Tips for Cheap Airfare from the Northeast

[captchris]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get good airfares from the northeast? It seems that the fares seem much higher than normal. I am pricing fares for my September cruise.

Do the fares drop once Southwest, Jet Blue, Air Tran, etc. list their fares? Could it be they are higher due to the bankruptcy for Delta and Northwest, or should they go down?

We are in Connecticut, and would consider traveling if the price is right.

Any ideas?

 

[hooksenemy]

we are in the Boston area, we felt lucky to get in on a Southwest deal (the day it opened up)

$120 (or right about there) roundtrip, Providence to MCO We have never flown Southwest and can't comment yet however we also noticed the Delta and Jet Blue fares were very high compared to past experience so we opted to wait out the Southwest announcements. This time it played in our favor but who knows for the future!

I have a strong opinion about paying more than $200 r/t for a flight to MCO in non peak times! I have never done it (12 years) and hope to never have to. If I do however I will probably consider the 24 hr. drive to be worth it!.

good luck

 

[stephmarty]

Airline fares can and do change daily. Some airlines will let refund you the difference if they go down after you've purchased. Southwest once did this, and may still but might charge a fee. I subscribe to the weekly newsletter for rate specials available from most airlines. I get the weekly email newsletter from Southwest and American, and I found a rate of $39 each way on Southwest that we were able to use last October. You take a risk watching and waiting for fares to drop, but they often do. The risk is that the flights you want could fill up or that the current "cheapest" rates will sell out.

 

[MrsG]

We usually go to Disney in July/Aug and last year we booked before Christmas for $165 NY to MCO. This year we are going in Aug and I started looking before Christmas again and it was $195 so I decided to wait a bit as I thought that was too much. Well, it went up to $215 and I regretted not purchasing. The second it went back to $195 I booked. That was right before Christmas and since then it has gone up to $255 and stayed there. I think high fuel costs have a lot to do with it as does the claim that air travel is back up past 9/11 levels. I don't think we'll be able to get bargain fairs this year.

 

[captchris]

I just downloaded Southwest's Ding. I am halfway between Hartford and Providence so either airport would be fine.

I have never flown Southwest, but they seem to get good reviews, and are one of the few airlines that are financially stable.

 

[jerseyjanie]

When I was looking for airfares io Orlando for April I was shocked at the prices from the Northeast. After many days of comparing prices for various airlines, I realized some of the other airports are less expensive. We ended up booking flights into Tampa (rather than Orlando) and since we were going to rent a car anyway, we'll drive from Tampa to Orlando, spend the night in Orlando and drive to Port Canaveral the next day. This will break up the drive a little bit and at the same time give us a night in Orlando. So, my suggestion would be to try other airports in the area.

 

[Mharring33]

My family flies Southwest whenever possible. You can get pretty good rates with many nonstop options and we have always been pleased with the service.

This is what we did to get the best rate for our Disney Cruise in April.

First, my husband became a Rapid Rewards member and earn points toward free tickets. Next, check the Southwest flights on a daily basis, multiple times a day. I literally checked the website each morning at 5am from mid-October until they finally opened up flights when we needed them in December.

 

[kritter]

I just downloaded Southwest's Ding. I am halfway between Hartford and Providence so either airport would be fine.

I have never flown Southwest, but they seem to get good reviews, and are one of the few airlines that are financially stable.

hey where are you in CT??? I am there tooo....

 

[captchris]

We are in Norwich.

 

[crzy4magic]

Apparently the airlines have gotten the message about higher fuel prices - we have pretty much seen a 30%+ increase when trying to make reservations versus last year between BOS/Manchester/Provicence and Orlando. Interestingly, JetBlue out of Logan has been lower than Southwest on the dates that we have been investigating. If you can arrainge to fly on Mon PM, Tues, Wed or Thurs you will get a much bigger savings - my wife did that for a trip this weekend to visit her Dad near Orlando - Wed down, Monday back for 1/3 of what it would have cost leaving Sat back the next Sat or Sunday.

