Need help from California travellers - Where to get good rates!!?

[BeanoC]

We live in Fresno and have all our ressies for WDW and DCL in place. Only trouble is, we have no plane tickets!!

Last year, I let our travel agent handle everything. We ended up getting 4 round trip tickets from Fresno to Orlando for under $1,000.00. But this year, we had to book the WDW and cruise portions seperately, and this apparently makes it difficult for them to book the air portion... I dunno.

So, I figured I could easily get the airline tickets on my own. But after searching the airlines websites, Travelocity.com, Bestfares.com, etc. I cannot find anything less then $1,800.00 for 4 tickets !!

I would prefer to fly out of Fresno, but if it means significant savings, I can go out of San Jose or LAX.
I just don't look forward to that 4 hour drive home after our vacation.

Can my fellow Disney-bound Californians help me out here please!


Much thanks,


'Beano'

 

[Scotch]

What are your travel dates?

 

[BeanoC]

Guess dates would help, huh? DUH!!!

I am such a moron.


We leave Wed. 10/10, preferably around 5-6 AM Calif. time.

We return Sat. 10/20, preferably around noon-ish Fla time.

In a word, Fresno airport SUCKS. However, they have recently added Delta hops to LAX, which gives us an added option of getting to L.A. without driving. Alternatively, AA flies to DFW and then on to Orlando. So, again, whichever is the most economical...

We have family in San Jose so no real prob. to drive there and leave a car, although Fresno is still MUCH better. Driving to LAX is really a last resort. Forget SFO, I won't have anything to do with that place!

Thanks again for any help you can give!



'Beano'

 

[Scotch]

Check out United.com's special "summer value rates" good through Oct. 31st travel when you book through www.united.com . I just priced your routes and the best price = $325 pp incl. taxes or $1300 for four. Return time not the best, though.

Fresno (FAT) to Orlando (MCO) Wednesday, Oct 10
United Airlines 5041
(Operated by United Express/Skywest)
Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia
Oct 10 6:09 am depart FAT
Oct 10 7:20 am arrive LAX stops: Non-stop
United Airlines 278
Airbus A320
Oct 10 8:00 am depart LAX
Oct 10 3:38 pm arrive MCO stops: Non-stop

Orlando (MCO) to Fresno (FAT) Saturday, Oct 20
United Airlines 279
Airbus A320
Oct 20 7:45 am depart MCO
Oct 20 10:12 am arrive LAX stops: Non-stop
United Airlines 5048
(Operated by United Express/Skywest)
Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia
Oct 20 11:15 am depart LAX
Oct 20 12:24 pm arrive FAT stops: Non-stop


I suspect there will be a fall airline sale since Oct. is off season for Orlando. But $325 from Fresno sounds decent to me. If you book direct with the airline and prices later drop, just call and get a voucher for the difference. We've done that for tickets booked through UA's web site. You get one year to use the vouchers. You just have to check prices periodically as you approach your dates. Also, booking through web site gets internet booking bonus miles, I think it's currently 1000 UA mileage plus miles.

Also consider Priceline. I've saved a bundle through Priceline. Absolutely do not use Priceline until after you have thoroughly reviewed the bidding forum BBS at http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding and pay particular attention to the FAQs page and don't forget the current "bonus money" link (scroll down towards bottom) -- you'll find explanations on the board. But you guys must consider whether you are willing to accept Priceline's restrictions.

 

[Scotch]

Wait! I think I found a better deal at America West. I'll be right back.

 

[Scotch]

What about flying out of Stockton?? Longer layover outbound. I found the following on www.americawest.com for $258 pp (incl. taxes) or $1032 total for four.

Oct 10
# 6180 (Mesa Airlines Dba America West Express)
Stockton, CA (SCK) 6:35 am
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) 8:17 am
# 561
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) 12:04 pm
Orlando, FL (MCO) 7:10 pm

Oct 20
# 560
Orlando, FL (MCO) 10:39 am
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) 12:19 pm
# 6185 (Mesa Airlines Dba America West Express)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) 1:09 pm
Stockton, CA (SCK) 2:59 pm

And AmericaWest is doing a promotion with 3,000 bonus miles per roundtrip booked online now.

If you AW fly out of Bakersfield, the total increases to $1204. At this price, it's worth it to pay the add'l $100 and fly UA out of Fresno.

