Question about airlines?

[WeLoveLilo05]

Does airlines ever add flights for a certain date?
We are heading down to Disney Aug 20-27th, we'll be a party of 11, me and DF, DD and driving, my aunt, uncle and their 3DS' are driving down (separate cars)
But my mom, dad, and sister are flying (but they are leaving the 21st and staying til the 27th) and my mom will only fly continental(IDK y?) and I can't seem to get anything BACK from Orlando to Newark that isn't insanely early in the morning. The flights GOING to Orlando aren't that great they would get in late, but I guess it will be doable.
So do airlines ever add flights and if so when?
Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[SandrA9810]

does that airline partner with another that has better flights?? Or does the plane have to say continental on it for her to get on it??

I'm guessing 6 or 7 is the insanely early flight time. Have you thought about adding an extra night to their room, so they still have the time to spend with you before you leave? And then just take magical express?

I don't know how airlines figure in flights. But i doubt there would be a change. Unless there's several booked solid flights throughout that day. I guess this would be a question for your mother, is she ok with getting up in the middle of the night to catch a plane?

I know on air tran, there's only 1 direct flight between MCO and DFW per day, but there's like a 100 flights to atlanta from MCO and 11 flights to DFW from atlanta. You just have to deal with the layover if you don't like the times of the direct flights.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Rarely. If all the return flights are insanely early, can they stay over one extra night, but at the Hyatt at the airport, to get as much time as possible at Walt Disney World? Then they won't have to worry about missing the return flight, or getting up in the middle of the night to get to the airport.

 

[abdmom]

On continental.com, they have plenty of flights with seat availability throughout the day on Aug. 27. One return has fares at $238, one return has fares at $298 and three flights have fares at $333.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ah, thanks for looking, abdmom!

She's right - there are PLENTY of flights right. There's little, if any, likelihood Continental will add flights. The more desirable flights cost more. These are the ones with the better departure and arrival times. To get the $238 fare, yes, the passenger has to depart Newark in the evening and depart Orlando around 6 AM. That's just the way things work.

 

[bballmom56]

I know you said she would only fly Continental, but encourage her to look at Jet Blue. On the 21st, they have a 2:00 flight for $204 that would get them in at 4:45. On the 27th, they have 5 flights to choose from $169 to $204. JB is our favorite airline with Continental a close second. With JB, the first checked bag is free, there are tvs in the seats with a variety of programming options, the seats are very comfortable leather seats, and I found the middle seat to be very roomy.

What part of NJ are they from? Is another airport an option?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think only half the OP's issue is the flight times, bballmom. The other half appears to be money. While JetBlue is great (and I'd rather spend $400 on that airline than $200 on Continental - not just theoretical, but for an actual trip I'm planning in December), Continental actually has about eight to ten choices in each direction. The problem appears to be that only the late outbound and very early return flights are at $238 round trip. The more reasonable-time flights range from $298 to over $400 each round trip But they DO exist.

 

[bballmom56]

I think only half the OP's issue is the flight times, bballmom. The other half appears to be money. While JetBlue is great (and I'd rather spend $400 on that airline than $200 on Continental - not just theoretical, but for an actual trip I'm planning in December), Continental actually has about eight to ten choices in each direction. The problem appears to be that only the late outbound and very early return flights are at $238 round trip. The more reasonable-time flights range from $298 to over $400 each round trip But they DO exist.

She didn't mention cost, but I'm sure that's probably a consideration, lol! That's why I pointed out that there are JB flights at better times and for less money than the uber early or uber late Continental flights.

Boy, you are a dedicated JBer if you would pay double over Continental, lol! We actually have been happy with both those airlines, but this last JB trip was so smooth and comfortable both going and returning.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Coming from someone in the business, no, they don't add flights. Unless it is a charter flight, that is.

 

[sjs314]

Earlier flights out of MCO no matter what airline are usually cheaper but one thing to consider is if it is say and 8am flight, ME will pick her up at about 5am and RAC does not open until 5am at the resorts so she will need to carry her own bags to MCO and check in for the flight once there also.
Sometimes all things considered it is just better to pay for a later flight

 

[kaytieeldr]

Boy, you are a dedicated JBer if you would pay double over Continental, lol! We actually have been happy with both those airlines, but this last JB trip was so smooth and comfortable both going and returning.

Well, except for the time they really didn't care that I had JUST fractured a rib (leaning over the arm of a chair in the terminal) and made me fly home as scheduled anyway - yes, I love JetBlue. Plus, I have a voucher (different flight/issue) and won't actually be paying quite that much
My trip's not until December; I'm flexible with the dates (in fairness, CO for my original dates was $100 higher than if I leave three days earlier); and I've got that voucher. I've got time. Plus, JetBlue's nonstop, first bag is free, there are the seatback televisions... and I'm hoping for an almost-repeat of the fractured-rib year, when my return flight was only 1/3 full. Having all three seats to myself and being able to lie down through the flight alleviated some of the discomfort.

 

[bballmom56]

Yep, definitely lots of pluses for JetBlue . Plus I have had excellent customer service from them when I had credits. They were able to give my credits to my friend for her honeymoon trip to WDW and then refund the friend's credit card since she had already paid in full! I thought that was pretty good.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

On continental.com, they have plenty of flights with seat availability throughout the day on Aug. 27. One return has fares at $238, one return has fares at $298 and three flights have fares at $333.

I just looked at the site and the seating chart (the layout) looks different from yesterday, yesterday I had to scroll to see the seats, but today I don't. I found one leaving Newark, now I have to find one home, thanks!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

She didn't mention cost, but I'm sure that's probably a consideration, lol! That's why I pointed out that there are JB flights at better times and for less money than the uber early or uber late Continental flights.

Boy, you are a dedicated JBer if you would pay double over Continental, lol! We actually have been happy with both those airlines, but this last JB trip was so smooth and comfortable both going and returning.

Yes, When I did my flights last year I paid over $900 for me, DD, and fiance, this year I am looking at the prices and some of them are insane!
O and why does it say when I click on it "May be Available at check in" for some seats? What if you print out the boarding passes for those seats and they tell you that that seat is "not available"?

 

[kaytieeldr]

What seats? If you're trying for the bulkhead row, they hold those for disabled passengers. If no disabled passengers need them the day of the flight - because they sort of want visual proof - then they open those seats to other passengers. You shouldn't be ABLE to select those seats when making your seat choices during purchase.

 

[scrapquitler]

Does it HAVE to be Newark? Can you be flexible enough to fly to JFK or Laguardia? You might find something more convenient if you are willing to do that.

 

[MAH4546]

What seats? If you're trying for the bulkhead row, they hold those for disabled passengers. If no disabled passengers need them the day of the flight - because they sort of want visual proof - then they open those seats to other passengers. You shouldn't be ABLE to select those seats when making your seat choices during purchase.

Bulkheads are not held for disabled passengers. Bulkheads can be booked in advance by customers with elite status on the airline.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Bulkheads are not held for disabled passengers. Bulkheads can be booked in advance by customers with elite status on the airline.

My apologies. I was referring specifically to JetBlue. I'm aware that's not the airline at which the OP is looking - but it's what bballmom and I were discussing . They don't have elite status, everyone is equal, and they do hold back the bulkhead seats from advance booking in case disabled passengers need these seats.