Need cheap flight help-NH to Orlando in March!

[areno79]

I'm at a complete loss as to what to do, so I thought I'd see if my fellow DIS'ers can give me some of their expertise.
There are 5 of us (3 adults, 2 kids 11 & 13) going to Universal Orlando March 22-26 for a cheerleading competition. I can fly out of a few different airports, that are all pretty close to me (Manchester, Boston, Portland ME, Portsmouth), but I'm having the hardest time trying to figure out what to do for flights.
The cheapest flight available I've seen is $176/RT through Delta out of MHT. Southwest has their flights at $69 one way, but of course they're unavailable. Someone told me that they release more internet fares on Wednesdays, but I've been up at the crack of dawn every morning checking and there's nothing! Are they even going to release more internet fares, and if so, when?
I would like to fly Jetblue or AirTran out of Boston, but the cheapest Jetblue has is $124 one way, AirTran is $174 one way! When do you think they're going to release cheaper fares?

I just don't know if I should book the Delta tickets now, but I'd kick myself in the butt if I could get it cheaper. We don't fly often, so I'm not sure if we'd use credits if the fares went down. What should I do?!?

 

[amy2girls]

Download DING and keep watching!! Good Luck

 

[Brian Noble]

$176 is a good price from New England to Florida in March, if it includes taxes. Let's say you got that $69 each way fare: that's $140, but you also have to add taxes, which will be in the neighborhood of another $12 per person for direct flights, and more if you are connecting. So the most you might reasonably save than $25 per person, or $125 total. However, fares for that time of year from that part of the country can go much MUCH higher than $176. You could easily spend another $50 per person for that route, or more---another $250 total.

It would seem to me that the potential upside is not worth the risk. If that $176 includes taxes and fees, I'd jump on it. If you were much farther out, you could probably afford to wait a while, but once you get near 90 days for a peak tourist route, it is probably time to start getting serious about finding a flight you can live with.

In any event, once you book something, don't look back and think "what might have been"; after all, you'll be going to Disney World!

 

[debster812]

$176 is a good price from New England to Florida in March, if it includes taxes. Let's say you got that $69 each way fare: that's $140, but you also have to add taxes, which will be in the neighborhood of another $12 per person for direct flights, and more if you are connecting. So the most you might reasonably save than $25 per person, or $125 total. However, fares for that time of year from that part of the country can go much MUCH higher than $176. You could easily spend another $50 per person for that route, or more---another $250 total.

It would seem to me that the potential upside is not worth the risk. If that $176 includes taxes and fees, I'd jump on it. If you were much farther out, you could probably afford to wait a while, but once you get near 90 days for a peak tourist route, it is probably time to start getting serious about finding a flight you can live with.

In any event, once you book something, don't look back and think "what might have been"; after all, you'll be going to Disney World!

ITA with this. Anything out of New England at that time of year for under $200 is something I'd jump on.

 

[PapaBear06]

Try Allegiant out of Portsmouth....Limited to days of flights though.

Good luck

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I agree $176 is a good rate. I would go with it!

 

[emmabelle]

I've been flying from Boston to Ft. Meyers for the last five years in March and I think that's a great rate. Is it a non stop? I'm flying this March to Ft. Meyers and I have $99 each way through Southwest. Orlando is usually cheaper than Ft. Meyers, but I still think that's a good price for March.

 

[areno79]

PapaBear-We actually live in Portsmouth, so Allegiant was the first one I checked. They travel to Sanford Thursdays and Mondays (the days we'll be leaving and coming back), but they were $109 each way without taxes and fees.

Emmabelle-There's one stop in New York on the way down, and a stop in Atlanta on the way back.

Oh, and the $176 includes taxes and fees.
Thanks for all your input!

 

[debster812]

Hi,

I'm going to confuse the issue even further.....

How do you feel about Providence. There are non-stops available, for your dates, for right around $177.....

Sorry for adding to the confusion, but cheap flight findings are kind of like my little warped hobby.

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

I'm at a complete loss as to what to do, so I thought I'd see if my fellow DIS'ers can give me some of their expertise.
There are 5 of us (3 adults, 2 kids 11 & 13) going to Universal Orlando March 22-26 for a cheerleading competition. I can fly out of a few different airports, that are all pretty close to me (Manchester, Boston, Portland ME, Portsmouth), but I'm having the hardest time trying to figure out what to do for flights.
The cheapest flight available I've seen is $176/RT through Delta out of MHT. Southwest has their flights at $69 one way, but of course they're unavailable. Someone told me that they release more internet fares on Wednesdays, but I've been up at the crack of dawn every morning checking and there's nothing! Are they even going to release more internet fares, and if so, when?
I would like to fly Jetblue or AirTran out of Boston, but the cheapest Jetblue has is $124 one way, AirTran is $174 one way! When do you think they're going to release cheaper fares?

I just don't know if I should book the Delta tickets now, but I'd kick myself in the butt if I could get it cheaper. We don't fly often, so I'm not sure if we'd use credits if the fares went down. What should I do?!?

I signed up for Travelocity to watch airfares. They sent me an email and I was able to get tickets for the 5 of us at about $165 a piece from MHT to MCO. This was less than 30 days from our trip and it extended our trip by 2 days in the front and decreased it by 1 day in the back. Still its better than driving. Normal flights around the december time frame is $300-$500!

Check out travelocity.

 

[PapaBear06]

Hi,

I'm going to confuse the issue even further.....

How do you feel about Providence. There are non-stops available, for your dates, for right around $177.....

Sorry for adding to the confusion, but cheap flight findings are kind of like my little warped hobby.

Your not alone. I am the same exact way. I do not think I have ever paid over $200 for a plane ticket to Orlando. I am also a teacher and can only travel at peak travel times of X-mas and Pres week.

DW does not understand why I am always on the laptop checking prices everyday.

 

[areno79]

The airfare Gods must have been smiling on me yesterday
After reading all of your good advice, I decided to purchase the Delta tickets at $176. I was in the middle of choosing the tickets, and a Ding popped up for MHT to Jackson in January. I didn't need that flight, but since I was on the SW website anyway, I decided to check our dates just one more time. Lo and behold, there was one flight open on each of our days for $59 each way, and both flights are non-stop!
I bought the 5 tickets right away, and it only ended up costing me $155 a person. Thank you all SO much for your help!

Now the madness begins again as I book a hotel at Universal