Seriously JetBlue?

[disfanforlife]

We stopped flying JetBlue a couple years ago and switched to SW. But even SW had ridiculous price for flights in march. Fortunately for us, I decided to switch our family trip to January and got $210 roundtrip from Albany.

 

[dbogen]

Try plugging your dates into KAYAK and see about the other airlines. Believe it or not you might just find a better deal.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I would also check Long Island when Southwest releases those dates

 

[lovin'fl]

Try BWI, they now offer direct flights to Orlando (starting in Dec or Jan...I booked inlaws for Jan at something like $180pp). Also try DCA (Reagan). I have our flights for upcoming trip from DCA to MCO on Jetblue and it wasn't too bad (like $215pp). There is also SW out of BWI.

 

[aprilgail]

Unfortunately Passover is really late next year (April 22- April 30) so a lot of flights out of NYC are super expensive. I have noticed Jetblue has gotten a lot more expensive lately as we usually pay 200-300 for round trip per and adult on the same route. Gone are the days where we use to be able to get 99 round trip from NYC to almost anywhere with Jetblue.

I am flying from NY on April 21st and coming home on April 30 or May 1st. I bought one way tickets so far- 127.00 each on jet blue but the return tickets were over 500.00 each- so before spending 1500 on three tickets home I am waiting for southwest to release their flights to see what they charge- I REALLY detest flying on southwest but may be forced to if Jet Blue doesn't come down any. They came down a bit already since they were released for that time period but not enough!

 

[Mr. X]

$127 each one way? That is great! Amazing how 2 days the price can be $100's of dollars different. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Southwest.

I agree I am seeing lower prices on the way down; and the return flight prices are what kill me w/ JetBlue; so I might go w/ 2 different airlines as well.

I wish Disney would work with an airline to establish competitive rates for those that are heading down there... I know a lot of people in the NE that have started driving cause the airfare is simply out of control.

 

[Ava]

You can do Bing Rewards for Jet Blue points. It's not a lot but it's easy.
400 Bing rewards = 100 JB points.
If you are at Gold Level on Bing, it's 385 points.

Oo, I didn't know that! I just started doing Bing Rewards and was going to get Amazon GC's with them, but this is a good option too. JetBlue also has a Points for Surveys program. Again its not a lot of points, because you actually have to qualify for surveys to get the full point value offered, but you get 10 points for attempting a survey even if you don't qualify.

As far as airlines - we ended up flying Delta from JFK to MCO for our August trip. JetBlue was running over $400 per person RT, so I snagged a $285 RT fare on Delta. Even adding the bag check fees for Delta, it ended up being a better deal for 4 tickets.

Now that JetBlue charges fees for checked bags, I doubt we will ever fly them again unless I can use points. An individual TV and slightly better snacks is not worth that much extra money for their fares.

 

[Gracie09]

I you fly in late on the 16th and then extend to Saturday you can get roundtrip for under $300 a piece. (286 with taxes) This is for the Blue plus so includes one suitcase each. You would have to pay an additonal night for hotel, but could probably get something close to the airport relatively cheap

 

[rdevine10]

I would look into altering your dates (extending them) in either direction - paying for a hotel can be cheaper, or looking at alternate airports to not only fly out of, but fly into. There are many aiports in the Orlando area (within 2 hours). good luck

 

[Bree]

JetBlue released those dates back in July. I booked on opening day for my MIL & SIL to fly roundtrip from Portland Maine to Ft. Lauderdale (04/16 & 4/24) for $265 each. They now cost $900 each!!!

 

[Mr. X]

I found one that seems to be more reasonable. A 5pm flight out of JFK on Friday that lands at 8pm $169 each and then a Return flight first thing am on Saturday at 6am for $134. I would have to book an extra night at beach club (but I have 30% discount code) and 1 night at the hotel airport after the cruise.

I'm still going to wait for SW rates. Maybe I'll book the trip between 2 different airlines to get the best ticket prices.

 

[wilkeliza]

Question - If I flew in late on Friday and stayed at the airport hotel that night. Could I take the magical express to my resort at WDW the next morning? I bundled the transportation as part of my cruise.

You could just add a day to your Disney hotel and take Magic Express direct if you are doing Disney World pre-cruise.

 

[pens4821]

I'm not a frequent flyer, but I think i've read that around 90 days out are usually the best prices. Still a little early probably.

