers apart A 17 and A 19 I think, and I went to the A19 spot to be more polite, but A18 insisted I get in front of her b/c of the A17 pass I also had.

If I hadn't had the A passes, though, I would have done the "pre" boarding which takes place between A and B for kids 4 and under and a parent or two.


Also OP, what about if you fly and your family drives?

And also OP, do you take Aleve? I had naproxen poisoning about 7 years ago, and the thing that got me to the MD (hate them in general) was a freakish bout of swelling. First MD I saw said I was fat and depressed and the swelling and other symptoms were b/c I was fat and unhealthy, but a few weeks later I went back in after more bizarre swelling, and I mentioned the Aleve at that appointment, and he immediately knew it was b/c of the Aleve. I can't ever take Naproxen sodium again b/c it could kill me (friend of mine has an even worse reaction, I don't know what made me think I could take it since I am sensitive to medicines).

So if you take Aleve, mention it to your MD, just in case that's the problem.

OT, but be wary of Ibuprofen. It caused hallucinations in my son when he was about 8. The fine print says it can do this, and I know several other people who have had varying odd things with the stuff.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

How far is Burbank Airport from DLR? Jetblue and Southwest would be options for us.

Wishing you all the best and a safe trip.

My DH said it was about 40 miles. It looks like the cheaper way to go with Southwest.