Tips? Hints? Help us fly to San Diego!

[DisneyMissy318]

I have not purchased airfare in years!! I see threads here all the time about finding sales on airfare.

The plan is to fly SouthWest out of Dulles mid-July to San Diego... taking my DD to ComicCon - as well as a little side trip to Disneyland!! I'm calling this her 8th Grade Graduation present - but its really because we want to go to California!

As far as airfare goes - how far in advance would you book? How do you find out about the "sales"? What is a "good" fare from East Coast to West RT? I have Zero experience with this and need a crash course!

Any tips or hints - or any advice about what to do, where to stay (where not to stay) - if you have a room for rent - any of the above??

I read about the San Diego City Pass and it sounds like a great deal - anyone used that before?

Thanks for ANY info! Very excited about this Mom/Daughter trip (and Disneyland!!)

 

[bearloch]

its been years but I used to fly into lax it was cheaper! DL is closer to la anyway! good luck

 

[Astro Orbiter]

You may already know this, but tickets for Comic Con always sell out, so preregister so you know when they go on sale. What I didn't realize is that kids 12 and under get in free...maybe I'll send DH and DD this summer!

 

[DISdreamin']

If it were me, I'd check all the SoCal airports (also check rental car fees - you might find airfare cheaper at one, but the rental cars might be so much higher it negates any savings there). If you have the flexibility of leaving from different airports I'd check that too.

I love kayak.com for checking fares - it allows you to do a lot of variations at one time. If I find a tempting fare, I generally go directly to the airline web site and book there (don't know if there is any advantage to doing so, I just feel more comfortable that way). I book as far out as I can, although in the recent past I don't find that booking way far out has been all that advantageous. I just like knowing the trip is set and I can make my plans.

Good luck - it sounds like a wonderful trip!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

You may already know this, but tickets for Comic Con always sell out, so preregister so you know when they go on sale. What I didn't realize is that kids 12 and under get in free...maybe I'll send DH and DD this summer!

THANK YOU! I did not know that it sells out! Good info to have! Off to pre-register now.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

If it were me, I'd check all the SoCal airports (also check rental car fees - you might find airfare cheaper at one, but the rental cars might be so much higher it negates any savings there). If you have the flexibility of leaving from different airports I'd check that too.

I love kayak.com for checking fares - it allows you to do a lot of variations at one time. If I find a tempting fare, I generally go directly to the airline web site and book there (don't know if there is any advantage to doing so, I just feel more comfortable that way). I book as far out as I can, although in the recent past I don't find that booking way far out has been all that advantageous. I just like knowing the trip is set and I can make my plans.

Good luck - it sounds like a wonderful trip!

Great info! Never used kayak - but will check it out! Thanks!

 

[jjb52]

Book your hotel NOW. My daughter lives in San Deigo-it is crazy busy during this event-she will not go anywhere downtown. I would book a hotel within walking distance of the venue-crazy-crazy-crazy busy and I doubt you will find any hotel deals. If I were you I would fly a multi-city ticket. Fly from your home airport to San Diego-do convention and then take the train north to Anaheim-get off at the stadium stop-where Anaheim Angels play (takes 2 hours-about $20 one way) after the convention, cab to DL-$10-15 and then fly home from either LAX or John Wayne (SNA) airport. I take the Super Shuttle from my DL hotel back to airport. I have combine DL and a visit to my daughter in San Diego many times and the train is the way to go plus it is another adventure. Sit on the left side of the train on the way up to Anaheim to see the beach towns and ocean from your window. You can book the tickets online on Amtrak.com. The depot is right downtown. If you have extra time in San Diego I would also recommend the trolley tour-very fun and you can get off and on at sights you want to see or do the Ducks tour which combines a trip on the bay as well. Have fun and wear good shoes for walking and waiting in convention lines.

 

[bumbershoot]

THANK YOU! I did not know that it sells out! Good info to have! Off to pre-register now.

And the day they go on sale, be prepared that you might not get the tickets. My brother, who is extremely web-savvy, had a VERY difficult time buying tickets. For whatever reason, their software just doesn't seem to be aware that it's a hugely popular event.


Also, know that even once you're there, you won't be able to do everything. Brother and his wife have been there the last two, maybe three, years, and they pretty much pick two things they want to do each day, and then stand in line for AGES in order to do those things. If they managed to get anything else done, they consider it to be a bonus.

There are people who will go into a conference room in the morning and stay there to see someone in the afternoon. Of course they've gotten to see the other things in the room, but that isn't *why* they are there. And if you have to leave for the bathroom, you'll be welcomed to the BACK of the line to get back in...they really don't care that you just left for the bathroom.

