Orlando W./Lakeland Airport???

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I called the airport direct. They currently have a HERTZ rental on site. They will be getting a couple more car rentals on site in a couple weeks. We booked for March 2012. The price was so good that we had to book.

You are braver then me. There's no way I would give "Direct Air" cash a year in advance.... Airlines like this tend to have spotty records of lasting and the current spike in fuel prices could be a problem for them.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

You are braver then me. There's no way I would give "Direct Air" cash a year in advance.... Airlines like this tend to have spotty records of lasting and the current spike in fuel prices could be a problem for them.

I agree. In a year jet fuel prices may be much higher than now. Small airlines may be more affected by spot prices in jet fuel.

 

[5boyz]

I really want to book this too but the 7am return flight with an off site car rental return and a one hour drive from Disney...thinking no.

That is what is stopping me too. We are coming from Cocoa Beach. i have a flight with SW down from Buf $89. but my home is going up and down, just keep hoping will go to at least $99.

 

[snowangel72]

We have flown into MCO and out of TPA. I LOVE doing this because we end our trip with two days at St. Pete's beach. It's glorious and I LOVE not dealing with MCO. I hate that place! TPA is lovely.

 

[snowangel72]

That is what is stopping me too. We are coming from Cocoa Beach. i have a flight with SW down from Buf $89. but my home is going up and down, just keep hoping will go to at least $99.

It will hopefully!!! I ended up booking SW too. $99 down and $114 back from TPA. I am very happy with that, direct flights.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

We have flown into MCO and out of TPA. I LOVE doing this because we end our trip with two days at St. Pete's beach. It's glorious and I LOVE not dealing with MCO. I hate that place! TPA is lovely.

My sentiments exactly! Not that I've ever flown out of TPA - but I detest the cattle call at MCO when returning from WDW!!! Don't mind arriving there - have never had a problem with that. But the trip back is another story!!!!!

 

[Queen of Oakville]

So, I am FREAKING out! I booked with Direct Air for our cruise on Freedom of the Seas in August. Of course this was BEFORE they sent out the 50% of coupon!!!!!

A flight from BUF on SW was coming in at about 1800 for four of us. I booked on Direct Air for 950. Granted, it's half of what SW was going to cost, but 50% would have been even sweeter.

I'm figuring out hotel deals right now, but my biggest concern is transportation.

While HERTZ appears to have a counter at LAL, they won't be open when my flight arrives around 2:30! So, I do not know what I am going to do.

I emailed LAL and my fingers are crossed they respond soon.



We're sailing out of Port Canaveral again in March on DREAM. It actually never occured to me book our flight now (using the MAYFARE deal) ... but now with all these hassles, I want to make sure our August flight works out.

 

[Sprockie]

I booked Direct Air from Plattsburg NY to Lakeland for January next year and I emailed the airport a few times for info. Hertz is currently at the site and she assured me there would be car rental companies available to accommodate flight times. A CSR from Budget told me they also had a location planned for the airport. Here's what Samantha from the airport said in her email:
"The car rental companies will be open when the flights are coming in and going out. You should not have an issue with checking out or checking in a vehicle. By January we should have all of the kinks worked out. Let me know if you have anymore questions!"
Right now, our family of 4 could fly for $612.00 return on Direct Air with the 50% off rates. We booked for $812 about a month ago, still a great price.

 

[Queen of Oakville]

Yeah, I have a question for Samantha ..... what abuot my flight in August? I can't wait until January to get the kinks out!!!!

 

[fitmom3]

try Enterprise close to the airport. I think it is only 10 minutes away. They have a PICK UP service. The prices seem a lot cheaper. I googled Enterprise in Lakeland and found a location only 10 min away. I'm going to call them for my trip in March.

 

[Queen of Oakville]

thanks fitmom, someone on another board recommended them to me too.

 

[Queen of Oakville]

Nope, no go. I need to pick up the car at Lakeland and drop off at Cape Canaveral. Not all of the enterprise centers allow you to drop off at a different location.

 

[snowangel72]

I am looking at booking flights to Lakeland for March Break. Please update this thread if you have been there. I am worried the car rental won't be open when we arrive. MAJOR concern.

 

[Sprockie]

If you look on the Hertz site for their Lakeland hours, they directly reflect the flights that are going in and out of the airport right now. Weird hours, like open for a 2 hour stretch for car rentals. From everything I have researched, it seems that Hertz will be open for all direct air flight schedules. If you go to the Lakeland Linder aiport site, it tells you more.
I am anxious to hear people's experience too as we are booked for January/February into Lakeland.

 

[lfalcon]

Just returned from a direct air flight landing at Lakeland regional airport, and was very concerned with high taxi rates surpassing my trips budget. I took a leap of faith and hired a driver I found on Craig's list, who lives two miles from Lakeland regional and will drive anywhere for half the price of a cab. He is a 60 year old retiree from Boston, and more friendlier then any cab drive I have ever encountered. My direct air flight was delayed 5 hours so did not land untill 3 am in Lakeland. However, it was no problem for Steve, and he was there early waiting for our arrival. Despite it being 3 in the morning, he first offered to stop for food somewhere, worrying that we were starved from the long wait. However, I insisted we simply proceed to our resort in Orlando as I already felt bad enough. Due to an early morning flight we came back to Lakeland to stay at the days inn in Lakeland, before catching our morning flight. Our driver, Steve, promptly provided transportation services for all our travel at more than reasonable rates, and was all around an enjoyable person to get to know. If you are stuck for transportation from Lakeland to any destination, do not waste your money on over priced cabs, I sincerely recommend youc all Steve first! at 863-937-6573

 

[Lewisc]

Interesting first post. Is Steve licensed, insured and does he have a permit to pickup at the airport?

 

[SgtClaymore]

Hmmm, I checked alamo and they weren't there. Let me check a few others.

I think there is an International there now but I'm not 100%

 

[Lewisc]

People are over thinking this. Hetz and U-Save are the only two rental agencies which service the Lakeland airport. Their rental hours mirror the flight schedule of Direct Air and the agencies will extend hours to accommodate delayed flights.

Other agencies may have "neighborhood" locations near the airport. Their scheduled hours may not match your flight and they won't be extending their hours if your flight is delayed. Free shuttles will probably not be available for pickup at the airport. Several of the Direct Air flights land after the neighborhood offices close for the day and some flights depart before the neighborhood offices open for the day.

 

[5boyz]

It will hopefully!!! I ended up booking SW too. $99 down and $114 back from TPA. I am very happy with that, direct flights.

Just getting this post now..lol...I ended up booking with Jetblue for our return as our flights kept going up up up....pardon the pun..lol! LOVED Jetblue so easy and you get your seats when you book.

BTW..I hope you like Bonnet Creek, we stayed there about 4yrs ago, it was nice but I see they have added so much more since we were there.