Need help figuring plane tickets

[icydog]

Instead of going to Disney World we are going to Ft Lauderdale for a cruise on January 14 and returning on the 25. I am getting some outrageous fares for the flights out of Newark to Fort Lauderdale. My DH won't go to La Guradia since it is very difficult to get there, so that leaves us with Newark. The best non- stop flights for my times cost around $250 rt on Continental. This is way more than we ever paid to go to Disney in Orlando.

Do any of you have experience with this route? Do you think the fares will go down? Isn't there a sale every fall or something? My sister wants me to buy the tickets right away since she is sure they will soon will be gone. I am a little skeptical about them filling up so soon but she is sure we won't get a flight if we wait. Any ideas on this trip at this time of year. At Disney this would be the "way off" season. Please let me know what you think I should do. I am open to suggestions.

Thanks,
Marylyn

 

[safetymom]

The price of tickets are higher than they have been in the past. You aren't seeing the great fare sales that there used to be. You should watch the fares for awhile and when a fare comes along that you can live with book it quickly. Fares change very quickly.

If you book directly through the airlines if the price drops they usually will issue a voucher for the difference. That way you don't have to worry if the price should go up because you will already have your tickets.

January still has lots of demand for all those cold folks in the North that want to escape to the south so I don't think you will see lots of discounted fares.

So don't wait too long or you will be paying more.

 

[icydog]

If you book directly through the airlines if the price drops they usually will issue a voucher for the difference. That way you don't have to worry if the price should go up because you will already have your tickets.

January still has lots of demand for all those cold folks in the North that want to escape to the south so I don't think you will see lots of discounted fares.

So don't wait too long or you will be paying more. [/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks for the advice. I wonder which airlines issue vouchers for a reduced fare? I know neither Continental or Delta does but I think Southwest does. Since Southwest doesn't fly out of Newark I guess it is academic.

 

[luckytso]

we don't like to fly out of LGA or JFK either. For all our flights through next April, I paid around $215-220, non-stop, from Newark to Orlando. I gave up on getting lower fare. If I ever see one, the schedule is usually horrible and fare may only be slightly cheaper. Now I just book them based on the flight time we want and I know at least I locked in the fares. It almost seems like some type of monopoly, the fares offered by different airlines are all similar out of Newark.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by icy-dog
If you book directly through the airlines if the price drops they usually will issue a voucher for the difference. That way you don't have to worry if the price should go up because you will already have your tickets.

January still has lots of demand for all those cold folks in the North that want to escape to the south so I don't think you will see lots of discounted fares.

So don't wait too long or you will be paying more.

Thanks for the advice. I wonder which airlines issue vouchers for a reduced fare? I know neither Continental or Delta does but I think Southwest does. Since Southwest doesn't fly out of Newark I guess it is academic. [/B][/QUOTE]

I know that Delta does issue a voucher for the difference. SWA does not issue a voucher, it holds the difference in the form of a credit. BTW, how does your husband feel about Islip on the island, often there are good fares out of there. Right now they are at 140.00 rt, ns.

 

[prncess674]

Continental does offer a "store" credit for the difference if you can find a cheaper price on the EXACT SAME flights at a later date. I have done this in the the past, so be persistent and call back if someone tells you different. You may not change your ticket to different flights that have cheaper fares because then you would need to pay a change ticket fee, which is a $100 per ticket which would probably negate any savings.

 

[ducklite]

I also live in "The Brunswicks"

US Air out of Philadelphia often has VERY reasonable fares to Ft. Lauderdale--it's only about half and hour further drive time, and cheaper parking costs.

I've also seen reasonable flights from Philadelphia to West Palm Beach, which is less than an hour to Ft. Lauderdale.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

Keep in mind you have to get there in time for your cruise. You don't have as much flexibility as you would for a trip to Disney. You might look at flights to Miami or the night before.
Someone suggested PHL, Gail OP said they wouldn't go to LGA, ISP wouldn't work.

 

[icydog]

Thanks for all your help. We bought Delta for the day before the cruise. I think it was $225, but I'll check and let you know. I gave up trying to do it on line and called Delta on their 800 number and they got me the fare.

I honestly never even considered going out of PHL. I will certainly give that a try next time and you are right parking in Newark is ridiculous at $20 a day near the monorail.

If Dh would consider going on a no-name airline (and I have heard not a frill in sight) there are flights on Southeast Air out of Newark for $59 each way to Ft Lauderdale. Their email address is www.flyseal.com. If I wanted to go to MCO I would have to drive to Allentown to get the plane since they don't leave from Newark.

When we go down in April we have to stay overnight in a hotel in order to get the cheap $225 rate in and out of Orlando.The reason why we have to stay overnight in Orlando is because the cheap $225 rate is at 7 AM. To add add insult to injury we have to change planes in Cincinnatti on the way to Orlando making it close to a 6 hour trip. We will get a cheap hotel at the airport on Priceline for that extra night at MCO. I bet there is a better way but it's done now!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Keep in mind you have to get there in time for your cruise. You don't have as much flexibility as you would for a trip to Disney. You might look at flights to Miami or the night before.
Someone suggested PHL, Gail OP said they wouldn't go to LGA, ISP wouldn't work.

