Prices Out of Ottawa

[FayeW]

I am looking at flights for our upcoming trip in Feb, and it looks like we will fly out of Ottawa for the first time. We usually fly out of Syracuse on JetBlue, but for a savings of less than $100 per ticket I don't see the value in driving the 3 hours. Flight times aren't great, and if I factor in the gas, extra meal and airport parking fees, we are really not saving enough to justify basically spending 2 full days travelling.

I found great flight times on Delta, leaving at 2:30 PM and arriving at MCO at 8:20, and coming home we leave at 3:50 and are back in Ottawa at 9:30 (basically, we would be home at about the same time as if we flew into Syracuse, but we would leave Orlando 3.5 hours later...more time in the sun!)

Price is less than $400 return, all taxes in. That seems like a really good deal to fly from Ottawa. I am thinking I should just go ahead and book them now because I can't imagine them getting any cheaper. Can anyone who has flown in Feb from Ottawa give me an idea of typical costs for that time frame. Any experience flying with Delta would also be appreciated.

 

[CanuckTraveller]

That seems pretty good to me. In researching our flights for last year, the lowest prices out of Ottawa seemed to hover around the $150 mark each way, so $400 return seems pretty good. ITA, for $100/person I'm not about to drive to SYR, spend a night in a hotel and end my trip with a 3.5 hr drive back home with the border crossing and weather being wild cards.
I've never flown Delta, but the good thing is they are a major carrier and can re-route you if needed. That's always my concern when we fly West Jet

 

[FayeW]

My only sticking point is that you have to pay $25 for a checked bag. I think DS and I would be fine with just carry ons, but DH is willing to spend $25 to check his suitcase. That irritates me because it isn't necessary, and more importantly, now we will have to wait an extra half hour or so while he gets his bag. On the bright side, I can go get the rental car while he is waiting, and if he isn't there with his Driver's License on time I won't be able to add him as a driver. That's good news because he is not patient about driving in unfamiliar places and has a tendancy to screech at me. Doesn't make a pleasant vacation. Last time I did all the driving, and we took the GPS as well. Much more enjoyable for all concerned!

Wow, now that I've worked all that out with my DIS therapy, I think I will go ahead and book!

 

[mtmbyck]

Those aren't direct right? I'm always nervous having to switch planes in the winter. I just booked 2 weeks ago and found an amazing price on West Jet one way for March at 89.00 but return it was 500 so I grabbed the one way ( direct) and then grabbed an air Canada flight for 259 each the other way. Tax in it was 430 each but direct and on planes with TVs for the kids!

I've never searched one way before but there are deals to be had doing it this way!

 

[FayeW]

No, it's one stop. We will have about an hour and a half between flights in Detroit each way.

Would love to get that great price on West Jet. Just not sure if I should chance passing up these great prices and then have to pay more.

 

[badiggio]

We're flying Delta in November going to orlando with a stop in Detroit and United coming back to ottawa with a stop in Washington.Total is 327 pp.We've used them before and all was good.When I travel,I check expedia EVERDAY from about 5 months out until I find a great price which is usually around the 3-4 month period.We usually just bring carry ons because either at disney or lately at Bonnet Creek we use the washers and dryers available in our room

 

[Lizard Valley]

Hi, I'm in Montreal, so close, but not quite the same...

I definitely recommend searching the flights as one ways. I found one going Montreal to Orlando for $191 including taxes on Delta. That was at least 100$ pp cheaper than going on Air Canada (also with one stop). For the return, we booked on Air Canada because the price was the same, and I'd rather go through Toronto than the US, plus they have the tv's.

After doing the trip for four years in a row, I have found that the prices don't really get much better than about 340$ round trip. You can either get that price about 8 months out, or stress out for months as you watch the prices go up and up. They MAY eventually go back down about 3 weeks prior, but do you really want to take that chance?

As for 400$ round trip, that's a good price in my opinion. The taxes alone to fly out of/into Canada are about 160$. The only way you can get cheaper right now is to change your dates...try looking 3 days before, and 3 days after your expected dates and decide if leaving on different dates is worth the savings (include costs like one less or one more night in a hotel).

And my last piece of advice, avoid going through New York (JFK, LGA, EWR) if there are other options. Weather there can affect flights like you wouldn't believe. Atlanta is a great choice, as is Charlotte. I like Atlanta because there is a flight almost every hour to Orlando. And don't book with a connection that you'll have to stress out about. If you have to run for a flight that you will most likely miss, and the next flight is 6 hours away, look for something else.

Good luck, and let us know what you book!

 

[FayeW]

I checked one way flights for Delta, United, Air Canada, American Airlines and West Jet. At the end of it, none of the other carriers could beat the price/flight times that Delta offered. I went ahead and booked the Delta flights, at $1193.74 for 3 return flights, with one stopover each way in Detroit. I am satisfied with the price I paid, and I think that even with a seat sale the most I would save off the price might be $150. Our vacation overlaps President's Week in the US and is considered "peak" season by WDW hotel standards, so I believe that this price for airfare is reasonable for our dates.

