Purchasing airfare

[daemom]

How far out are you seeing the best prices? Is there a website that give me an idea of what the costs typically are? IF you've flown from Pittsburgh to MCO in summer, what have you found? Thanks!!!

 

[Hockey6657]

Try kayak.com or download the App called Hopper. Hopper predicts prices and when they rise and fall.

 

[msmama]

Kayak doesn't show southwest fares so be sure to check there too. My mom often flies southwest from Pittsburgh.

 

[daemom]

Thanks!! The hopper told me to buy now!! Thanks for the Southwest tip! They didn't show up on the search engines that I was looking at. Lo and behold Southwest had the best fares. Thank you both!!

 

[nalajms]

I buy SW as soon as dates are released, if I can. But at least 3-4 months out. Then I randomly check the prices when I remember. If prices drop, you can always rebook and get a credit.

 

[candizfan]

Remember that Southwest also includes your luggage. You have to consider luggage charges for the other carriers. I hear Spirit is only allowing 40 pounds per bag instead of 50 like the others. And you have to pay for carry on and at airport check in too. I really don't like Spirit...

 

[tvguy]

Remember that Southwest also includes your luggage. You have to consider luggage charges for the other carriers. I hear Spirit is only allowing 40 pounds per bag instead of 50 like the others. And you have to pay for carry on and at airport check in too. I really don't like Spirit...

Good point. Basically, always shop around. I actually found a few flights where Southwest was not the lowest price even considering the lack of additional fees. And of course some people have preferences regarding whether they get direct flights or stops, or plane changes. Taking a routing that has a stopover can cut the air fare by an amazing amount.

 

[candizfan]

Yes it is true you have to shop around and you have to pay with all the variables too, like time of day you are looking to leave etc. I am one of those people that prefer not to have stop overs. If I can get a direct flight for close to the same price I will book it. If I fly out Friday after work I don't mind a stop over as Friday's are more expensive to fly and I am really only flying that day so I can start my vacation fresh on Saturday morning. I usually just stay near the airport and go back in the morning to pick up the car. I find everyone sleeps well since travelling can be tiring. Otherwise we are always up too late at home and then we are exhausted on Saturday.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I havent flown from Pittsburgh, but I fly out of Buffalo which isn't too far away , and I've found that Jet Blue has had better prices than southwest for us. They also have your first bag fly free.

 

[Tatertot75]

The only airlines that fly nonstop from PIT to MCO are Southwest (2 daily I think, maybe 3) and Delta (1 per week, on Saturdays). I booked with Southwest in January for 4/30-5/4 for the 2 of us, and it was just shy of $500. It's gone up a bit since then. The earliest and latest flights are usually the least expensive.

 

[usd2bmd]

I havent flown from Pittsburgh, but I fly out of Buffalo which isn't too far away , and I've found that Jet Blue has had better prices than southwest for us. They also have your first bag fly free.

Wow. we fly out of Buffalo too. We booked for our August trip when Southwest released the dates and we are paying $212/person roundtrip. Those are nonstop flights with no baggage fees. We also got early flights out of Buffalo (which we love) and late flights out of MCO (which we love even more).

We couldn't find any better prices than that when we were pricing/booking it.

 

[usd2bmd]

The only airlines that fly nonstop from PIT to MCO are Southwest (2 daily I think, maybe 3) and Delta (1 per week, on Saturdays). I booked with Southwest in January for 4/30-5/4 for the 2 of us, and it was just shy of $500. It's gone up a bit since then. The earliest and latest flights are usually the least expensive.

I love Southwest for this reason. we always try to get out as early as we can and leave MCO as late as we can to get the most of our travel days. Southwest always works best this way for us.

 

[vrajewski10513]

Wow. we fly out of Buffalo too. We booked for our August trip when Southwest released the dates and we are paying $212/person roundtrip. Those are nonstop flights with no baggage fees. We also got early flights out of Buffalo (which we love) and late flights out of MCO (which we love even more).

We couldn't find any better prices than that when we were pricing/booking it.

That's right around what we paid, when we flew Jet Blue last September. Non stop and no baggage fees for us either.

 

[candizfan]

I would love to be able to try JetBlue but they don't fly direct out of Detroit and they are expensive every time I check.

 

[kimk2230]

We fly out of Buffalo also and Southwest almost always has the best price.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I booked my tickets literally the day they came out. I did notice the prices go up somewhat a few months in, then back down closer to the travel date.

 

[dvc at last !]

We fly out of Buffalo also and Southwest almost always has the best price.

agree