South West or Jet Blue? BOS or MHT??

[RainbowsMist]

Hello!

First of all I was REALLY hoping to fly Jeb Blue or Airtran out of Portland, ME (we're from Nova Scotia) however Airtran has still not released their web special prices and Jet Blue's are high as well...so we're thinking either BOS with Jet Blue or Manchester with Southwest. I've never flown with either..but I have flown from Boston to MCO before (our last trip we flew with Delta from there).

Just wondering which is better..SW or JB and what's MHT like compared to BOS? OR if anyone has any idea when Airtran will release the Web Special prices that would be great too!

We're aiming for March 13 - 27 but are flexible within 3 days either side. I have a terrible fear of flying so it's non stop only for me I'm afraid which restricts me more.

Thanks!

 

[TheWog]

MHT is a great airport to fly out of. Pretty much right off the highway, easy parking and easy crowds. We can get there in about 15 minutes.

Having said that for our last several trips we have flown out of Logan (45 -60 mins) in order to fly JetBlue. It is worth it to us to have a car service bring us down as we really like flying JetBlue and have found competetive pricing for them vs. SW and the others. We like the nonstop flights as well and the tvs and extra leg room. We will be flying JB again for our next cruise.

 

[rdsx28]

We LOVE MHT. We used to fly out of Providence but this is a great airport, nice parking and right off the highway! I would NEVER fly out of Boston if I can avoid it!

 

[TiggerStac]

We love MHT!! I love Jet Blue for the tv's in the seats...btu I'd rather fly out of Manchester, so SW for us!

 

[AppleSister1]

MHT is a great airport. I fly in there a couple of times a month from NYC. SO MUCH BETTER than BOS!

 

[airhead]

JetBlue outa BOS. The TV is worth it! Watch a movie or a few judge judy episodes and you're in Orlando before you know it!

 

[buzz5985]

You may want to wait for AirTran prices. I'm flying out of Logan on AirTran in November, and their prices were a lot lower than SW out of MHT and JB out of Logan. Even paying the seat fees and baggage fees, AirTran was considerably cheaper by $70/seat round trip, compared to SW out of MHT and $130/seat round trip cheaper than JB out of Logan.

Janis

 

[TiggerStac]

You may want to wait for AirTran prices. I'm flying out of Logan on AirTran in November, and their prices were a lot lower than SW out of MHT and JB out of Logan. Even paying the seat fees and baggage fees, AirTran was considerably cheaper by $70/seat round trip, compared to SW out of MHT and $130/seat round trip cheaper than JB out of Logan.

Janis

I got SW for 74 each way out of MHT. Airtran was about same out of boston, but had the fees. I just had to keep watching prices.. you never know what you are going to find and when.

 

[PalVal]

MHT equals no lines for security, no hassle driving to airport, and cheaper parking fees.

Boston equals long, slow lines for security and huge hassle driving to airport.

 

[linzbear]

JetBlue is the better flight, MHT is the better airport

 

[buzz5985]

MHT is a nice airport - but I only live 20 minutes from Logan and can get a ride in, so no parking fees for me. I know all the back roads, so I never sit in traffic. It takes me about 45 minutes to get to MHT. I'm flying mid-day, so there should be no lines.

I thought $160 round trip out of Logan was pretty good, especially since I'm flying out on a Friday. I didn't mind spending the extra $12/ticket for seat assignments only because we are travelling with my DS 12 friend, so I wanted us to sit together, otherwise we don't care if we sit together. We are only going for 5 days, so will use all carry ons.

Janis

 

[mdinme]

South West or Jet Blue? BOS or MHT??


I'd hold off since you're flexible. You got two chances, really, to fly out of Portland. Air Tran and Jet Blue. One, or both will lower their price as we get closer to March... We've flown direct to MCO from Portland three times and each time we've watched the rates religiously. We would have saved even more had we booked less than two week out since both of them lowered.

