Urg! Can't find return flight from WDW!!!!

[lucky_bunni]

I'm so mad and frustrated right now! Here's the story... We found and purchased a departing flight for September 12th from Southwest to Orlando. It was only $59 one-way. The departure time was perfect, putting us in Orlando around 12pm. However, the return flight through Southwest left at 7:50am. So we decided to just purchase the one flight from them.

At the time, about a month ago, the return flight from Orlando to Columbus, OH was $112 through Delta. We thought that was kinda high and decided to wait figuring we still had 2 months. We've been checking almost daily and they haven't moved. So we checked today and the Delta one-way flight is now $171!! ***?? It's only like $25 less than their round-trip. Delta is our only option at this point b/c they are the only ones, other than Southwest, who have a direct flight.

I really don't want to pay over 3x what we paid for our outgoing flight. This is ridiculous! The Columbus airport sucks big time. There are hardly any direct flights and if there are only like one airline offers it. Thus, it gives that airline a monopoly on the route and they charge whatever they want.

So, let me pose this question... Should we just bite it and purchase the expensive flight from Delta or try to wait a week or so and see if anything moves? Do we have any chance at getting it cheaper? I never thought it would be so hard to get a freakin' flight to ORLANDO!!

 

[mommytotwo]

I hate it when airlines hike up their price and you are only limited with certain airlines-that's how it is here for us.
I think you should go ahead and buy your tickets. Even though it is now at a higher rate, airline tickets usually go up as the date gets closer, cause the airlines know that someone will be buying that ticket. Good luck.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I think so too. I've never flown out of Columbus but I've just recently taken my first direct flight from Toledo (you think your airport is small?) and I'll never go back to connecting flights. In my experience also, prices only go up this close.
Robin M.

 

[helenabear]

Considering that one way tickets are usually more expensive, I would bite it and just keep watching for the fares to go down (if they do, I am sure you can get a credit back from them). As one who flies out of Columbus all the time, I can tell you $112 would have been a great deal for a one way ticket. I also skip out on SW for that nasty 8 am return time... I did it once, and *NEVER* again. For Orlando, Delta's been my best bet for price and times. Actually save Chicago & DC, Delta's been the cheapest so far for all flights I've looked up.

Trust me though, I've helped others find flights out of other cities... Columbus has many of them beat for prices I do keep praying that as tourism picks up, that Columbus will get some of the direct flights back that they used to have. It's made it rather tempting for me to drive because of lack of flights that used to be available!

 

[barbeml]

I think you're just going to have to stay longer at WDW!

 

[Annette_VA]

It's the fates telling you you just need to move to Orlando

My flights on Delta just went up; I'm glad I bought when I did.

If I were you, I'd go ahead & buy, in case they go up again. If they go down you can try to get a credit/refund

 

[OhMari]

Can anyone pick you up in Chicago? or look at smaller airports.

 

[Amberle3]

Originally posted by mommytotwo
I hate it when airlines hike up their price and you are only limited with certain airlines-that's how it is here for us.

Actually, it works the other way around. The higher prices are the standard prices, the lower prices are sale or restricted fares.

You'd be surprised at how many fare structures an airline has. The bigger (traditional) airlines include different restrictions for different fares, the discount airlines just have the one class of fare but still different price tiers. You'd also be surprised at how high the standard, unrestricted fares really are.

It's the same as cruise fares. There are X number of fares at one level, and when those are sold out then it just automatically bumps up to the next level.

If you want an idea of some of the various pricing tiers, take a look at the Air Canada website. Plunk in any US/Canada routing, and you'll see a variety of fares with different restrictions. You'll also see the difference between the most restictive, lowest fare and the unrestricted fare - usually around $1000 difference.

 

[Carl]

Seriously, have you checked the rates for one day later and considered extending your stay?

 

[Cebhfhionn]

Why don't you see if there's a smaller airport near you that Southeast flys to? You can take a flight out of Sanford on www.flyseal.com into smaller airports all over the place. Or, you can try www.flysong.com. Good luck!

 

[lucky978]

The same thing is happening to us!!! We booked flights on JetBlue from Boston to Orlando for 12/3 - 12/11. My husband decided that he would join us for the last few days of the trip. I was able to find him a flight down on Southwest from Manchester, NH for $59 but the same flight we booked for our return and paid $79 for is now over $200.

I think airlines that advertise major sales just reduce the prices of some flights and jack up the other flights to make up for their losses. So now he won't be able to come and surprise the girls

 

[macraven]

here's a though--------------
after your planned trip is over, switch to a cheap hotel off site. you could pick up something for less thatn $50 absolutely.

then check out that next morning and take the early flight out.
call your airline you have and switch to round trip tickets. maybe they will do that accomadations rather than you switching to another airline.

 

[caitycaity]

So, let me pose this question... Should we just bite it and purchase the expensive flight from Delta or try to wait a week or so and see if anything moves?

i would just buy the ticket. we're going on vacation to europe in a few weeks and i've been watching the fares since last fall. the prices never ended up coming down to what they were like last summer. we ended up just sucking it up and paying the extra money and cutting some of our plans.

 

[lucky_bunni]

Originally posted by barbeml
I think you're just going to have to stay longer at WDW!

Now, that's an idea!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I think you should just stay there forever! Live at the castle, or the HM or one of the nice hotels.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I think I'd just bite the bullet and take the early flight on Southwest. I'd book an airport hotel through Priceline as cheap as I could get it for the last night so I'd already be at the airport instead of trying to get up early enough to drive there, turn in rental car, whatever. Good luck!

 

[DisneyJules]

Why come back, stay in the most magical place in the world

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Looks like you're just going to have to stay there.

 

[Fire14]

I;m in same canoe as you with flights. What we decided to do is stay another night and than fly home. For us it was cheaper to pay another night of hotel and leave at CRACK of Dawn. By doing this I saved 100.00 on SW alone.

 

[lucky_bunni]

We decided to go ahead with the $171 Delta return flight on the 18th. So in total we spent $240 pp on flights. I guess that's not too bad but I know we got better deals before. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the Delta flight goes down in price and we can get a refund.

I was all for staying the extra night and staying in an airport hotel to save some money. The only thing is OSU classes start on 9/22 so we only have a few days to get ready for class anyway. If we didn't leave until Sunday we'd only have two days to get ready for school. The Delta flight is a good flight though; It doesn't depart until 6:25pm and it's direct. We'll have time to eat at DTD and shop some more since we'll be right at SSR. I figure we'll probably have to get on the shuttle for the airport at 3-4pm.

I feel better that the flights are taken care of. Now we just have to get the money together for park hoppers and spending money. We're getting it together slowly but surely.