Orlando W./Lakeland Airport???

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Just found a Steal of a Deal on Direct Air from Niagara Falls to Orlando W/Lakeland for $79/each way. (Usually fly SW from Bflo to MCO and use ME - flights are now running about $134 - 164/each way.)
Haven't got the slightest clue where Orlando W/Lakeland is; nor how much it will cost to rent a car or hail a taxi.
Can anyone help me out here?
I'll also have to come in a day or 2 earlier than planned and stay 1 extra day in order to use this fare. Are there any fairly cheap (but decent) hotels in the area?
TIA for any/all info!
Gretchen

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

The airport is about 50 miles southwest of WDW. So I'd assume that taxi costs would be quite high. The best way to figure out about car rental prices is to go in to each company's website and fill out the details, then book the one with the best price.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thanks so much, Bob.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here's an article about the new Direct Air service at Lakeland Linder Airport, located between Orlando and Tampa:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20...ct-Lakeland-Linder-to-Become-a-Hub-of-Tourism

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you, Horace H.

 

[proud_canadian]

I was looking at this as well. It seems that Lakeland is half way in between Orlando and Tampa.

However, I don't think they have car rentals there. Does anyone know?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

However, I don't think they have car rentals there. Does anyone know?

There will business opportunities for rental car companies once the airline operations begin at Lakeland Linder Airport (airport code LAL). The rental car companies will be there.

Here's a paragraph from the link I posted earlier in this thread:

Conrad said the immediate impact will be about 100 jobs. Jobs in Transportation Security Administration, ticket services, car rental companies and concessions will need to be filled. He said taxi and shuttle services will also benefit from the airline.​

Actually, it appears that rental car companies are already there, serving the needs of the private plane and corporate plane pilots and passengers. Columbia Air Services at LALalready claims, "All Major Rental Cars." See:

http://www.columbiaairservices.com/FBO_Network/lal.html

 

[dudspizza]

http://www.lakelandairport.com/

The website says car rental information will be posted on the site soon.... in the meantime, they have an email address posted for questions....

Duds

 

[proud_canadian]

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

 

[proud_canadian]

Hmmm, couldn't find anything with national or alamo, but did find a budget location 9 miles away, however it only has hours 8 am to 4 pm.

If anyone has more information on car rentals that would be great!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Hmmm, couldn't find anything with national or alamo, but did find a budget location 9 miles away, however it only has hours 8 am to 4 pm.

If anyone has more information on car rentals that would be great!

Commercial airline service at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport does not begin until June 23, 2011. Currently, it's only a general aviation airport.

As dudspizza noted, the official airport website at http://www.lakelandairport.com/ has this notice:

"Car Rental Information will be posted on the website soon. For additional information please email us at LakelandAirport@lakelandgov.net
or call the Administration Office at (863) 834-3298."
​

I'm sure there will be car rental service available by the time Direct Air begins service. And I expect the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport website to have car rental information before then. In the meantime, you can use the e-mail address or call the number on the website.

 

[JennSaint]

Also don't forget to factor in baggage fees.

 

[jsilvers]

Hmmm, couldn't find anything with national or alamo, but did find a budget location 9 miles away

There appear to currently be three rental car agencies located close together in Lakeland - which, as noted, is about 9 miles from the airport.

• Avis - 205 West Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33801
• Budget - 120 West Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33801
• Hertz - 111 West Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33801 (plus another office, slightly closer to the airport, at 5210 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33813)

I would guess that once the Direct Air flights start, they will either establish satellite offices at the airport, or shuttle passengers to their existing offices.

 

[snowangel72]

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.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

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.

I know! I've been crunching the numbers all day!
I was even looking into something like a towne car service, to avoid the car rental, but so far haven't found any.
And I really like ME.
But theser prices are fantastic compared to any others I've found.
If only I could make it work...

 

[snowangel72]

I hear ya. The other cheapest way we found was flying down on Air Tran and back on SW.

And another option is for $114 each way just fly in and out of Tampa. This is the way I am leaning right now. 1-2 nights at the beach and DH wants to go to the casino there anyway.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I hear ya. The other cheapest way we found was flying down on Air Tran and back on SW.

And another option is for $114 each way just fly in and out of Tampa. This is the way I am leaning right now. 1-2 nights at the beach and DH wants to go to the casino there anyway.

HMMMM....
Thanks for the info.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Commercial airline service at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport does not begin until June 23, 2011. Currently, it's only a general aviation airport.

As dudspizza noted, the official airport website at http://www.lakelandairport.com/ has this notice:

"Car Rental Information will be posted on the website soon. For additional information please email us at LakelandAirport@lakelandgov.net
or call the Administration Office at (863) 834-3298."
​

I'm sure there will be car rental service available by the time Direct Air begins service. And I expect the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport website to have car rental information before then. In the meantime, you can use the e-mail address or call the number on the website.

I will bite... why are you sure?

Let's see Direct Air is going to fly 8 flights a week into this airport. That's just not a HUGE volume of cars and renters.

I think you are going to have one or maybe two options meaning it's not going to have the "price pressure" you get at MCO. Probably you are going to get the local franchises from Lakeland (Budget, RentAWreck and Avis are there I believe) to take this on.

I would try calling the rental car locations currently in Lakeland and asking what they can do for you BEFORE I book a flight!

 

[fitmom3]

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.

 

[cricket429]

I have been watching this site too. We will not be going until April 2012 but if car rentals will be available, this will be a good fit for us because we are going do Disney for 5 days and then to the Clearwater area for another 3 days.
If this doesnt pan out, I will probably look for a deal in and out of Tampa because that is where we will be closest to at the end of our trip.

Has anyone flowing into one airport and flown home from another? Reason I ask is the other option would be to fly into Orlando, use ME, then rent a car towards the end of our Disney time, go to the beach and fly out of Tampa.