New England Disers, SW during April vacation week?

[laughinplace199]

For anyone who has flown SW during April vacation week, what are their fares like? My family and I are flying JB, but I'm playing travel agent for my friend who also wants to go that week. JB fares are a bit steep for her dates (she's a teacher, so she can't be too flexible since she can't miss work). Air Tran is about $400 for her dates, and I don't know whether to tell her to buy a ticket on Air Tran, or wait until SW comes out. The dates we're looking at are Tues, Apr 20-Sun, apr 25. Any advice?

 

[goofy4tink]

Airfares at this time are always high. The airlines realize that many people want to fly during this time, so they can get away with raising their regular fares.
I would suggest that you just keep looking. But, there most likely won't be much out there that is 'reasonable'.

 

[casjen]

It's just the way it is for school vacation weeks. The best she can hope for is about $300rt if she gets lucky. If she wants to fly from Worcester she can look into Direct air.
We felt lucky to get $315rt pp for last Feb. It's just a crazy time to try and fly.

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks. I know that we're not going to find any great fares, I'm just not sure whether she should grab Air Tran while it's still at $400 or take her chances that SW will have something the same or better. If she waits until SW fares come out and they're higher than $400, she'll be out of luck because I'm sure those $400 AT fares will be gone by then.

 

[WDW Traveler]

Well if their fares for April school vacation are the same as February school vacation, when they come out they will be about $400. That was what they were when they released Feb this year. Ouch in my book! We went for Feb school vacation in 2007 and ended up with a fare of $262 from Jet Blue which we got around Christmas time. We got lucky I think. Wishing her luck. It's just the time like others have said, they know they've got you!

 

[laughinplace199]

Well if their fares for April school vacation are the same as February school vacation, when they come out they will be about $400. That was what they were when they released Feb this year. Ouch in my book! We went for Feb school vacation in 2007 and ended up with a fare of $262 from Jet Blue which we got around Christmas time. We got lucky I think. Wishing her luck. It's just the time like others have said, they know they've got you!

Thank you. I imagine the fares will be very similar to Feb vacation fares, so that's good to know. I will show her this thread tonight and she can decide whether she wants to buy AT now or take her chances waiting for SW.

 

[memobrien]

Someone else recently posted that Direct Air out of Worcester had good rates for April vacation. Have you tried checking them out?

maura

 

[laughinplace199]

Someone else recently posted that Direct Air out of Worcester had good rates for April vacation. Have you tried checking them out?

maura

Yes, I just checked them out and unfortunately, her departure date is not available. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

We are now planning to drive in April (ouch). I can not see paying 400+ for 5 people. I guess we will keep checking and hoping for the best.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Last year we went for April vacation. Luckily for us, NH is the week after MA or it would have been much worse I'm sure. It's still the most we've ever paid for flights though, and this is coming from somebody who's going for Christmas this year (though heading down before the rush and coming back half way between Christmas and NY and we booked right when SW opened booking so it could be worse).

We paid a total of $1176.80 which includes taxes and fees for the four of us to fly with SWA nonstop from MHT (Manchester) to MCO. That comes out to $294.20 per person.

For our December trip, we started out at exactly $1176.80 (isn't that weird?) but we've now got $190 in credits.

Don't forget to check Manchester, Providence, Portland, Worcester and any other surrounding airports.

 

[Darcy03231]

I'm in NH and we always travel during April vacation. I fly SW a lot and never fly them for that week as their fare is much higher than others. I usually end up going out of Boston. Last year we went down on US Air ($79 each way) and back on Continental ($84 each way), 2007 & 2008 we went on Delta at about $200/pp round trip, 2006 it was Jet Blue on the way down
($74) and Delta on the way back ($128).

I found I do best booking airfare for this time period during the week between Christmas and New Years, although last year I booked it about 8 weeks out.

 

[HeatherC]

If she is flexible about what airport, she may be able to get a better rate. Newburgh and White Plains may be less since not all the schools have off that week in NY.

We are in Central Mass and will fly out of wherever is the cheapest. We're lucky because we can choose from like 5 airports.

Last year we flew out of White Plains. This coming Feb. we are flying out of Manchester.

We waited until the day SW released fares and snagged $79 nonstop each way. BUT...I originally wanted PVD which was higher. So I grabbed Manchester and then the fares were gone like 5 minutes later.

If she can't sit on the computer the day SW releases, I'd probably suggest checking other airports to find the best rate she's comfortable with.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

I think you said she's looking for Tuesday to Sunday? The Tuesday will work in her favor, price-wise, because I remember Tuesday/Wednesday being much less than (and availability lasting much longer for) those days than the weekend. The Sunday return may be a killer, but hopefully even if that's high the Tuesday will even it out. I remember checking all this out earlier this year because we knew we were going next year during April school vacation, and I made the decision at that time that we'd go Tuesday of vacation week to the following Wednesday, even if we had to pull DD out for only 3 days, because the flights are so much more reasonable mid-week. Hope that helps! I'd still wait for SW and buy as soon as they open up on 10/13. Good luck!