I hope I just don't spend the next 4 months checking prices and finding out I was wrong!

 

[ginkybiloba]

We typically fly Ottawa-Orlando in early January, so I am not sure how the prices would compare (I would guess they might be a bit higher in February as the university reading weeks approach). In January 2009, we paid $1100 for direct flights with Westjet (family of four). In January 2011, we paid around $1200 for direct flights with Westjet. For our January 2011 trip, we booked the tickets on November 18th (seat sale). I just keep checking the Westjet site on a regular basis and if I see something around $350 per person (including taxes) or less, I jump on it.

We went to Mexico last year with Air Canada and did connecting flights (through Montreal). Never again. Missed our connection coming back due to a late departure out of Cancun which made for a long, miserable night.

 

[FayeW]

Those were excellent prices for your January trips! Reading week is the same time as President's week, and I think that is why I am not seeing any sale prices for that time frame. It is considered High/Peak season at the resorts/hotels as well. I am really happy with the 2bdrm condo I got at Windsor Hills for $500 because the prices for 2bdrm villas or suites at the resorts are nearly $200 per night!

I looked at the flight times for WestJet and they weren't as convenient as the Delta flight. I would love to fly direct but I think I will just have to be satisfied with what I paid, with the flight times I have. I already booked them so I can't do anything about it, anyway.

 

[ginkybiloba]

I think the deal you got was excellent for February. January is low season which is why we like to travel then, but the weather has been pretty crappy on our last 2 Florida trips so we may need to reconsider.

We stayed at Windsor Hills in 2009 and really liked it.

Have a great trip!

Brenda

 

[badiggio]

Those were excellent prices for your January trips! Reading week is the same time as President's week, and I think that is why I am not seeing any sale prices for that time frame. It is considered High/Peak season at the resorts/hotels as well. I am really happy with the 2bdrm condo I got at Windsor Hills for $500 because the prices for 2bdrm villas or suites at the resorts are nearly $200 per night!

I looked at the flight times for WestJet and they weren't as convenient as the Delta flight. I would love to fly direct but I think I will just have to be satisfied with what I paid, with the flight times I have. I already booked them so I can't do anything about it, anyway.

as I wrote earlier ,I've never had a problem with delta,but maybe this time.My original booking was ott-ny-orlando ,leaving ottawa at 6 arriving at noon.Then they changed it to ott-detroit-orlando,departing at 8:15,layover of about an hour and 40,arriving at 2:45.Now they changed the ottawa departure to 9:15 with about 40 minutes to catch our connecting,IF everything goes according to schedule.The walk to our connecting the last time was a piece but we had time on our side.If we miss our connecting she said we could board the next flight at 3:30 or so getting us there for 6:36.I guess they have my money and there's nothing i can do about it but hope for the best.There's still 6 weeks to go ,so who knows if there's more changes ahead.

 

[CanuckTraveller]

as I wrote earlier ,I've never had a problem with delta,but maybe this time.My original booking was ott-ny-orlando ,leaving ottawa at 6 arriving at noon.Then they changed it to ott-detroit-orlando,departing at 8:15,layover of about an hour and 40,arriving at 2:45.Now they changed the ottawa departure to 9:15 with about 40 minutes to catch our connecting,IF everything goes according to schedule.The walk to our connecting the last time was a piece but we had time on our side.If we miss our connecting she said we could board the next flight at 3:30 or so getting us there for 6:36.I guess they have my money and there's nothing i can do about it but hope for the best.There's still 6 weeks to go ,so who knows if there's more changes ahead.

You may want to call and challenge that connection time. Airports have minimum connection times, and that one sounds like it may be too tight. Plus you don't want to count on the next plane having room for you, especially because you're likely not the only one in that situation. If I were you, I'd call and have them change your tickets to the 3:30 flight, so you know you can get to Orlando.

 

[badiggio]

You may want to call and challenge that connection time. Airports have minimum connection times, and that one sounds like it may be too tight. Plus you don't want to count on the next plane having room for you, especially because you're likely not the only one in that situation. If I were you, I'd call and have them change your tickets to the 3:30 flight, so you know you can get to Orlando.

They checked when I called and said there's plenty of room on the 3:30.Thing is ,we wanted to be there for noon like originally planned but 2:45 would be ok.I'm hoping we get to detroit a little early and the fact we only have carry-ons should help.

 

[FayeW]

All I can say is thank heavens I booked when I did! Same flights on Delta are now $2669...almost as much PER PASSENGER as we are paying in total for the 3 of us!

I can't find anything less than $1200 on any other airline so I am happy that we chose the Delta flights (even though they changed the departure time out of Ottawa and now we don't get in until after 10 PM.)

 

[badiggio]

Ended up getting our money back and re-booking with United for almost the same cost.we'll be in orlando tomorrow at 12:41