PEI - Flying Airtran out of Portland?

[fitislandgirl]

Hi folks!

My family and I are making our second trip to Disney World August 30th - Sept 8th. We are looking for the most economical means to get there. We noticed that Airtran has really low rates. It would be a 9 hour drive from PEI but would cost ~$1200 for our family of 4 to get there. To fly out of Charlottetown, PEI we are looking at $2250-$2400.

Any experience good or bad with Airtran?

Thanks!

Kimmy

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Hi folks!

My family and I are making our second trip to Disney World August 30th - Sept 8th. We are looking for the most economical means to get there. We noticed that Airtran has really low rates. It would be a 9 hour drive from PEI but would cost ~$1200 for our family of 4 to get there. To fly out of Charlottetown, PEI we are looking at $2250-$2400.

Any experience good or bad with Airtran?

Thanks!

Kimmy

My sister didn't use Airtran, but they flew out of Portland. They said the drive down was fine, but the drive back home was closer to brutal because you are more tired after the vacation and just want to get home. Keep that in mind too!

 

[caisland]

We have driven to Manchester and flown Southwest twice. $1,000 for 4.
It looks more expensive now to do that. I see you are leaving Florida on Saturday the 8th.
You may want to drive part way back that Satuday and stay overnight in Bangor and drive the rest on Sunday.
In 2008 we got off the plane in Manchester at 11:00am local. Drove til midnight to get as far as Moncton and relatives.
Just 2 of us going this year so we are booked out of Moncton.

 

[wendyt_ca]

We live in SJ NB and always fly out of Portland. It's a 5hr drive for us and the flight savings is worth it. We usually fly AirTran and have had no issues. I'd also recommend checking JetBlue to compare prices. If its the same price on JetBlue it's actually cheaper because they don't charge for your bag where as AirTran charges $20 for the first checked bag per person.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I have flown out of Portland with Airtran. No problem here, but I would pay the seat fee to make sure you sit together,

 

[BabyHabs]

Allegiant has good prices flying out of Bangor and 2 hours less drive.

 

[wendyt_ca]

Allegiant has good prices flying out of Bangor and 2 hours less drive.

it does but then you need to do a car rental each way as there is no Magical Express. And Allegiant now charges for carry on baggage (quite hefty fees too) as well as checked baggage. And it isn't much cheaper. We can get airtran round trip for less then $250 RT per person. And it's only about an hour and a half from Bangor to Portland.

 

[bfamily5]

Hello from Moncton, NB We have flown Airtran twice out of Portland and it definalty saves some serious $$ We usually go down the day before....shop a bit, go to Olive Garden, and check into our park and fly at Howard Johnston. The drive on the way home is more exhausting after a full Disney trip, but Airtran is a decent airline (one of the largest flying into MCO, I think) Also by flying on a U.S carrier, your departure time on Magic Express, is an hour later than it would be if flying into Canada All in all, the benifits and $$ far outweigh the negatives for us.

 

[wendyt_ca]

Hello from Moncton, NB We have flown Airtran twice out of Portland and it definalty saves some serious $$ We usually go down the day before....shop a bit, go to Olive Garden, and check into our park and fly at Howard Johnston. The drive on the way home is more exhausting after a full Disney trip, but Airtran is a decent airline (one of the largest flying into MCO, I think) Also by flying on a U.S carrier, your departure time on Magic Express, is an hour later than it would be if flying into Canada All in all, the benifits and $$ far outweigh the negatives for us.

Lol this is exactly what we do. LOVE Olive Garden!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we did that in december/january but flew with jetblue. we got what was direct and return for 1200? maybe 1600? sorry i booked almost a yr ago now. i can't comment on that airline, but portland airport was very very easy to navigate. security and check in lines were very small and airport very quiet. and we flew out dec 22!

i wasn't a fan of the hojo in portland, it was very very run down and dated. the park and fly was a nice option to have tho. but net connection only worked in our bathroom and the ones in the lobby wouldnt allow fb connections. we've styed at the whyndam(2 round towers) across from the maine mall 2-3 times. its a bit pricier than hojo but very nice and rooms were very large.

 

[fitislandgirl]

Hello from Moncton, NB We have flown Airtran twice out of Portland and it definalty saves some serious $$ We usually go down the day before....shop a bit, go to Olive Garden, and check into our park and fly at Howard Johnston. The drive on the way home is more exhausting after a full Disney trip, but Airtran is a decent airline (one of the largest flying into MCO, I think) Also by flying on a U.S carrier, your departure time on Magic Express, is an hour later than it would be if flying into Canada All in all, the benifits and $$ far outweigh the negatives for us.

Hello Moncton!!! I appreciate your feedback. So close to home and exactly what we needed to hear. I like the idea of going down a day early Going to talk this over with hubby tonight. Thank you so much!!!

 

[Celidh]

Hello from Moncton, NB We have flown Airtran twice out of Portland and it definalty saves some serious $$ We usually go down the day before....shop a bit, go to Olive Garden, and check into our park and fly at Howard Johnston. The drive on the way home is more exhausting after a full Disney trip, but Airtran is a decent airline (one of the largest flying into MCO, I think) Also by flying on a U.S carrier, your departure time on Magic Express, is an hour later than it would be if flying into Canada All in all, the benifits and $$ far outweigh the negatives for us.

Hey, I am just outside of Truro, NS. I have thought about flying from the states but just can't seem to see how it would be better than flying out of HFX unless there was a huge difference in price. I do not like the idea of driving over the boarder and especially the drive back when you are tired.

How long does it take to drive from Moncton to Portland? By the time you add the extra cost for driving to the US, is it actually worth it? I have checked some US airlines and don't see great savings. Maybe I am checking at the wrong time or the wrong airlines.

I have to admit, I am a fan of Westjet. I have never had a problem with them ever. Once I had a wheel break off my luggage and they said wheels were normally not covered but gave me a $100.00 travel voucher anyway. I am leery of using other airlines. My partner really doens't want to use anyone else at all, not even Air Canada so that is also an issue.