Sold Out?

[vicky33006]

Thanks everyone! I'm considering applying for a SW card. I do have the Disney Visa but generally only use it to book trips so I can access discounts earlier.

I'm really re-thinking the April vacation week now. Our original plan had been late June. Again I couldn't book the flights until February but that would give us more time and I would also be able to be much more flexible with travel dates to try and catch better rates. It's still a tough decision but even though the June trip will be HOT, we would also be able to stay an extra night or two over the April week.

 

[aribelle]

You actually have some time...just occurred to me to go check Southwest's release dates.

They are only booking through April 6 right now.....on October 27 they will release dates through June 5....so it will likely be December or early January before you can book anything past June 5.

The best rates are likely to be the week they release your dates....so that would be early January. Maybe you can step up the savings to have the money to do it in early January.

Or...go ahead and pay for it with the credit card and depending on when your billing date is, it could actually be November before it is due! I've been known to hold off a purchase that is really close to the billing date, and the minute that cycle closes, I make the purchase and have at least 28 days before it's due, lol.

It's all about timing! June is definitely warmer......early June you'll run into DHS hosting Star Wars Weekends...and with the new SW movie due out December 2015, the debate is whether 2015 before the movie or 2016 after the movie will be the record breaking SWW. The good news though is that the other parks are basically pretty normal summer time crowds. Early in June you can make it probably the better though. We were there this year from mid-May until June 9.....and you could feel the crowds ticking up that first week in June.

 

[leebee]

Maine public schools have the same April vacation as Massachusetts. I can't touch the fares out of Portland during that time period, but are you in a location where you could fly from Manchester, Hartford, or Providence? Sometimes they are significantly cheaper than out of Boston.

Wait for SW to have a promotion and get the credit card for the 50,000 rapid rewards points. We have done this several times, as they offer both a 'regular' and a 'premier' card; DH and I have had both cards and have stockpiles rapid rewards points. I can't remember the last time we paid actual cash for airfare! It's pretty straightforward: The cards will have an annual fee (usually $49-$89, it seems, depending on the card level) that is charged in the first billing cycle. I believe the last offer required you to spend $2000 in the first 3 months, but that's not too hard to do- if nothing else, charge some gift cards at your grocery store, for you to use, to help you get to the $2000. The rapid rewards points are posted to your SW RR account, NOT to the credit card, so it's possible to close the credit card as soon as you hit the $2000 point; your RR points will still be in your SW account even if the credit card is closed.

DD20, DH, and I are going to WDW for Columbus Day weekend, with a few additional days tacked on. I got our tickets on the day the booking window opened, and it's going to be about 16000 points each for roundtrip airfare. It's actually cost me $69 annual fee and I think $60 in fees (9-11 fee or something is $5 per leg). For $129, I have three round trip tickets to Disney World! Can't beat that- and we each get 2 free suitcases!!

 

[laughinplace199]

I'd wait until SW releases their April fares. If there's anything decent, book it as the weather in April is great and the crowds aren't too bad.

If the fares are too high, then switch to a late June trip.

 

[Michael623]

How about Disneyland? We went to DL Feb and Apr vacations last year and it was way cheaper than flights to MCO. We're booked for WDW for Feb vacation this year and I almost choked when I saw the airfare.

 

[vatali]

Also, look on flying on unstandardized days.

Monday morning, Thursday evening and Friday morning are business travelers, and fares are higher. Friday evening, and Saturday morning are causal flyers and are more expensive.

Tues, Wed and sometimes Thursday morning, along with some Sundays are generally cheaper, as there is less demand for flights.

Also, flights are generally cheaper in the 6 days before the 2 week window, when the remaining "unrestricted" restricted fares are released. these are the ones that say book more than 14 days, with no limit to the days. these are generally considered the deep discount fares. they are released and bought up quickly at the maximum days out, and when the airline cant sell the higher fares 3 weeks out, they deep discount them for 5-7 days, then inside the 2 weeks they will be back to being expensive.

there is a science to buying airfare, and the formula isn't consistent, because in a scenario where the flight is on a Monday morning, and its sold out to business fliers, that 2 1/2 week rule wouldn't come into play. This also depends on flight load.

So here is my advice for "best bet"

1) fly on a tues or wed
2) check fares when released and see if its a fare you are ok with
3) wait until half of the mark of maximum (if the airline only sells flights out 6 months, look at the 3 month date) and check the fares and open seats. If the plane is more than 3/4 sold 3 months out, you likely are not getting cheaper fares
4) wait until 3 weeks out and check fares and open seats
5) never buy inside the 2 week window
6) buy at times popular fliers wont fly. 5:30 AM flights, 10:30AM-2:30 PM flights
7) check alternate airports in the area, but adjust costs for the distance on other things you may have to purchase (rental car, hotel, cab, etc)
8) never pick the last flight of the day, or the only flight to that airport. this leads to you having to have no issues with not only your flight, but the flight that puts the plane at your airport.

From someone who flies 120 flights a year, I don't care about paying the extra for business flights, but this is the strategy I use to get upgrades, which is similar to watching price markers.

 

[Disneyluv111]

How about Disneyland? We went to DL Feb and Apr vacations last year and it was way cheaper than flights to MCO. We're booked for WDW for Feb vacation this year and I almost choked when I saw the airfare.

I'm with you! We paid 334 roundtrip per person.

 

[Disneyluv111]

Also, look on flying on unstandardized days.

Monday morning, Thursday evening and Friday morning are business travelers, and fares are higher. Friday evening, and Saturday morning are causal flyers and are more expensive.

Tues, Wed and sometimes Thursday morning, along with some Sundays are generally cheaper, as there is less demand for flights.

Also, flights are generally cheaper in the 6 days before the 2 week window, when the remaining "unrestricted" restricted fares are released. these are the ones that say book more than 14 days, with no limit to the days. these are generally considered the deep discount fares. they are released and bought up quickly at the maximum days out, and when the airline cant sell the higher fares 3 weeks out, they deep discount them for 5-7 days, then inside the 2 weeks they will be back to being expensive.

there is a science to buying airfare, and the formula isn't consistent, because in a scenario where the flight is on a Monday morning, and its sold out to business fliers, that 2 1/2 week rule wouldn't come into play. This also depends on flight load.

So here is my advice for "best bet"

1) fly on a tues or wed
2) check fares when released and see if its a fare you are ok with
3) wait until half of the mark of maximum (if the airline only sells flights out 6 months, look at the 3 month date) and check the fares and open seats. If the plane is more than 3/4 sold 3 months out, you likely are not getting cheaper fares
4) wait until 3 weeks out and check fares and open seats
5) never buy inside the 2 week window
6) buy at times popular fliers wont fly. 5:30 AM flights, 10:30AM-2:30 PM flights
7) check alternate airports in the area, but adjust costs for the distance on other things you may have to purchase (rental car, hotel, cab, etc)
8) never pick the last flight of the day, or the only flight to that airport. this leads to you having to have no issues with not only your flight, but the flight that puts the plane at your airport.

From someone who flies 120 flights a year, I don't care about paying the extra for business flights, but this is the strategy I use to get upgrades, which is similar to watching price markers.

These are the tips I have used to find my flight as well! It works great. I've also checked for flights 3 months out and 7 months out and 10 months out, seems to all be similar priced for me. I live on the West Coast, not sure if that is why!