The Price is Wrong!!!!!

[Komplex]

Trying to book a package with airfare through a TA. The price quoted for round trip from the Baltimore/Washington area is 369 per person. I am trying to go in Apr 07. Is this the price I can expect to have to pay or is there likely to be cheaper alternatives as the year progresses. I can't imagine that BWI to MCO is going to cost me 1500 for a family of 4. Anyone else travel out of the MD/VA area and pay that much in Mar/Apr?

 

[dmk1021]

My guess is the rates are high because it's so far out.

Traditionally, to get the best fares, many travel sites recommend booking between 3-6 months out. IMO, from BWI to MCO should be a farely good fare.

I fly from Buffalo, NY to MCO 3-4 times per year and I never pay more than $200 round trip. Most of the time I get one way fares between $49-$79. You should definitely be able to get cheap fares from BWI. I recommend Southwest Airlines for the best fares (particularly from BWI).

 

[Kycha]

BWI is our airport of choice. We have never paid more than $150rt to MCO. As the PP stated, we usually book 3-6 months out. We have found that Airtran and Southwest have the best airfare. Good luck!

 

[tmt martins]

We just did a Sun to SUN SW flights and it was $240 Rt .But Dings were all around it just no Sundays . I would never book air through a TA as it's easier to make changes on your own .

Now if you don't have the time to keep checking then yes a TA will do that for you. I just like to control my own stuff.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

You just have to watch the sales. I've heard so many people complaining (not just here on DIS) about airfare everywhere right now...it's pretty crazy.

Thankfully I was able to take advantage of Jet Blue's fall sale before it ended last week - I've got round trip from Boston to MCO for $180, as opposed to the $260 it is now. But even that $260 sounds good compared to what some people are seeing.

Good luck!

NED

 

[AuroraBorealis]

That is around what we paid. However, we flew from Seattle to MCO! I would think BWI to MCO would be much less.

I don't use TAs anymore. I check prices online and then book directly with the airline. I've found this method to be the least expensive.

BTW-- your thread title made me think of Happy Gilmore when Adam Sandler punches out Bob Barker: "The price is wrong, Bob!"

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I live in Prince William County, VA and am flying out of Dulles with the cost of tickets @ $189 RT for next week. Everything that I have read on here and in Passporter suggests to get the best airfare price book yourself about 6 months prior to your departure date. The airlines won't allow you to book on-line prior to that anyway.

We are leaving next Friday and I started pricing last fall just to get a feel of what a good bargain would be. Then in January or February I saw a RT with Ted at $189 and booked it. The cost that I had seen was over $200 so I thought it was a good bargain. If your TA is honest and they are planning everything else then they should recommend watching for a while because you still have plenty of time.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

We just got $39 each way Dings on SWA for BWI to MCO for September.
Of course- your TA can't book SW this far in advance. Maybe you should just have her book without air and add it your self later.
$369 is very high. I usually pay $140 RT or less. And like I said we have $78 RT for our upcoming trip

 

[Captain_Hook]

We are flying out of BWI to MCO at the end of September. Our airfare is about $350, but that is for two of us. I basically stalked the Southwest website until they released our travel dates so I could buy the cheapest fares.

I have never personally used a travel agent, but it sounds like you could save a lot of money booking the airfare yourself.

 

[sharibrat]

Trying to book a package with airfare through a TA. The price quoted for round trip from the Baltimore/Washington area is 369 per person. I am trying to go in Apr 07. Is this the price I can expect to have to pay or is there likely to be cheaper alternatives as the year progresses. I can't imagine that BWI to MCO is going to cost me 1500 for a family of 4. Anyone else travel out of the MD/VA area and pay that much in Mar/Apr?

I just got a rate of $222 fro BWI to MCI

I'd keep watching and trying.........the airfare I got was through my AAA agent and she got the Disney airfare, which I did not know existed.

 

[skater]

Our airfare from BWI was about $100 round trip. We booked directly through Airtran and actually changed our dates a little bit to get the best fare. We try not to book until its $150 or less.

 

[Kycha]

We just got $39 each way Dings on SWA for BWI to MCO for September.
Of course- your TA can't book SW this far in advance. Maybe you should just have her book without air and add it your self later.
$369 is very high. I usually pay $140 RT or less. And like I said we have $78 RT for our upcoming trip

TTV, I have been waiting for a Ding like this. When did you get it? I haven't seen any dings from BWI to MCO for about a month. I guess I missed it. Right now I am paying $59 each way. But, would like to save even more money.

 

[firsttimemom]

There were $39 dings yesterday but for specific flights and only in September.

to the OP- as you can see, booking with airfare through a TA doesn't always get you a great deal. If you go this route be sure to check that you have a direct flight. SWA sells packages on their website that includes either a stop or a plane change. We have payed anywhere from $68 RT ($34 dings!) to $156 RT from BWI to MCO on SWA.


Hope this helps!

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

Are you trying to book flights close to school vacation times? If so, the prices will be out of sight! They more than double for those time frames...looks like we have two choices in our family...take dd out of school in order to get decent airfare, or not travel other than summertime. There is no way I can afford to travel during the school breaks other than summer vacations.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I would book the package without the air.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

TTV, I have been waiting for a Ding like this. When did you get it? I haven't seen any dings from BWI to MCO for about a month. I guess I missed it. Right now I am paying $59 each way. But, would like to save even more money.

Monday evening- we traded in tix and got the $39 fare- You could only buy tix up to Sept 30th I think.

 

[tabrizia]

Flying from BWI to MCO I would definately wait for SouthWest fares to come out. Even without dings out fares were 79$ one way up and back (we got a ding fare back for 59$ which I was pleased with as well) so for the two of us it ended up only being 140$ round trip per person or 280$ total. As long as you book when the fares just release you can normally get fairly low fares on Southwest and then swap those fares for a ding fare to make it even cheaper.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Some great ideas here, but most of you guys have a lot of flying options. My little airport has two carriers to Atlanta---Delta and USAir. What I wouldn't give for some of those Dings!!! Anyway, any suggestions on how to get a good discount for a February flight with little carrier options??

 

[PortieOwner]

I live in Prince William County, VA and am flying out of Dulles with the cost of tickets @ $189 RT for next week. Everything that I have read on here and in Passporter suggests to get the best airfare price book yourself about 6 months prior to your departure date. The airlines won't allow you to book on-line prior to that anyway.

We are leaving next Friday and I started pricing last fall just to get a feel of what a good bargain would be. Then in January or February I saw a RT with Ted at $189 and booked it. The cost that I had seen was over $200 so I thought it was a good bargain. If your TA is honest and they are planning everything else then they should recommend watching for a while because you still have plenty of time.

Southwest is going to start flying to Orlando from IAD in October. That may bring prices down (and make Dings available).

 

[PaulaSue]

Thanks to DIS I booked it for $800 for 5 people in JAN this year (online myself) the first day they released our dates. BWI-MCO

I bet you can do better than the price you listed.