Risk of Orlando flight sell-out?

[RamieGee]

Any travel experts know at what month mark the risk of a flight to Orlando from a major hub (In our case, Newark) selling out is? I'm planning the trip very deliberately around the flight times I want, but I'm wondering how soon I should book the tickets.

We are confirmed to travel to Disney in May 2015 (departing Mother's Day). We are a family of 4.

Should I book now to be sure I get my times, or , should I wait and see if prices drop?

 

[rwdavis2]

Book as soon as you feel comfortable with the price and don't look again unless you are flying Southwest and can take advantage of a price drop.

There's no predicting a sold out flight.

 

[bumbershoot]

Seems unlikely that you would look at Alaska Air for that flight, but just in case, they give fee-free credit for price drops as well.

 

[luvdisney87]

I don't know if every airline works this way, but on the Delta website you can check a seat map for the flight you are looking at. I used that a lot to make sure the flight wasn't getting sold out while I was watching prices.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Any travel experts know at what month mark the risk of a flight to Orlando from a major hub (In our case, Newark) selling out is?

The big risk is not that all seats will sell out -- although the plane could sell out as business travelers grab seats for business travel in the week before you travel.

The big risk is that the "cheap seats" will sell out entirely, leaving only full-fare coach and first class seats.

For each flight, the airline predicts how many seats to offer in various fare categories and for frequent flyer rewards. That's why you'll sometimes see "only 3 seats available at this fare" on an airline website, even though the flight is still 75% unsold.

 

[luvdisney87]

For each flight, the airline predicts how many seats to offer in various fare class and for frequent flyer rewards. That's while you'll sometimes see "only 3 seats available at this fare" on an airline website, even though the flight is still 75% unsold.

I actually booked two separate reservations for my family for this trip because of this same thing! I grabbed two seats one day for me and my daughter and a week later booked my husband and my other daughter. I was a little nervous in between, but I thought that at least I would get to go!

 

[Lewisc]

The chance that all the flights from all NY area airports to Orlando will sell out is extremely small. The chance that all the discounted seats on the specific flight you want will sell out isn't that small.

Southwest fares will vary significantly between flights the same day. Popular flights aren't discounted as much.

 

[Jaylie]

Would Mothers Day be considered a popular travel day? We will be a party of 8 flying down to Disney on May 10, but I have to book all the rooms before SW opens up. I'd hate to have to pay a high fare.

 

[Jaylie]

BTW, we will be flying out of Providence.

 

[rwdavis2]

BTW, we will be flying out of Providence.

Highly unlikely.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I think flexibility is the key to getting great fares. If you're wide open and can fly anytime, you can be a bit choosy in which price you're willing to accept. If you're on a tight schedule and must have certain dates and/or times, I'd watch it for a little while and bite the bullet when you feel it's a decent price. Usually by 2-3 months prior, the prices start creeping up again so I'd want to make sure everything is set by then but I'm not a risk-taker.

 

[yooperfan]

So, if I am staying on property and want to go to a movie or Cirque I have to get off a bus at the marketplace and walk all the way there? If staying at POR, is there a boat dock that let's you off over on that end? Do you gave to switch boats? What hours do they run?