Thanksgiving week airfare

[SheriB]

Is it REALLY expensive to fly say from PHL to MCO Sunday before Thanksgiving and return Saturday after? We are thinking of spending Thanksgiving in Disney in 2005. We just decided this in the last couple of weeks. There would be 13 of us all together. The only ones that the cost might be a factor for are myself, DH, DD and DS. Cost isn't usually a factor for anyone else in my family. I'm always the budget-conscious one. Usually when we fly, airfare is around $200, give or take $20. Is it significantly more expensive this time of year, since it is the most travelled time? If I know ahead of time and can shop around, are there any bargains for that time of year at all? Thanks for any input.

Sheri

 

[CarolA]

Those dates should not be too bad. The Wed and Sunday of that week are the worst.

I would start watching airfares this winter and book when you see what you like. If you fly SW book the DAY they release those dates.

 

[Jestocost]

I haven't noticed that airfares are dramatically higher for Thanksgiving week, although the lower fares do tend to book up fast so it's in your best interest to purchase your tickets as early as possible. The one problem with your proposed itinerary from a cost perspective is that you don't have a Saturday night stay, which frequently is a requirement for the lowest cost fares. You might do significantly better on fares if you travel Saturday to Friday or Monday to Sunday; anything that includes a Saturday night stay might help.

As far as Southwest goes, there's great news that could really help you cost wise. They've never flown out of Philadelphia before, but are expected to add flights to approximately 14 destinations from there as early as May 2004. Orlando is in their network, so you likely will see lower fares from all carriers to Orlando from Philadelphia staring next May.

 

[SheriB]

Thanks for the replies. I'll shop early and take the Saturday stay into consideration (I didn't reallize that this could affect airfare-hotels, maybe, but not airfare). Thanks again!

Sheri

 

[Jestocost]

Good luck! For a November 2005 trip you probably have another year (18 months for SW) until you can even look at fares, but the more you can be prepared to jump on them ASAP the better.

 

[seashoreCM]

On average the late day return flights on Saturday after Thanksgiving sell out of the low fares before the early morning return flights on Sunday do.

There might not be 13 seats at the lowest fare on the same plane even if you are lucky enough to book first, which could be the afternoon of the 332'nd day in advance.

You might not have to pay really high fares, but even 320 days in advance the round trip fare might be twice the lowest fare for the previous week in November or the week after Thanksgiving.

If there is an equipment change or a profound schedule change, a small number of deep discount seats may re-appear. Song/Delta Express had two and aparently three offerings of cheap seats out of Boston for Thanksgiving weekend 2003, first was 331 days out, second was in mid January when they switched from Boeing 737 to Boeing 757 planes, third when the name changed from Delta Express to Song.

Although I observed that, if the airline had a 15% fare reduction, the remaining seats on Thanksgiving weekend also went down 15%, I never observed more deep discount seats for the really popular dates except as I described.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disbud.htm

Based on more than cursory although less than thorough spot checks of Delta Express / Song and also a few US Air and American fares for Thanksgiving weekends 2001, 2002, and 2003.

 

[SheriB]

Well, I suppose we don't have to go during Thanksgiving. Since we live in NJ, our kids have a lot of days off from school in November. There is one other week, I think 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, where the kids have 3 days off (parent/teacher conferences). I was thinking about prices, but didn't really consider availability for 13 people on a plane. I could either try to get us all on the same flight, or tell each family that they're responsible for their own flight, and we'll all meet at Disney.
This trip is 2 years away, and I'm already stressing. It's not even a definite yet, just an idea we're tossing around. I wonder how other people handle large group trips.
Thanks, seashoreCM for your expert info.

Sheri

 

[safetymom]

If you are trying to get tickets for 13 people on the same plane I suggest you try calling the group ticket desk at the airline you want to fly. Usually groups over 10 can get special pricing. It may not be as good as a good fare sale but worth checking into.

 

[SheriB]

Thanks, safetymom. I think it might be better for us all to get on the same flight, if possible. My mom would have a coronary worrying about her kids and grandkids on different flights arriving at different times, especially since we all live relatively close to one another, and would be using the same airport, etc. So, I'll ask for group ticket sales. I'm learning so much. I think the ball will be basically dropped in my lap, since I'm the oldest child, and it was sort of my idea to do this (I must be nuts ). But I do know these things take time to plan, so the more information I have, the better. This board and it's people have such a wealth of information. I truly appreciate everyone's input.

Sheri