Tips on Flights from West Coast to MCO

[theworldneedscolor]

I just discovered a great deal on a hotel at Disney in September, so I'm considering making a quick solo trip out there to visit a friend on the DCP. However, the flights are just killer from Portland to MCO! Latelly when I've loved using Southwest to fly, because it's cheap and has two free bags. However, I looked at their prices and they didn't really have any good deals for cross-country flights.

Any other suggestions for airlines or websites to check?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Check Kayak and Southwest every day. Kayak will price out all airlines EXCEPT for Southwest. Check at least twice a day.

 

[Princesspolly0110]

You could try orbitz. Or Priceline lets you name how much you want to spend and they let the airlines decide if they will take your bid. However, most of the time you get long layovers and multiple stops. Try waiting it out with southwest. You may get a great deal!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We're in the same boat, except we live in California. It costs a lot to fly from West Coast to East Coast. I just don't find those website (Kayak, Priceline, etc.) helpful. I do check the airline sites directly and often. This is what I have found the last two times getting airfare from California to MCO and California to NJ (I'll explain it best I can). I've checked as fair as 11 months out. The first time I checked it was very, very high...over $1000. So I don't understand it when people say it's the cheapest when it first comes out. By checking A LOT, that same airfare was just below $500 a couple of months later. There is no reasoning, I believe, to when and how low the airlines change their prices. What I try to do is know what I'd like to pay and get it as close as I can and comfortable with. Be ready to jump on it when you see it. Learned my lesson the hard way.

 

[afan]

If you can, be open to other airlines. I flew Alaska to MCO from Seattle last year and it wasn't much different price wise. They fly non stop from Seattle. Depending on your dates it might be a better option, though they do charge for checked bags.

With labor day late this year it may be affecting prices further into the month.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

We've always flown Alaska from PDX to MCO. It's a short hop to Seattle then a nonstop to MCO. We've also been looking at JetBlue which is less expensive than Alaska and the first bag is free. At least for now. Rumors are that will change at some point.

 

[MillauFr]

Get the Alaska Visa card. The companion fare for $119 is a great deal.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Using its software.com, which isn't a search engine and doesn't allow purchasing - it gives information, including how to buy the fare - I'm finding under $400 Tuesday's and Wednesday's in September.

 

[sheetz]

Skyscanner.com is a good search engine for flights because it includes most of the discount carriers, too. BTW, Southwest isn't really a discount airline anymore, and in many cases they are significantly more expensive than other airlines, even when including fees.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have found the average fare to fly coast to coast these days is about $400, unless you are buying at the last minute. Then it's a lot more.

 

[BariTravis]

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but try looking on a Tuesday morning PST.

I just got a round trip flight for my partner and I to MCO for $730 during September - OCT from LAX.

I have notices Southwest espcially, is a little cheaper on Tuesday mornings.

 

[disneylove69]

I booked STHWST from Sacramento to MCO in September. Tues- Thu was the cheapest. I used points but if I paid cash would have been $400. Check often as I found the return trip was now cheaper and I was able to save about 1500 points.

 

[Belleandtinker]

We are flying out of San Diego and can't find anything good lower than $450 round trip. I can find a little cheaper, but not nonstop (which I prefer, but comes at a cost). I started a spreadsheet of prices so that I can "really" tell if they are going up or down before booking.

In the past, I've also overbooked my resort reservation (padding it on either side) if we didn't buy tickets before booking resort. Trying to get good prices on both.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

We are flying out of San Diego and can't find anything good lower than $450 round trip. I can find a little cheaper, but not nonstop (which I prefer, but comes at a cost). I started a spreadsheet of prices so that I can "really" tell if they are going up or down before booking.

In the past, I've also overbooked my resort reservation (padding it on either side) if we didn't buy tickets before booking resort. Trying to get good prices on both.

Have you considered LAX? I know it's an additional 2 hour drive and probably half a tank of gas but might be worth it depending on your party size. I just booked roundtrip LAX to MCO for $385 (Not SWA so no free bags).

 

[disneylove69]

Ontario might be the best from San Diego as the prices are cheaper, easier to park and easy TSA lines.

 

[leebee]

Also, check the cost of one-way flights. Sometimes I can get cheaper prices if I fly one-way on one carrier and return on another.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Ontario might be the best from San Diego as the prices are cheaper, easier to park and easy TSA lines.

I have not found Ontario cheaper than LAX for any flight I have taken in the last 6 or 7 years for whatever reason. They might be cheaper than San Diego (I don't ever price out San Diego so I wouldn't know) but LAX is anywhere from 10-15% less expensive for any flight I've taken when comparing ONT and SNA. ONT and SNA are about 30 minutes closer to me than LAX but when it's the 4 of us I'm willing to drive to LAX to save $200. My husband and I are going to Sedona(PHX) in July and we'll be paying a few dollars more to fly out of SNA but it's just the two of us so I don't mind.

Also, check the cost of one-way flights. Sometimes I can get cheaper prices if I fly one-way on one carrier and return on another.

This is what I ALWAYS do. I rarely book a roundtrip flight. I usually do two one ways. Our trip to WDW in November is AA there and Virgin back. $385 total per person.

 

[disneylove69]

Thinking with gas, parking, time and convenience it might be something worth looking at.

 

[hbsprite]

Have you checked Southwest? They have a nonstop from San Diego to Orlando. Even though we live in Orange County, it is worth it for us to drive down to San Diego for a nonstop flight that is less expensive than anything we can get out of any of the airports closer to home. This summer we paid $300 roundtrip to fly nonstop from San Diego to Orlando. Bags fly free too!

We are flying out of San Diego and can't find anything good lower than $450 round trip. I can find a little cheaper, but not nonstop (which I prefer, but comes at a cost). I started a spreadsheet of prices so that I can "really" tell if they are going up or down before booking.

In the past, I've also overbooked my resort reservation (padding it on either side) if we didn't buy tickets before booking resort. Trying to get good prices on both.