To all New Englanders ....

[dbkelly]

Has anyone tried to book non-stop out of Logan to Orlando for April vacation 2004? I stayed up until midnight, so I could book the flight as soon as it went on sale. Usually, I can book it for around $102 - $110 one way. The prices that went online were at full coach ($282.50) one way. I can't afford to spend over $500 per ticket. I decided to reserve a flight that had one stop in Atlanta for $105 one way.

Now I am trying to decide if I should ticket the reservation or if I should take my chances and wait for the prices to come down or for Southwest to come out with their fares. I think Delta has finally caught on with the school vacation week. I don't think they will lower their prices, because the demand is so high.

The connection only extends our travel time by 2 hours, however, my daughters have a very difficult time with their ears (they have had 11 surgeries between the 2 of them on their ears). Flying can be very painful for them, so I always get a non-stop flight to limit their torture. If it wasn't for my daughters' ears, I would book the flight in a heartbeat. I just can't stand to see the tears roll down their faces when we start to decend. What should a mother do??????????

 

[minster22]

I have been keeping track of the prices on Song (also wanting a direct flight out of Logan) and today was the first day I could buy my departure leg of the trip 4/25/2004. And even though this is the Sunday after school vacation, it also is $282.50 one way. I don't know how to advise you about booking a flight with a stopover....it makes the flight so long and aggravating for us grownups, I would really dislike doing it with small children. We are going to just keep checking prices and if they do not come down we will be going with Southwest. SW has to have fares cheaper than these and hopefully as Song gets up and fully running they will start offering lower fares. They are trying to bill themselves as a discount airline and so far it has not been so. I wish you luck in your decision....it was all much more simple when there were several non-stop choices.

 

[Poly Pal]

Song out of Hartford is not much better. Outrageous prices for next April. I tried alternate airports in Florida and dates (4/22, 4/23, 4/24/ 4/25 and 4/26)

I imagine I'm supposed to be singing a "song" over snagging $352 RT BDL to TPA.

 

[nh-try]

dbkelly: have you tried ear planes for the girls i use them all the time and they work great. wish you luck

 

[alexturner74]

I do recommend waiting to purchase your tickets. You're much more likely to get a cheaper fare from 2 to 6 months out unless you're flying around a holiday. For example, in August and September, you can fly Song for as low as $206 roundtrip (depending on date, time, etc.), which is lower than every other carrier out of BOS.

Also, for April 2004, Song is only competing with itself for non-stop flights. You can fly Southwest out of PVD, but even those don't go onsale for another 5 months. So, until then you're likely not going to see cheaper fares for the non-stop.

Sorry to hear about your daughter's ear problems. I think we all know that it can be quite painful sometimes.

 

[dgaston]

I know it's hard to wait for SWA. I need the next group of dates to be released to book our return flights on October 26th. SWA still works out cheaper for me, especially when I can take advantage of the click and save one-way specials between Tuesday and Thursday (you can sign up for email alerts on their website). Our one-way fare in October is $85.50 with taxes and fees from PVD to MCO.

 

[seashoreCM]

Did you specifically wait until 12:01 AM of the 331'st day in advance?

Sometime even that is too late to get the lowest fares. Delta has been known to open up the 331 day in advance bookings as ealy as 4 PM on the 332'nd day out. (Not consistently)

Song has been described in business journals (magazines for financiers and bigwigs) as an LCC, or low cost carrier. The business model is to reduce operating costs so as to be able to compete with other airlines with similar business models (e.g. Jet Blue). and offer more low fares more often (not for all days).

From the few dates that I surveyed I was led to believe that Song has had a few U class fares (everyday low price) typically USD $100 to $125. each way on each and every flight. Of course they went fast on popular travel dates.

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

 

[dbkelly]

Seashore CM: I got through Delta at 11:45 and kept the representative on the phone until midnight. She tried booking before midnight, but she couldn't. She said that there were no U fares and that everything was full coach on the non-stops. I asked her why and she did not know. I think it is just the theory of supply and demand. Although, it is very fustrating since they are advertising Song as a low cost carrier. I read the same thing that you read.

nh-try: I give my girls sudafed, antihistamine, afrin and the ear plugs. They just have too much scar tissue in their ears. Thank you for the advice.

Everyone else: Thank for the advice, but I decided to book the connection. I got it for $105 one way and the next day it was up to $208. We got a really good connection, it only adds 2 hours to our travel time. However, I am still dreading the fact that we have to land twice. But, according to the Delta representative, she said that I could call up to 3 hours before a non-stop and book the flight if there is room. I know it is a long shot, but I decided to take it.

I don't think Song will come down on their prices at all. However, I do believe that Southwest will continue to come out with low fares, I was just too scared to wait since I had already booked the flight down and just needed a flight back. I didn't want to get stranded in Florida (then again the idea does sound appealing). I plan to watch Southwest very closely. If I like what I see, then I will use them in the future.

I have decided to send an email to Song. I know it will not accomplish much, but if they get enough complaints, maybe they will change their strategy.

 

[seashoreCM]

Slight correction(?)

Booking on the eveing of the 332'nd day out may be applicable only to web site bookings, not over the phone bookings.

I did notice that reasonable fares on Song were advertised even for booking "tomorrow's" flight on line, that is no seven day advance purchase. So although deep discount fares are not always available, Song has depressed walk-up fares on the routes they serve. Example: JFK-ORD Song nonstop was about $350. round trip , United with one stop each way was about $450 RT, United two stops each way (!) was about $350. RT all these fares for one day in advance ticketing. United JFK-ORD (Song does not go to Chicago) was about $950. RT In years past Delta Express has been over $1000. RT if you wanted to fly to WDW "tomorrow".

 

[disnurse]

i'm guessing you're flying around easter so don't count on lower fares. I have waited for SW and have found their holiday time flights up to 450$. I was trying to find decent flights for april and also have had zero luck. This past easter i snagged delta non-stop from logan for 229/person, those days are gone.