PHL to MCO

[mirlow]

We just moved to Philadelphia from Denver and I was wondering what the average price per ticket is to Orlando? What is a the lowest price per ticket you have seen? What airline do you fly on?

Do you park at a park-n-ride or do you stay overnight at an airport hotel and leave your car there? If you do a park & fly is there a maximum number of nights you can leave your car overnight?

TIA!

 

[NJDad18]

We generally fly US Airways to MCO. I will book any flight for under $200 and it used to be pretty easy to get a $175 flight, but I'm thinking that those days are over. If you were to look now most of the flights are around $230. Southwest does fly out of PHL and their rates are $200+ but you can get a ding closer to your trip to get the cost down.

We have not done the park and fly, but I'm sure that you can get some advice from somebody else here. We use Pacifico parking where you drive to the lot and they drive you to the airport in your car and then they pick you up in your car and you drive them back to the lot. I highly recommend them.

Another airline to consider is Spirit which flies out of Atlantic City. Parking is reasonable and it's very easy to get in and out of that airport.

 

[JustineMarie]

I can't help you with the park n ride questions but I can with ticket prices. We try to fly Southwest because it seems like they are the cheapest. Airtran is a close second. This past January we purchased our tickets through SW and they were 34$ each way through ding. We purchased our tickets for August for 48$ each way. The lowest I have seen has been the 34$. I wouldn't pay more than 79$ each way unless you are going at a busy time, like Christmas or Easter. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

It used to be that $150 was a good price for a PHL-MCO round trip. We also used to book through United/US Airways, because they were the least expensive, even better than Southwest when they started flying out of Philly. In general, Southwest is now the least expensive (not counting DINGS).

The best I've gotten through a DING was just under $100 round trip (this was for our trip in May 2006).

In the past we used to use a shuttle service to get to the airport (we would get picked up at a local hotel about 20 minutes away from the house), but now we use Winner Car Park. They drive you to the airport in your own car, and pick you up in your own car. They don't use a shuttle back and forth from the airport. We occasionally get coupons for them, and they state they honor competitor's coupons (we haven't tried that yet).

We live about an hour away from the airport.

 

[karliebug]

Southwest and Airtran have the best fares. The most I have paid is $99 one way, the least I have paid is $49 each way. If you stay at a hotel you can park there for free. It is generally cheaper than the airport parking.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Average on SW & AirTran is between $79 - $99 each way.

Dings can be had as low as $34 but average (I think) around $59.

All things considered w/oil prices these days I think anything $200 or less r/t is a good fare.

 

[NJDad18]

Average on SW & AirTran is between $79 - $99 each way.

With the taxes you will still be at $200+ r/t.

 

[SSDonut]

My benchmark is to get RT PHL to MCO for $200 or less.

We have flown AirTran our past 3 trips and have liked it enough that we keep going back. We have arrived on time or early every flightand the crews are friendly and personable.

I thought a year or so ago that I would start using SW, but the wait for fares to come out was making me nervous--I just like to have it Done (as long as it meets the $200 criteria!)--and I wasn't convinced I was going to get anything cheaper or at the right time.

Also, I always want Non-stop and I prefer to leave Early on the way down (whole day ahead of us) and at the end of the day--around 5pm--when we return. I have gotten these everytime for the $200 cap.

Yes, sometimes it's $217 with the taxes etc., but if I can fly in and out exactly when I want to, I'm okay with that! (We flew Thanksgiving week in 05 and Easter week in 06)

 

[mumeof3]

we are going the 17th with SW and we are paying 120 round trip,54 each way from philly.as for parking we have a friend in the hotel business and we are parking at his hotel,otherwise we would have someone drop us off since we are 20 min.from the airport

 

[beccasmom]

Anything under $200 r/t is a good fare, although you can usually do considerably better and the average we've paid over the years is $150 r/t. We flew to WDW in November for $100 r/t on SWA. You will find that USAirways will normally meet any fares to MCO SWA is offering. Downloading DING! would be a good idea. Also, join the e-mail notices from airlines you're considering. We have not flown AirTran or Spirit.

 

[pamjb]

I usually fly Southwest. I booked my fares as soon as the dates opened up and got a $181 round trip fare. Then I got a Ding! for $54 each each way. Now I have enough credit for a future flight. We live about an hour away from PHL. Sometimes we find a kind friend to drive us down and pick us up. Lately, I have been booking a room at the Sheraton Suites, as I like to book early flights. I got a room at the Sheraton for $55 on Priceline in March. Paid for 5 days of parking at $10 per night. Sheraton has a free shuttle to the airport. Also did a park 'n fly for our upcoming trip in August. The total length of our trip is about 11 days. I paid $149 for a room at the Sheraton Suites including up to 14 days of parking.

 

[cynic957]

I have averaged $150-180 RT on Airtran.

