Southwest and direct flights

[DonaldnDaisy5]

Currently looking/researching flights from Detroit or Flint to Orlando. Ok I am amusing myself until 2015 prices are released from Disney.

I know our flights won't be available until late fall for summer, however one person in our party MUST have direct flights. Does anyone know if SW offers those from Detroit?

Because we are a group over 10 if we buy together we get a discount on SW and because I am an overpacker, I like SW two bags free...

I know Flint offers some but they seem few and far between so I am guessing we book ASAP at a wanna get away price and just keep watching....

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......

I know our flights won't be available until late fall for summer, however one person in our party MUST have direct flights. Does anyone know if SW offers those from Detroit?

....

Why do they need a direct flight? A direct flight has at least one stop. I think you mean a nonstop flight. Southwest does not appear to offer nonstop flights from Detroit.

 

[DonaldnDaisy5]

Shoot that's what I mean...nonstop. Sheesh!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you want a nonstop, your options are limited. They are offered by Delta.

 

[DebbieB]

Southwest has a hard time competing in other airline's hubs, business travelers favor the legacy airlines. Detroit is a Delta hub.

 

[epsmith921]

When southwest took over the flint air tran position it seems the direct (nonstop) flights to orlando from DTW disappeared. The flights out of flint seem to be the only ones available on southwest. Those seem to be only I think around 2 outbounds and two inbounds per day.

Flint is lovely to fly out of though so if any of those times will work, I would recommend them.

Other carriers such as delta do have nonstop flights to orlando out of DTW, but for me the price and convenience out of flint were awesome. (I'm kind of smack in the middle of the two in terms of distance to the airports.

 

[DonaldnDaisy5]

We are smack in the middle too and with the free bags I am thinking we make those times book...but I am guessing I am correct in thinking we book as soon as they are up for our dates.

 

[FiggyFan]

SouthWest does offer a nonstop from Flint to Orlando everyday of the week.

The only question is " What time of day is it flying?" Right now , it leaves FNT at about 7am, getting into MCO about 9:30. When we traveled in May, it left at noon, arriving at 3:30. According to their web site, they're switching back to afternoon nonstops beginning in Dec.

That being as it is, you will love flying out of Flint. Two minutes from I-75, long term parking right across the street from the terminal. 10 - 15 min walk from check-in to gate ( including TSA mess - new security check area, goes really fast).

 

[greenclan67]

Currently looking/researching flights from Detroit or Flint to Orlando. Ok I am amusing myself until 2015 prices are released from Disney.

I know our flights won't be available until late fall for summer, however one person in our party MUST have direct flights. Does anyone know if SW offers those from Detroit?

Because we are a group over 10 if we buy together we get a discount on SW and because I am an overpacker, I like SW two bags free...

I know Flint offers some but they seem few and far between so I am guessing we book ASAP at a wanna get away price and just keep watching....

We love flying from Flint as well. Just curious in your above about over 10 people. What kind of discount do you get? I have a group of 18 going in March. Just curious.

 

[Fire14]

SWA offers a nonstop flight from Grand Rapids to MCO also but in my case it didn't work for timing.

 

[hildai]

SouthWest does offer a nonstop from Flint to Orlando everyday of the week.

The only question is " What time of day is it flying?" Right now , it leaves FNT at about 7am, getting into MCO about 9:30. When we traveled in May, it left at noon, arriving at 3:30. According to their web site, they're switching back to afternoon nonstops beginning in Dec.

That being as it is, you will love flying out of Flint. Two minutes from I-75, long term parking right across the street from the terminal. 10 - 15 min walk from check-in to gate ( including TSA mess - new security check area, goes really fast).

FiggyFan ~ I was wondering where on the SW website you read that they're switching over their nonstop flights back to the afternoon times?? We flew the 12:15ish flight this past April and it was perfect!!! I was hoping for a similar flight time again for next April, but when the latest fares came out, they're showing 6:00 a.m. times through March 5th!!! I'm worried

We might have to fly from DTW and choose a flight with one stop ~ something we've never done flying to MCO!

 

[FiggyFan]

Starting Nov 1, SWA flights out of Flint leave at approx 12:45pm EXCEPT for Saturdays which are at 6:30am thru Jan 4th. Then they are back to early morning flights.

 

[hildai]

Starting Nov 1, SWA flights out of Flint leave at approx 12:45pm EXCEPT for Saturdays which are at 6:30am thru Jan 4th. Then they are back to early morning flights.

I just played around with our dates and tried some flight times in Dec and you're right . . . they do move to the afternoon! Not sure if we'll be able to use Flint for next year's cruise because our return flight home needs to be after 11:30 a.m. and SW is not giving me too many options

We might need to bite the bullet fly out of DTW! Thanks for responding!

 

[DonaldnDaisy5]

I was playing around yesterday and flights in late February and early March (first week) and the flights were early morning departing Flint but evening returning from Orlando.

 

[hildai]

I was playing around yesterday and flights in late February and early March (first week) and the flights were early morning departing Flint but evening returning from Orlando.

Yes DonaldnDaisy, those were the flight times I've been looking at! We have an hour drive to get to the airport so a 6:00 a.m. departure is pretty tough and the only return NS flight leaves at 7:40 p.m. This would mean we would sit around at MCO for 8 hrs before departing and arrive at Flint around 10:30 p.m. plus our one hr drive home! Definitely NOT how I'd like to end our vacation

 

[FiggyFan]

Yes DonaldnDaisy, those were the flight times I've been looking at! We have an hour drive to get to the airport so a 6:00 a.m. departure is pretty tough and the only return NS flight leaves at 7:40 p.m. This would mean we would sit around at MCO for 8 hrs before departing and arrive at Flint around 10:30 p.m. plus our one hr drive home! Definitely NOT how I'd like to end our vacation

Why would you feel that you would have to sit around at the airport for 8 hrs ??
Are you staying on-site using DME, or off-site ? Flint's early departure/late arrivial can give you 2 extra days at WDW.

 

[hildai]

Why would you feel that you would have to sit around at the airport for 8 hrs ??
Are you staying on-site using DME, or off-site ? Flint's early departure/late arrivial can give you 2 extra days at WDW.

If we were staying at WDW or visiting the parks I would LOVE this departure time, but we'll be coming off our cruise on the Dream this vacation. By the time we dismemabark and arrive at MCO, it'll be around 10:00 a.m. What can we do at MCO with no rental car and 11 suitcases (we're a large group of 11 people traveling)???

 

[DonaldnDaisy5]

Ugh!!! I don't think id like to sit around either. We have about a 45 minute ride to either airport. But looking like flint is our best option for not paying bag fees and nonstop flights.