 

[Scotch]

Even better for San Jose if you are flexible about the time. $890 total for four on American Airlines if you are willing to arrive later into Orlando and get back to San Jose pretty late. But look at the savings!

American Airlines
Oct 10
#2468 SJC 10:56am to DFW 04:19pm
#1386 DFW 07:19pm MCO 10:57pm

Oct 20
# 435 MCO 05:56pm DFW 07:44pm
# 2499 DFW 08:49pm SJC 10:24pm

 

[BeanoC]

Hey Scotch -

Wow, thanks. I can't beleive how helpful you are!

I guess I just got spoiled last year by getting all 4 of us there and back for under a thousand bucks, huh?

I never even thought of flying out of Stockton. Still a bit of a drive, but better'n going to SJC or LAX.

The way I feel right now, if I can by tickets for 11 or 12 hundred bucks for all of us... SOLD!

I would much prefer taking a short hop to LAX and then a big jet direct to MCO, as opposed to 2 smaller crafts from Fresno (or Stockton) to Dallas, then to Orlando.

Anyway, your info is very helpful, and I thank you.

One more question -
I am not the patient type, so I like to have things done well ahead of time.

That said, I still wonder if I might find a better deal just a couple of weeks before we travel; last minute seats, etc.

What do you suggest? Buy now and get vouchers for discounts later?


Thanks a bunch,


'Beano'

 

[Scotch]

Originally posted by BeanoC
One more question -
I am not the patient type, so I like to have things done well ahead of time.

That said, I still wonder if I might find a better deal just a couple of weeks before we travel; last minute seats, etc.

If I were travelling in October, I'd get my tickets now; then get vouchers if prices drop. But I know some people here would wait until mid or late-summer and watch for some super sale for fall travel. I hate getting "last minute" airline tickets for big trips and for me, a month or two before a cross-the-country-whole family trip = last minute. I am impatient and risk adverse -- want to make sure I lock in what looks like reasonable prices ahead of time; and I like having all my transportion matters ironed out well ahead of time so I could use the last couple of months relaxing and planning the fun details of the actual trip.

 

[DVC California]

Just got a email alert from Travelocity .

United is having a special for San Jose (SJC) to Orlando (MCO) - $138.00 ROUNDTRIP !!!

Fares are good for travel through Dec 08, 2001.

Here is sample price for your dates in October:

Your requested flight

All prices are in U.S. dollars.

4 adults @ USD 165.50 each (128.37 plus 37.13 taxes/fees/airport charges)
Total: USD 662.00

Flight: United Airlines 618 on a Airbus Jet
Depart: San Jose, CA (SJC) - Wednesday, Oct. 10 7:20am
Arrive: Chicago, IL OHare (ORD) - Wednesday, Oct. 10 1:31pm

Flight: United Airlines 1500 on a Boeing 757 Jet
Depart: Chicago, IL OHare (ORD) - Wednesday, Oct. 10 2:15pm
Arrive: Orlando, FL (MCO) - Wednesday, Oct. 10 5:49pm

Flight: United Airlines 1611 on a Airbus Industrie Jet
Depart: Orlando, FL (MCO) - Saturday, Oct. 20 2:25pm
Arrive: Chicago, IL OHare (ORD) - Saturday, Oct. 20 4:12pm

Flight: United Airlines 1749 on a Airbus Jet
Depart: Chicago, IL OHare (ORD) - Saturday, Oct. 20 6:05pm
Arrive: San Jose, CA (SJC) - Saturday, Oct. 20 8:38pm

 

[BeanoC]

Yep - I booked with United yesterday for $662.00 for all 4 of us!!

Only drawback is taking the redeye, and a 3 hour layover in Chicago. But you know what? We are just going to make that part of our vacation experience!! The good part about taking the late flight is we get to CBR several hours earlier, so we have almost another full day to enjoy at WDW. I hated the thought of not getting to our resort until 8 or 9PM and just going to bed. Now we have all day!

As for the layover at O'Hare - it will be breakfast time, so we can go have a nice relaxed sit-down breakfast before our hop to Orlando. Hey, we're on vacation, a 3-hour break isn't gonna hurt anything.

Gotta love that fare! It's less than HALF of what I would have to pay for American and it's 300 bucks less than Delta. So, as long as the Airbus 319 is as comfortable as the MD-80, we'll be in good shape!

Thanks for all the help everyone,


'Beano'