Yep, but, I thought I would throw it in as food for thought. Amazing what people will do when there is a substancial savings.
BTW, I would not drive into JFK or LGA, but, I would have no problem leaving from Islip.

 

[ducklite]

Gail--to get from here to Islip you have to go past JFK and/or LGA. I wouldn't leave from LGA or Islip either--in fact it would be more convenient and just as quick to drive to BWI!!

Anne

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ducklite
Gail--to get from here to Islip you have to go past JFK and/or LGA. I wouldn't leave from LGA or Islip either--in fact it would be more convenient and just as quick to drive to BWI!!

Anne

Yep, I knew that, but, those places terrify me. Of course, I have absolutely no idea where in NJ they are.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

Have you considered flying out of Atlantic City international airport? Its an easy ride down the Garden State Parkway and it only costs $4 a day to park... the airport there is very clean and not crowded at all... we always fly out of ACY whenever we can.

I plugged in your dates for a direct flight from Atlantic City to Ft. Lauderdale and got a roundtrip price of $185 on Spirit Air... we fly them all the time and love it... its a great value.

They also offer a credit if the price of the flight drops after you book it... I just received a $118 voucher from Spirit because the price of our November flight to Orlando dropped 2 months after we booked it.

 

[icydog]

Originally posted by HookedOnDiz
Have you considered flying out of Atlantic City international airport? Its an easy ride down the Garden State Parkway and it only costs $4 a day to park... the airport there is very clean and not crowded at all... we always fly out of ACY whenever we can.

I plugged in your dates for a direct flight from Atlantic City to Ft. Lauderdale and got a roundtrip price of $185 on Spirit Air... we fly them all the time and love it... its a great value.

They also offer a credit if the price of the flight drops after you book it... I just received a $118 voucher from Spirit because the price of our November flight to Orlando dropped 2 months after we booked it.

Thanks for the info but my dh said he wouldn't drive to AC. It is about 3 hrs from us.
I am glad you can receive credits with Spirit. Others have posted you can get credit with Continental and Delta but I have tried and both have turned me down. Our flight to Orlando has dropped in price and Continental says it is non refundable fare and if I want to change it for ANY reason the cost would be $100. No such thing as credit it seems.

 

[safetymom]

There is a $100 change fee but you aren't changing anything. As long as you take the same flights you should be able to receive the diff. if the price drops.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

Thanks for the info but my dh said he wouldn't drive to AC. It is about 3 hrs from us.

Sorry you had a problem with the airfare... but hey, you're going on vacation right?

And just so you know, Atlantic City Airport isn't actually in Atlantic City... I live in central Monmouth County and its an hour ride for us, so if you are in East Brunswick it would only add another 40 minutes to the trip at the most.

Enjoy your trip

 

[icydog]

Originally posted by HookedOnDiz
Sorry you had a problem with the airfare... but hey, you're going on vacation right?

And just so you know, Atlantic City Airport isn't actually in Atlantic City... I live in central Monmouth County and its an hour ride for us, so if you are in East Brunswick it would only add another 40 minutes to the trip at the most.

Enjoy your trip

Hey, thanks for that info. Where exactly is the AC airport?

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by icy-dog
Others have posted you can get credit with Continental and Delta but I have tried and both have turned me down. Our flight to Orlando has dropped in price and Continental says it is non refundable fare and if I want to change it for ANY reason the cost would be $100. No such thing as credit it seems.

you have been given bad information about CO. If you have found a lower price on the same flights on the same dates then you can request a CO credit. They will not credit the difference back to your credit card you only receive a credit voucher to be used on a future CO flight. Do not call and ask to change your flight. Changing anything about your flght (i.e., time or flight) will incur a $100 change fee. Tell them there is a fare difference for the exact flights you are booked on. The only problem you may run into is if the new lower rate is a website only rate.

I fly CO weekly for work and consider myself an expert with CO. I strongly urge you to try again.

 

[icydog]

Originally posted by prncess674
you have been given bad information about CO. If you have found a lower price on the same flights on the same dates then you can request a CO credit. They will not credit the difference back to your credit card you only receive a credit voucher to be used on a future CO flight. Do not call and ask to change your flight. Changing anything about your flght (i.e., time or flight) will incur a $100 change fee. Tell them there is a fare difference for the exact flights you are booked on. The only problem you may run into is if the new lower rate is a website only rate.

I fly CO weekly for work and consider myself an expert with CO. I strongly urge you to try again.

Well I guess I have not said the right things to CO personel. I should say will you give me voucher for credit on my CO account.
Yes, most of the sales have been sales on continental.com. I will try today to get a better fare. Thanks very much for telling me about their policy. I guess if you don't ask they won't volunteer any information.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

Hey, thanks for that info. Where exactly is the AC airport?

Its in Egg Harbor Township... check the link:

Atlantic City Airport