Silver Airways: Deal or No Deal?

[pcdisneyqueen]

I need some advice. My husband and I have never flown with any airlines any where. We are going to Disney in January for 8 days and I got a deal with Silver Airways from Pensacola FL to Orlando FL roundtrip for $110 per person without luggage fees. Is this a good deal or is this airlines garbage? Any flying tips accepted. We do not know anything. Do I need a passport?

 

[ChanaC]

I never flown Silver, but no, if you are flying domestic (in the US) you don't need a passport. HOWEVER, you did need a form of state or federal ID like a drivers license, but if you don't have that a passport can be a substitution. Something to know about Silver (from seeing the planes at the airport) is that they are very tiny planes. Of course they are just as safe as bigger planes, but they will be an interesting first flying experience.

Have you done the drive from Pensacola before? Looks like it's about 6 hours, but when you fly you need to drive to the airport, be there 2 hours before the plane leaves, fly over, wait for the plane to start departing (sometimes this can take a while), get from the gate to the main terminal, wait for your bags (if you are bringing them, this can also take a while), wait for your mode of transportation at the airport, then drive to your hotel. Looks like a flight from Pensacola is about 1hr 45 minutes long. You may think flying saves times, but at this distance driving might take about the same time, plus save you money. Just something to consider!

 

[Monykalyn]

Personally anything under 8 hours is drivable for us. As @ChanaC said flying short distances doesn’t really save time.
Haven’t flown Silver but have done lots of budget airlines (Frontier, Allegiant) and have good experiences with them. Be aware luggage and seat assignments cost extra, personal item allotment may be far stricter than bigger airlines, and checked and carry on luggage size and weights may be far less than larger airlines as well. I can make that work for me - have done 5 day Disney trip with only a personal item!, don’t care about seat- but most can’t. Fees add up.

 

[easyas123]

I have used Silver in the past, albeit technically a international flight, but still originating in Florida.
You couldn't pay me to fly on them - horrible customer service and your as likely to have your flight canceled or rescheduled as not - either going or coming back or both.
Just my personal experience, and that of a few clients who unfortunately choose to fly on them.
6 hours? I'd drive, you'll be there in no time. Or choose another airline.

 

[spiders]

I haven't flown on them myself but it's a non-stop flight. It's fly them or drive. There's no point in going to a hub just to get to Orlando. They're all props. Not a terribly long flight so I'd give it a shot but that's me.

 

[StageTek]

I flew Silver from Key West to Orlando a few years ago - I think it was 2015. It was a little 2 and 1 seater prop plane. No frills

Typical of budget airlines everything was an upcharge. But nothing bad stands out.

 

[JimMIA]

OMG...DRIVE!

If you fly, you will have to drive to the airport -- arriving 1 1/2 - 2 hours prior to flight time if you are checking luggage. (Staying for 8 days, you probably are checking luggage). So, right there you have 3 hours.

The flight should be about an hour -- 1 1/2 hours with taxi time on both ends. Another 2 hours.

You will need a rental car (another 1 hour), or you'll need to pick up your luggage and get to DME (30 minutes minimum).

So -- to get on your way to WDW, you have already spent 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 hours. And you're not there yet!

Just FYI, WDW is a 30+ minute drive from Orlando International Airport, and DME could take 1 1/2 hours...or more.

According to Google Maps, driving Pensacola to WDW is 6 1/2 hours and it's all expressway. I-10 East to I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike to a short stretch on I-4.

And -- if that's not enough -- if you drive, you have your own car available for offsite dining and shopping, which are better and less expensive.

 

[swellman]

I fly all the time, it’s no big deal. And it can save you oodles of time. But...

Drive. I repeat - drive.

Leave your home after breakfast, maybe stop for lunch to recharge and stretch your legs, then a leisure drive to your resort. All with no close quarters on a small plane in these strange COVID times. No delayed flights. No stress.