Air Tran I think only flies one or two days a week, same with Blue? Anyhow follow them both and also follow MCO to PWM you should get an evern better price coming back. We've booked the return trip FIRST each time we've flown actually since we are pretty flexible on departure.

Of course, in Jan, we're flying our of MHT (LOL) but its because we're flying out on NYE mostly and we got a great rate (we're 70 minutes NE of MHT) but we are flying back into PWM.

MHT-MCO $560 (12/31) Southwest
MCO-PWM $460 (1/10) Air Tran

Four of us. Very Happy. Direct flights both ways; everyone else in family loves to fly, I hate it.

So, to some up (LOL again), sit tight, use PWM since it's closest and check both airlines and both directions regularly.

 

[RainbowsMist]

South West or Jet Blue? BOS or MHT??


I'd hold off since you're flexible. You got two chances, really, to fly out of Portland. Air Tran and Jet Blue. One, or both will lower their price as we get closer to March... We've flown direct to MCO from Portland three times and each time we've watched the rates religiously. We would have saved even more had we booked less than two week out since both of them lowered.

Air Tran I think only flies one or two days a week, same with Blue? Anyhow follow them both and also follow MCO to PWM you should get an evern better price coming back. We've booked the return trip FIRST each time we've flown actually since we are pretty flexible on departure.

Of course, in Jan, we're flying our of MHT (LOL) but its because we're flying out on NYE mostly and we got a great rate (we're 70 minutes NE of MHT) but we are flying back into PWM.

MHT-MCO $560 (12/31) Southwest
MCO-PWM $460 (1/10) Air Tran

Four of us. Very Happy. Direct flights both ways; everyone else in family loves to fly, I hate it.

So, to some up (LOL again), sit tight, use PWM since it's closest and check both airlines and both directions regularly.

My only concern holding out a little while for prices to drop out of PWM is the only 2 direct flights (Sat and Sun) are filling up fast. I checked Airtran's yesterday.

How much longer of a drive it is from PWM to MHT? Also, will Soutwest release their Web Saver prices right away when their new dates are released tomorrow or will they hold them back like Airtran is doing??

Thanks so much!

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Portland is about a 1 1/2 hr drive to MHT. Very easy drive.

 

[bluenosemickey]

We're also from N.S. and have only flown out of MHT with SW. I have watched the Jet blue prices and allegiant prices. Over the past couple of years I have found that SW offers the best prices for the times I want to fly.

I don't like the idea of paying to travel from Sanford airport when flying allegiant, but Bangor would be really convenient.

Portland would also be nice as would JB, but I haven't been able to find great prices for the non stop flights. The thought of connecting at JFK with three kids in tow just stresses me out! I figured the extra three hours in the car is better than that connection.

So, SW out of MHT always wins. Never really considered JB out of BOS. Figured it's an even longer drive, but we might have a look at the prices anyway.

But my husband really misses those TVs! So he would go for the longer drive to get them. I just don't know where exactly BOS is located and how easily it is accessed from the I95 or the 495?

We are also going for march break this year, so good luck!

 

[RainbowsMist]

We're also from N.S. and have only flown out of MHT with SW. I have watched the Jet blue prices and allegiant prices. Over the past couple of years I have found that SW offers the best prices for the times I want to fly.

I don't like the idea of paying to travel from Sanford airport when flying allegiant, but Bangor would be really convenient.

Portland would also be nice as would JB, but I haven't been able to find great prices for the non stop flights. The thought of connecting at JFK with three kids in tow just stresses me out! I figured the extra three hours in the car is better than that connection.

So, SW out of MHT always wins. Never really considered JB out of BOS. Figured it's an even longer drive, but we might have a look at the prices anyway.

But my husband really misses those TVs! So he would go for the longer drive to get them. I just don't know where exactly BOS is located and how easily it is accessed from the I95 or the 495?

We are also going for march break this year, so good luck!

We also have 3 children in tow...are you able to sit with them when flying with SW? I'm not familiar with their "open seating" policy.