 

[captchris]

Apparently the airlines have gotten the message about higher fuel prices - we have pretty much seen a 30%+ increase when trying to make reservations versus last year between BOS/Manchester/Provicence and Orlando. Interestingly, JetBlue out of Logan has been lower than Southwest on the dates that we have been investigating. If you can arrainge to fly on Mon PM, Tues, Wed or Thurs you will get a much bigger savings - my wife did that for a trip this weekend to visit her Dad near Orlando - Wed down, Monday back for 1/3 of what it would have cost leaving Sat back the next Sat or Sunday.

I have been checking Jet Blue's Website every few days for the past few months. They are currently only booking through September 6th. We would need to fly down September 8th and return on the 16th.

 

[Jeanne B]

I got $105 r/t from MHT to MCO with Southwest. I bought the tickets last month for our trip in late April/early May - they were $135 but then I got a DING fare last week which brought them down to $105 so I have a credit with SW now for the difference (not sure if we'll be able to use the credit though before it expires ).

 

[tvguy]

My family flies Southwest whenever possible. You can get pretty good rates with many nonstop options and we have always been pleased with the service.

This is what we did to get the best rate for our Disney Cruise in April.

First, my husband became a Rapid Rewards member and earn points toward free tickets. Next, check the Southwest flights on a daily basis, multiple times a day. I literally checked the website each morning at 5am from mid-October until they finally opened up flights when we needed them in December.

If you want to save money you really have to keep at it almost daily. Fuel prices however have made it tougher. I made the mistake of booking a Southwest flight assuming it would be the cheapest. It was a last minute flight, and it was $200 per person more expensive RT than America West. Southwest seems to have great prices if you can book in advance.

 

[goofysgirl]

Captchris

We fly out of Bradley three times a year. Always on Southwest, I paid $98.00 RT two weeks ago. We usually go in July sometime and I usually pay $160 RT, but always consult Ding, as I have gotten credits for the past two years in a row, since they drop the rate to $98 RT for a a few days here and there.
We will be going on the Masgic the week after you so please take care of her for us.
We paid $98 RT out of Hartford last September. I booked the airfare at $160 RTwhen it came out and then once again ended up with a credit when they dropped it to $98.
My advise with Southwest...be oatient. Sometimes they will even show the plane with nothing available, and then they come out with the really low rates. Ding is great it lets you know immediately when something happens, since I am on my computer all day at work I find the bargins right away!!
Good luck and happy crusing. We are in Wallingford

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

I had been watching the fares for our May trip for a while. I also don't like to pay more than $200 RT from either Newark or Philadelphia. I was about to book on Jet Blue for $175 RT and found out about DING on Southwest. I was able to book for $97 RT. I have flown Southwest before and don't really like the open seating plan, but my DS's are older and we can split up if we have to, although if I had smaller children I would probably book with an airline I can confirm specific seats.

 

[sweeks82]

I live in central Jersey and I sometimes fly Spirit Air out of Atlantic City. They sometimes have great rates.

 

[captchris]

Captchris

We fly out of Bradley three times a year. Always on Southwest, I paid $98.00 RT two weeks ago. We usually go in July sometime and I usually pay $160 RT, but always consult Ding, as I have gotten credits for the past two years in a row, since they drop the rate to $98 RT for a a few days here and there.
We will be going on the Masgic the week after you so please take care of her for us.
We paid $98 RT out of Hartford last September. I booked the airfare at $160 RTwhen it came out and then once again ended up with a credit when they dropped it to $98.
My advise with Southwest...be oatient. Sometimes they will even show the plane with nothing available, and then they come out with the really low rates. Ding is great it lets you know immediately when something happens, since I am on my computer all day at work I find the bargins right away!!
Good luck and happy crusing. We are in Wallingford

I have Ding set up for Providence since it is closer. Does Bradley have better fares usually or are they the same? I am going to have to download Ding onto my work PC.

If we can book it for $98, that would be great. That would make flying cheaper than driving! For our first cruise DW and i flew because it was only the two of us. This time we are taking the kids, so it is 2 more tickets to buy.

 

[kritter]

Alright stupid question here what is DINg?? I feel like I am missing something here...how do I use it etc..??????

 

[STEVEMED]

I fly out of Providence on Southwest all the time and always get great rates.You just have to keep watching.I am paying 59 dollars(each way)for our april 29th cruise.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

DING is a program that SOuthwest has for special rates. YOu have to download it to your computer. Sometimes they have specials twice a day, sometimes only once. They give you several hours to book your flights.