Even adding any tolls to the trip plus gas it’s likely cheaper than the admittedly low airfare you mention. I don’t know Silver Airways but as was said earlier the little airlines make their money on upselling. Luggage? $40 a bag. What, one bag weighs over 35 pounds? That’ll be an additional $25 heavy bag fee. Want a Coke? $5 please. (I’m guessing on the costs but I’m likely close.)

You get the idea. I’m considering driving to WDW this December and we live in New England!

Drive and you’ll likely be much happier!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

OMG...DRIVE!

If you fly, you will have to drive to the airport -- arriving 1 1/2 - 2 hours prior to flight time if you are checking luggage. (Staying for 8 days, you probably are checking luggage). So, right there you have 3 hours.

The flight should be about an hour -- 1 1/2 hours with taxi time on both ends. Another 2 hours.

You will need a rental car (another 1 hour), or you'll need to pick up your luggage and get to DME (30 minutes minimum).

So -- to get on your way to WDW, you have already spent 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 hours. And you're not there yet!

Just FYI, WDW is a 30+ minute drive from Orlando International Airport, and DME could take 1 1/2 hours...or more.

According to Google Maps, driving Pensacola to WDW is 6 1/2 hours and it's all expressway. I-10 East to I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike to a short stretch on I-4.

And -- if that's not enough -- if you drive, you have your own car available for offsite dining and shopping, which are better and less expensive.

Except you are tired after driving six hours.

 

[easyas123]

Tired from 6 hours of driving?

 

[_19disnA]

Given that you want to fly, I would make sure to read the reviews for this airline which sounds like it has dreadful customer service. As others mentioned, you need a photo ID or passport for any airline travel. If new to airline travel, be sure to read the TSA website on things you aren't allowed to travel with and always plan to arrive 2 hrs before your flight to have sufficient time to check your luggage and go through TSA screening, etc.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Airline_Review-d8728925-Reviews-Silver-Airways
With any small airline, you run the risk of getting stuck somewhere if they have mechanical problems and there aren't any other aircraft available. Larger airlines typically have many flights coming/going, so one airplane taken out of service for a mechanical problem is no big deal. Small, propeller driven aircraft are also more susceptible to turbulence. Most other airlines have moved away from propeller aircraft due to icing issues in bad weather, but that should be less of an issue in Florida.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

I wish I was 6 car hours from Disney...
Have you done it before it really is not that bad.

 

[JM23457]

You couldn't pay me to fly on a small plane on a budget airline. You'll have a better experience driving.

 

[sam_gordon]

OMG...DRIVE!

If you fly, you will have to drive to the airport -- arriving 1 1/2 - 2 hours prior to flight time if you are checking luggage. (Staying for 8 days, you probably are checking luggage). So, right there you have 3 hours.

The flight should be about an hour -- 1 1/2 hours with taxi time on both ends. Another 2 hours.

You will need a rental car (another 1 hour), or you'll need to pick up your luggage and get to DME (30 minutes minimum).

So -- to get on your way to WDW, you have already spent 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 hours. And you're not there yet!

Just FYI, WDW is a 30+ minute drive from Orlando International Airport, and DME could take 1 1/2 hours...or more.

According to Google Maps, driving Pensacola to WDW is 6 1/2 hours and it's all expressway. I-10 East to I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike to a short stretch on I-4.

And -- if that's not enough -- if you drive, you have your own car available for offsite dining and shopping, which are better and less expensive.

I think your times are a bit off.

OP, flying will probably take 5 1/2 -6 hours until you get to your resort. It makes NO sense to fly. You might save an hour (one way) by flying, so two hours round trip, but you're spending $280 ($110 * 2 + $60 in luggage fees). Of course if you want to rent a car, that's even more $$.

Mileage is ~900 RT, let's call it 1000. Assuming 25mpg, that's 40 gallons. At $2.50/gallon (we're paying under $2 here, not sure what the going rate in Fl is), that's $100.

So flying will cost you three times as much, and you might save two hours. Why do you want to fly?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Tired from 6 hours of driving?

Well, I would be a bit tired. YMMV.