TV's really have no interest or impact in my decision which airline to fly with. Our DD's all will be too interested in their gizmo's and elctronic gadgets and DH and I will have my laptop to watch a movie etc. Non stop is my first priority, then price...the closer to "home" the better.

Our last trip we drove to Boston and flew with Delta. We used the Park, Stay & Fly at the Comfort Inn Boston and used their airport shuttle. It was totally hassle free. Last time I didn't know about Portland and Manchester...they're a little closer to home

 

[clanmcculloch]

South West or Jet Blue? BOS or MHT??


I'd hold off since you're flexible. You got two chances, really, to fly out of Portland. Air Tran and Jet Blue. One, or both will lower their price as we get closer to March... We've flown direct to MCO from Portland three times and each time we've watched the rates religiously. We would have saved even more had we booked less than two week out since both of them lowered.

Air Tran I think only flies one or two days a week, same with Blue? Anyhow follow them both and also follow MCO to PWM you should get an evern better price coming back. We've booked the return trip FIRST each time we've flown actually since we are pretty flexible on departure.

Of course, in Jan, we're flying our of MHT (LOL) but its because we're flying out on NYE mostly and we got a great rate (we're 70 minutes NE of MHT) but we are flying back into PWM.

MHT-MCO $560 (12/31) Southwest
MCO-PWM $460 (1/10) Air Tran

Four of us. Very Happy. Direct flights both ways; everyone else in family loves to fly, I hate it.

So, to some up (LOL again), sit tight, use PWM since it's closest and check both airlines and both directions regularly.

For those who have somebody to drive them to one airport and then pick them up at another, this is definitely an option. OP is going to be driving to an airport and parking nearby (asking do be driven all the way from NS and across an international border and back again a week or so later would be REALLY pushing the bounds of friendship). She'll need to return to the same airport that she left because that's where her car will be.

I'd wait until a couple of weeks after all of the rates and schedules have been released. Until then you really don't know which will be your best option.

I live 15 minutes from MHT so we always fly SW. I've looked at Jet Blue but the times of their nonstop flights aren't nearly as good for us and both always seem to be about the same price so we just prefer SW. Now for a trip we're planning out to CA I can get nonstop with JB out of Logan but only connecting flights from MHT with SW so I'm definitely considering JB for that trip despite not liking to fly out of Logan. We'll end up doing a stay park and fly option if we fly JB.

 

[TheWog]

We're also from N.S. and have only flown out of MHT with SW. I have watched the Jet blue prices and allegiant prices. Over the past couple of years I have found that SW offers the best prices for the times I want to fly.

I don't like the idea of paying to travel from Sanford airport when flying allegiant, but Bangor would be really convenient.

Portland would also be nice as would JB, but I haven't been able to find great prices for the non stop flights. The thought of connecting at JFK with three kids in tow just stresses me out! I figured the extra three hours in the car is better than that connection.

So, SW out of MHT always wins. Never really considered JB out of BOS. Figured it's an even longer drive, but we might have a look at the prices anyway.

But my husband really misses those TVs! So he would go for the longer drive to get them. I just don't know where exactly BOS is located and how easily it is accessed from the I95 or the 495?

We are also going for march break this year, so good luck!

You are roughly the same distance from Portsmouth for both. Maybe a few more minutes to get to Logan vs. Manchester. You would go down 95/128 to 93 south and then get off in Boston to the airport. Depending on when you go down though you need to deal with Boston traffic. Saturday morning wouldn't be too bad. Weekday rush hour with a Red Sox/Celtics/Celtics game, different story.

 

[Hibernians]

here's a vote for MHT. We have flown out of both Logan and MHT. With Logan it was Song and Delta and with MHT its been SW.

MHT is just so much easier, no traffic, no lines at security; parking garage is right there adjacent to the terminal, lower parking rates too. Flying SW has been a breeze too; flights have been on time and not been canceled or pushed back 2- 3 hours like Delta has done to us more than once.

We missed the TV that Song used to have but the kids are just as happy with their nintendos, ipods, etc.