PHL to MCO in December, getting nervous...

[shelly3girls]

We need to fly to MCO on Dec 23rd and return Jan 4th for our cruise/land family trip. We had the opportunity to purchase tickets on US Air for a good price but decided we did not want to risk them cutting back service. We decided to wait for Southwest but I am getting very nervous as I see the airfare skyrocket on other carriers. US Air prices are still OK but Spirit (out of AC) and some of the other airlines are absolutely outrageous (Spriit is $733/ticket!). Any idea when these flights will be released on SW? Anyone have any experience flying this time of year? Should I take my chances and buy US Air tickets?

 

[TZMOM]

I'm w/you Shelley. I definately don't want to fly USAir out of Philly around that time either. I have no idea what to think, just waiting for Southwest to come out w/their flights - hopefully in the next month of so. Have you looked at AirTran? I'm trying to decide whether to go w/them or wait for Southwest.

Good luck w/your decision & have a fun trip!!
Jane

 

[Bill From PA]

We flew USAir out of a local airport and connected through PHL on New Year's Day. I was sweating bullets after the Christmas Baggage Fiasco but our flights both ways were on time and uneventful. We're going next March and USAir is on my short list of carriers I'm looking at for a non-stop out of PHL. They'll have us at MCO before 9am so we'll capture the first day and right now they're among the lowest in cost for the days of the week we want to fly, the exact week will be posted in a few days. It's a matter of personal comfort I suppose, but I'm figuring that their labor issues are over for the time being and there's nothing to prevent any other airline from experiencing similar woes between now and year's end.

Bill From PA

 

[mrslur]

I'm with you all in waiting for Southwest fares to come out. We're flying down 11/27 and looking for a non-stop. What is up with all of the 7-13 hour one stop trips?!!

 

[Minerva]

I just went through that whole airfare thing for my trip. Like you I was flying near a holiday, we're leaving the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I watched the outbound spirit flight go from $61 to $349 and because of the rise in gas prices everyone else was raising theirs too. I had planned to hold out for Southwest but I found AA tickets for only a couple of dollars more than what I'd hoped the Southwest flights would be and since I had no guarantee that I'd get the price or flights I wanted on Southwest I went ahead and bought the AA tickets. I'm flying out about 4 hours later than I wanted but it was worth it to me to have that confirmation in hand and have those tickets paid for. I've been breathing a lot easier since Thursday and it's so nice to be able to go to the AA site and see our seats listed as unavailable. LOL

 

[Donnask8pro]

OK, book me on the nervous train....We go Nov 26th, back Dec 4th out of PHL. I am attempting to wait for SW, but cant stand it. I am getting very nervous. I have checked airtran and others. What is everyone paying right now? What was AA? What should I think of as a good deal. I have 5 adults and 1 child I am paying for... HELP...

 

[shelly3girls]

Airtran has not released our dates yet either.

 

[mrslur]

USAirways has flights for $242 round trip for our days but I'm nervous about them being in business later this year. I'm going to call a travel agent we've used in the past tomorrow and ask her advice. She was very helpful when we chaperoned a senior class trip to Orlando last year and got us a great deal - albeit it was on USAirways.

 

[offtheice]

We need to fly to MCO on Dec 23rd and return Jan 4th for our cruise/land family trip. We had the opportunity to purchase tickets on US Air for a good price but decided we did not want to risk them cutting back service. We decided to wait for Southwest but I am getting very nervous as I see the airfare skyrocket on other carriers. US Air prices are still OK but Spirit (out of AC) and some of the other airlines are absolutely outrageous (Spriit is $733/ticket!). Any idea when these flights will be released on SW? Anyone have any experience flying this time of year? Should I take my chances and buy US Air tickets?

Shelly .. going thru the same problem you are having. Heading back down to the disney the first week of dec.. I live right next to Ac airport .. The tickets where 79 bucks a month ago and have now sky rocketed up over 100 bucks. I didnt have the money back then and wont have it for another 3 weeks. I figured i will wait to see what comes up with southwest since they seem to be the cheapest.. Then last night I checked airtran out of philly. They are 79bucks each way. I still dont know if I should wait for SW, and why they take so long to book in dec when every other airline you can book for dec now..

 

[Tricialiv]

We are flying out of NW Ohio Dec 3rd. The cheapest I have found is Delta out
Dayton for $227. Does this sound reasonable. The price dropped today from $237. I was hoping for less than $200. What do you think? I can fly from Detroit, Toledo, Columbus or Dayton.

 

[mrslur]

I booked USAirways through my travel agent today for $236 round trip out of Philly. I put it on a credit card so if they go under it's fully refundable. We got the times we wanted for flights and a non-stop.

 

[shelly3girls]

I am concerned more about US Air changing times/canceling flights than anything. Normally I would not care too much but we have 24 family members booked on the same cruise and I am very limited to when I can fly. Maybe I am just being paranoid...

 

[Pedler]

So far it looks like US Air is going to make it out of bankruptcy this time. They have lined up two of thier regional carriers for financing and have a bead on the last amount they need to have. By end end of June at the latest we should know for sure if they will be around for another year. From what I have read in the WSJ it looks like they will survive this round. We have them booked for August and connect via Philly and I don't have any major concerns now.

Of course thier long term viability is a whole other question...

 

[jetfxr69]

Be careful booking USAIR. They are on their last leg, regardless of what the media says. As an employee in the airline industry I can tell you that due to the recent fuel price increase all airlines except SWA will be raising their prices very shortly. SWA will not because while the other airlines are paying $58/barrel for oil, SWA is hedged at $26. This basically means SWA is paying half of what every other airline is paying for fuel. Wait for their fall/winter schedule to come out soon, and be confident that whatever flight you book with them will occur as stated and probably on time(other than weather,atc, or mx issues).

At least you know they will still be flying this fall. Cant say that for several of the others mentioned here.

 

[Jecca]

I would definitely wait for AirTran and Southwest fares before I book USAirways. I will do my very best to never fly USAirways again, too many bad experiences. AirTran has become my preferred airline. That said, their fares are not always good. For my trip this past Christmas, I bought my tickets pretty much as soon as they were released on the AirTran website. My experience for the holidays is that they only go up.

 

[Lewisc]

SW is getting much better, from their perspective, of limiting or reducing the number of deeply discounted fares on flights that would sell out at higher or even full fares.

I wouldn't wait for SW IF you're hoping for cheap fares on peak flights. You might not get the fare you want on the exact flight you want. Will all 24 people be travelling on the same flight. It's very unlikely you'll get 24 seats at the lowest fare.

 

[shelly3girls]

I plan to wait for SW since I like their times. Even if I have to pay up to their third level of pricing that is the same as US Air right now and I prefer flying SW. There are 5 of us flying together and another 6 out of Philly but at a different time. The rest are flying out of BWI. I am prepared to break up even our reservation to get a good price. Now I just have to wait...