They have seen some fun things and love to go, but it's not an *easy* event to be at, even if you do get tickets.

 

[AuntTonia]

Somethings about Southwest:

Sw flights usually don't come up on sites like expedia, you have to go to Southwest website to book flights.

Sign up for SW click 'N save offers, and Ding. Sometimes the price in the e-mail is cheaper then on the site.

When you look for flights they offer a low fare finder so if your flexible with your dates you maybe able to get a cheaper flight.

Prices change all the time. Keep checking.
Figure out what a great fare is for your dates if you see it book it.

Get a SW credit card for points.

Look around their site you can find some good info.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Book your hotel NOW. My daughter lives in San Deigo-it is crazy busy during this event-she will not go anywhere downtown. I would book a hotel within walking distance of the venue-crazy-crazy-crazy busy and I doubt you will find any hotel deals. If I were you I would fly a multi-city ticket. Fly from your home airport to San Diego-do convention and then take the train north to Anaheim-get off at the stadium stop-where Anaheim Angels play (takes 2 hours-about $20 one way) after the convention, cab to DL-$10-15 and then fly home from either LAX or John Wayne (SNA) airport. I take the Super Shuttle from my DL hotel back to airport. I have combine DL and a visit to my daughter in San Diego many times and the train is the way to go plus it is another adventure. Sit on the left side of the train on the way up to Anaheim to see the beach towns and ocean from your window. You can book the tickets online on Amtrak.com. The depot is right downtown. If you have extra time in San Diego I would also recommend the trolley tour-very fun and you can get off and on at sights you want to see or do the Ducks tour which combines a trip on the bay as well. Have fun and wear good shoes for walking and waiting in convention lines.

Thank you! Awesome information! I really like the train idea - something we have not done for a lengthy trip! Like you said - another adventure! The multi-city ticket is also a good idea... we are in the baby stages of planning - but your info has been VERY helpful!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Wow! The things I didn't know about Comic Con could fill a book! We have been to some east coast "cons" - I would have not been at all prepared without your help! Thanks everyone for posting... I will cross my fingers that we are able to get tickets (as well as following their FB and Twitter pages to get just in time info!)

 

[pixiewings71]

I have nothing much to add, except to suggest that when it's time to plan your DL part of the trip you drop into the DL section of the board, it's a bit farther down on the main page but we love seeing new people and we have tons of awesome ideas and info!! Most of all enjoy your visit to So Cal!

 

[PlutoPony]

Southwest may not be your best option for flying cross country out of Dulles. There are several other airlines that will likely have better fares as well as non-stop flights (you will have to make a connection on SW). United has multiple non-stops between San Diego and Dulles and they are often cheaper than SW in my experience. Also check American and Virgin America

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Southwest may not be your best option for flying cross country out of Dulles. There are several other airlines that will likely have better fares as well as non-stop flights (you will have to make a connection on SW). United has multiple non-stops between San Diego and Dulles and they are often cheaper than SW in my experience. Also check American and Virgin America

I can't thank you guys enough - you have provided some awesome information! The info about SW is spot on - their fares are running higher than what I can find on other majors - using Kayak is awesome to get an idea of what's offered. I feel like I'm on the Amazing Race and trying to get the best fare! Thanks again... I'm having a ball getting started with the planning!

 

[carebee21]

And the day they go on sale, be prepared that you might not get the tickets. My brother, who is extremely web-savvy, had a VERY difficult time buying tickets. For whatever reason, their software just doesn't seem to be aware that it's a hugely popular event.
They have seen some fun things and love to go, but it's not an *easy* event to be at, even if you do get tickets.

That's because they presale alot of the tickets. They already sold about half of 2012's event tickets at 2011's comic con. And they sold out within hours. Then they take applications for vendors. Each vendor gets 2 admission tickets, but then can purchase a certain amount of extra tickets. Then they open up regular booking. And then when it gets closer to the start of the event, maybe within a month or so, they sell a few more single day tickets. Those are sold after all vendors are confirmed, set up is confirmed, events are confirmed and the fire marshall has approved x amount of people.

To the OP: I would book something in Hotel Circle. From there, you can walk to the mall and hope on the trolley, which takes you straight to the convention center. It's a mess to drive down there and expensive to park. I would book your hotel now, but make sure you can cancel it. I would not book airfare until you have comic con tickets, unless you're willing to pay scalper prices if you can't get the tickets. They're hard to come by and they aren't enough for the demand.