To save $60 would you chose a flight that had a stop over rather than non-stop?

[helenk]

I've been looking a flights for my December trip, SW, USair, and Airtran all have non stop flights and good times but the cost is $176.50. Delta has flights that stop in Atlanta and then go to MCO, the lay over is only about an hour, but the cost is $117.60.
I've never done the lay over thing, but $60.00 seems like a good savings.
Any opinions?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I personally would never do a connection with Delta in Atlanta. Although the savings are appealing, it's a real tough decision.

 

[goofy4tink]

Agreeing with Tyler on this one. I won't stop in Atlanta if I can help it. Way too easy to miss a connection. That place is somewhat crazy. Nope, I pay a little extra and get there faster and no getting on and off!!!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
Agreeing with Tyler on this one. I won't stop in Atlanta if I can help it. Way too easy to miss a connection. That place is somewhat crazy. Nope, I pay a little extra and get there faster and no getting on and off!!!

Way too easy for your LUGGAGE to miss the connection, as well.

 

[Patty3]

No, I would forfeit the savings and take the non stop.

 

[javaj]

I would take the layover for that much of a savings! We travel with DS (2) and even with the stroller/car seat inconvenience, I still would take the layover. I guess it just depends on your budget and how many people are traveling. We travel as a family of 3, so a savings of $180 for the 3 tickets would be significant, worth at least a hotel night for our vacation.

 

[skfulkers]

I would take the layover, especially if there are several of you traveling, which would save you a decent amount of money.
I frequently travel for business, and although Atlanta is not my first choice for a layover city, I've connected there several times and have never missed my connecting flight (although I have run from concourse D to A with a five minute connection, but that's another story). An hour is plenty of time to make a connection.
I will say that with the layout of Atlanta's airport, you are almost guaranteed to have to make a concourse change, requiring you to use their underground subway, but it's not rally that big of a deal.
Also, since you would be flying Delta and Atlanta is one of their hubs, if you did by some chance miss your connecting flight, there will undoubtedly be another flight to Orlando within a few hours.
Even if you had to factor in a missed flight and a rebooking on a later flight, it still may be worth it depending on how much money you would save. I guess it depends how much you value the savings.

 

[WeluvDisney2]

Yes I would, and did, book the cheaper flight. We have 6 of us flying, so we saved quite a bit!

 

[Beast fan]

I've flown Delta several times and, to me, the answer would be based on the answers to 3 questions...........

1) How many seats do you need? The more seats, the more $ savings.
2) If you choose the Delta option, how much time is there between flights? Less than 1 hour? Forget it... spend the extra $60/per seat and avoid the headache(s).
3) If you choose the Delta option, do you have a rough idea of your arrival and departure terminals in ATL? If they are typically on opposite ends of the airport, and you don't have at least 75 minutes between plane changes, spend the extra money.

Trust me, I've made a mistake or two to "save money". DW won't let me forget those mistakes.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'd take the non-stop. With the connection, you have more of a chance of a delay. But, then again, if you fly out of PHILADELPHIA, you'll probably have a good delay anyways. At the beginning of the month, I sat on a US Airways plane at PHL, 2 hours at the gate and 30+ minutes out by the runway. Our 4PM flight took-off at 6:35PM, and we got on the plane at 3:45! There was problem after problem!

 

[helenk]

Well, there will most likely be just me making this trip, so just one seat.
Most of the flights seem to have about an hour and a half waiting time. I can be flexible with my times, I was thinking of going out early in the evening going to Orlando and then late in the evening coming home, and I can travel on any day. I have never been to the Atlanta Airport, it sounds like it could be overwhelming. I think maybe I'll hang in there a bit to see if SW lowers their prices.

 

[Mish]

I would take the direct flight. That is one of the reasons I stopped flying delta to Orlando because they don't offer many direct flights anymore.

 

[ahoff]

Can't beat non stop. I have a plane to catch in a half hour for a business trip and have a three hour layover. Not looking forward to it at all.

 

[FINFAN]

I don't mind plane changes/layovers when just traveling myself, but I have to say that Delta has tried my patience in the past. I have a friend who is a mechanic at the Atlanta hub, and let me tell you, he has some horror storeis to tell about nasty delays, luggage, general goof ups. However, $60 is nothing to sneeze at. Heck, that's a night at an All Star...one day admission to a park...a REALLY nice meal or some great souvee's. If you are not under the gun timewise and can throw a change of clothes etc in a carry-on, I'd take the layover. Just beprepared to BOLT thru Atlanta airport to your connecting flight...an hour seems like a long time for a layover, but not there!
I may not be the best person to give advice however, as I am trying to decide if adding a day and a half to our Christmas trip justifies the extra $$$...let's just say, add another zero to your amount you're savung on airfare...and that's what we'd be $pending! I MUST be crazy!

 

[ES0412]

I have to agree with the masses...much easier and quicker to take the non-stop. Also, who knows where your luggage will end up and when!

 

[gogiant]

I don't feel $60.00 is a difference maker at all...Go non stop

 

[clkelley]

I say take the layover, especially if you are just one person. I fly on Delta through Atlanta all the time, and rarely have a problem.

I did this in May for a family trip. There were only 3 discounted tickets available on the direct flight, so I took a connecting flight for only $5.00 more than the direct flight and made all connections just fine. I arrived in Orlando about 30 minutes ahead of my family and collected all the luggage and met up with the towncar driver, so when they arrived we hopped in the towncer and left immediately.

However, I would try to see if you can manually force a longer layover and still get the same savings. I always try to force a two-hour layover and have never missed a flight that way. Plus the extra FF miles for the extra leg helps.

Carol

 

[BrerMom]

We were just in a similar situation. We chose the layover for two adults and five kids. We saved $40 per ticket.

It all depends on your budget, I think.

 

[Lewisc]

It really depends on your budget. This is a case in which I'd try to make due with carryon luggage. Get to the airport early and see if you can standby for an earlier N/S flight.

 

[Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo]

I'm for the nonstop flights. I saw cheaper flights with Southwest, but they all had stops, plus they weren't the optimum flight times for me. I want the first one out in the morning, and a (not too) late one back to maximize the time there- vacation is too short! It's not worth the extra savings to me- When I asked my husband what he thought, he also threw in the "what if they lose the luggage" possibility too, and that would just mess everything up! If I was by myself and in no hurry, I'd do it, but not for a family of 4 trying to make the most of the 9 days you have off!