Stay off USAur if possible - terrible service.

Southwest has been good as well.

If you are in CC Philly consider the Septa Train to the Airport.....the R1 train runs every 1/2 hour.

Also Winner / Pacifico thro the airport parking websites offer good prices cheaper than the sleep and fly's.

 

[pixistix]

I've always flown US Air from Philly to Orlando and have never paid more than $200 taxes included. Living an hour from the airport, we stay at an airport hotel and do park and fly. This year we're staying at Sheraton Four Points and when you deduct what we would pay parking at the airport, the room is really only costing us about $50.

 

[MEK]

US Air is convenient because of the number of non stop flights and the early booking window. I have $177 RT during Thanksgiving week, but I booked in Feb. That is the most I will pay for PHL or BWI to MCO.

I am flying to MCO from BWI in 1 month on SWA. With sales and dings I got the fare down to $127 pp RT. I could have matched that in PHL, but went with BWI because there was better flight availability for my return date. PHL to MCO fares were initally quite high (99 each way), but SWA had excellent summer sales and dings in the PHL market.

SWA is the way to go, if you can play they game of rebooking and taking credit. I have no complaints about customer service on either carrier. In fact, during my last flight on US Air I had the NICEST flight attendant who really helped with my sick son. That flight could have been a disaster.

Bottom line - I alternate between both US Air and SWA and fly out of PHL or BWI depending on rates and availability.

For parking I use Priority which is south of the city and 5 minutes from the airport. They have AAA rates and the service has always been excellent.

__________________________________________________

Max is my favorite cat!

 

[northcapemaymom]

We fly Southwest airlines. We have paid anywhere from $49 each way to $79 each way. Definitely sign up for Ding, it's well worth it. One advantage of flying SW is that a lot of their departures are in the "E" terminal. We've never had more that a half dozen people in front of us at security in that area.
We've used the economy parking at PHL. We've always found a parking spot easily (we travel weekday to weekday,nonpeak season) and the shuttles come by frequently. I've heard Winner is good for shuttles, and SunPark isn't bad either. I don't think there's a time limit at economy parking.
Don't forget Spirit Airlines flying out of Atlantic City. Their fares are competitive and you won't sit on the tarmac as long as one does in Philly. If the stress level going through PHL is a 7 or 8 out of 10, ACY is about a 3 out of 10. Welcome to the Delaware Valley; the area definitely has a lot to offer!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I used to be a die hard USAirways fan and thought $158 + tax was good. The last 3 trips I've switched to Southwest due to their awesome prices. We may originally book flights between $79-99 each way but I keep rechecking & rebooking and watch for dings so I always end up with huge credits for next time. Our upcoming trip is $49 pp/each way.
We use the economy lot if we travel alone. If my parents come too, they like to get a limo and we split the cost. $115 each way from James Limo in Cherry Hill. Depending on how long your parking would be, sometimes it's worth it.

 

[Suzyq9241]

coming back Airtran at 79 one way...

"Do you park at a park-n-ride or do you stay overnight at an airport hotel and leave your car there? If you do a park & fly is there a maximum number of nights you can leave your car overnight?"

As for park - n- ride ... we are staying at Sheraton Four Points... with parking at 123.00 for the whole package I think its pretty good...

 

[Love2BinDisney]

Another vote for Airtran and Southwest here. They definitely seem to have the lowest fares. We are stuck halfway between Philly and BWI so we check the fares for both on both airlines and usually can get a good deal. The most is usually $79 each way as mentioned earlier. Last time travelling SW though we had major delays and they left our luggage out in the rain throughout the entire delay and when we got to Disney my whole top layer of clothes were wet! That was the only problem we have had though.

 

[paults]

phl to mco

 

[puffkin]

You can easily get flights under $200 on SW or Airtran and sometimes USAir. I wouldn't pay more than that unless you are travelling on a holiday. Our last trip in June we paid $134 RT and that included all taxes/fees.

We have done the park and fly several times. I liked the Holiday Inn the best, but the Comfort Inn was ok too. Avoid the Ramada at all costs, it is DISGUSTING (there have been many posts on here agreeing).

On our June trip we tried something new and parked in the garage right at the terminal. IT WAS FABULOUS. We literally parked right at the door and walked right into the terminal. A quick elevator ride down to ticketing and we checked our bags and then back to the car for the carryons and then to the gate. It was so convenient...especially when we got back to have our car right there. It was expensive ($17 a day) but the convenience could not be beat, especially with a 3 month infant and stroller. For the week it was $120, but that is about what we paid for a park and fly so it wasn't too bad in price. We will probably do the park and fly again if flying in the winter (in case of snow) and the garage parking for the rest of the year. I

I can not reiterate enough how great it was to park at the airport and not have to mess around with shuttles and stuff. It was well worth the price