 

[rdevine10]

I'm not a frequent flyer, but I think i've read that around 90 days out are usually the best prices. Still a little early probably.

While certain times of the year this can be true, prime travel weeks it does not always hold true. We fly to FL every april for spring break (we are going the same week as the OP- from the CT/NY area) and typically I ALWAYS book my flights in October. They have never gone down in price once in the last 8 plus years. We recently booked our tickets and paid 891 for 4 tickets on jet blue. However, we extended our trip to the tuesday after this week and are flying into an alternate airport than orlando (daytona-as that is where we have family). Near Orlando you have the following airports within 2 hours: Orlando, Sanford, Tampa, Melbourne and Daytona. Orlando is clearly the easiest if you are trying to take advantage of the magical express. We, however, do not always do disney in april, we often cruise and we always visit my parents. good luck- and if you are going for southwest read up on the transportation board how to get the best prices- you better be on the computer ready to book at 6 am on the release date. I have had my flights jump in price by waiting even a few minutes.

 

[Mr. X]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[sunshinemelody]

With fuel prices so low it doesn't make sense.

Which is why airlines are currently being looked into for the high prices that they're charging consumers. NY Times (and subsequently all the big names -- WSJ, etc) wrote these up in July. Price Collusion? I sure do think so.

Possibly EWR? Hartford is out of the question, Albany, like another poster stated sounds like a good alternative and Westchester as well. I think Philly may even be better in certain circumstances as well.

 

[Happyjen27]

Try Philly airport. Much of New England is on break that week, break weeks are so much more than regular weeks.

 

[Mr. X]

The prior week in April (before the week I leave) I am seeing $1490 out of Hartford to Orlando. Leaving on Sat and returning on Saturday. Plus I get $200 credit w/ my points. Fingers crossed. $159 per one way ticket and bags are free.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Mm, leaving on one of the busiest days of the week is what is messing you up on those prices. That's sucky.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Jetblue was my go to airline as well. I remembered 4 summers ago when I booked AA for $200 vs Jetblue $320, my daughter was crying that she wants her "blue jet" back. Whenever we book a trip, my daughters are asking if we are flying Jet Blue. Unfortunately, the price of Jetblue really gone high in the past year or 2. Two summers ago, it was higher but I justify the extra money by saying if was just a little more after I factor in the baggage charge. This August, I couldn't--it was almost $350 a ticket from JFK to MCO. Delta was $226 and I applied for Delta Amex to get free luggage. Although, my daughters still want Jetblue but were ok with Delta.

This coming Passover, I plan to surprise them with a trip to Disneyland. The flight was $800 with JetBlue for the day and time I want on its release date. Prices have not gone down yet. The price with VirginAmerica was $280 2 weeks before JetBlue's release, and then went up to 310 and kept going up $10-20 each week. Last week of August, when I saw the price went down to $350 with Delta & VA, I booked with Delta. My TA friend told me to wait, but with 2 young children, I didn't want to wait to fly late or take a red eye or not getting the seating together. Especially after what I witnessed on my MCO flight. A family of four couldn't seat together for whatever reason. The 2 adj seats were taken by the mother and young toddler daughter. The son and the father was assigned on 2 different rows back to back--1 window seat and another aisle seat on the opposite side. The seats were relatively close but couldn't see each other. The boy was probably 4 or 5 and he was scared. The father asked the woman who sat next the the boy to change seat, very nice and polite. The woman and said to him "you can trust me with him". Her 2 friends were sitting behind her and were quite surprise as well. By change her aisle seat to the father's aisle seat, she would be on the same row as her friends. I couldn't believe it. So, I exchanged seat with the boy. I didn't get to sit with my husband, but it was ok. During the entire flight, I was having conversations with my sister who sat on the opposite aisle seat with that woman between us. Yup, I was quite mean.

Anyway, I don't want to be the parent who have to face such dilemma. I was comfortable with the price point so I booked. The price did went down another $15 for a few days but now it's up again at $385. I think the key to booking flights nowaday is knowing your comfort price point. Someone mentioned this on a different thread few months ago, and I agree with it especially after my recent experiences. I'm now looking for a JFK-MCO flight for next August. I booked November last year for this year's flight so I will look harder around that time. The flight is currently cheapest at $380 on Delta. I will wait until Jetblue's release and see what happen. Love Jetblue but not their price anymore.