West Coast Flyers

[glewis1123]

We're going Easter for the first time - eeks - lol

What is the best fare you have gotten and on which airline flying from the west coast to MCO during Easter Break.

We usually pay $180 in May from Calif. Just curious how much more its going to cost me during this holiday time.

Thanks all

 

[travellady]

Best non-stop fare:

Seattle - Orlando, roundtrip, depart Apr 9, return Apr 18, $371.00. On the 9th we depart at 10:45 PM and arrive at 6:30 AM, on the 18th depart 6:00 PM and arrive in Seattle just after 9PM. Two weeks after I purchased my tickets, my grown sons decided to join us half way through the week and their ticket was $391.00. When I bought their ticket, there were only 18 seats left for the return flight.

When I first started looking, Delta and American had a roundtrip for $306.00. But, they were not non-stops and I really hate to have to make a stop if I don't need to.

I checked the same Seattle - Orlando fare I purchased on Alaska and it's now $496.00. Searching Expedia tonight, Seattle - Orlando roundtrip for the same dates as mine are minimum $316 for Delta. Others are in the $400.00 range.. Based on the few seats left on the Alaska 4/18 6PM return flight, I can see why fares are already rising. However, it's important to note that Alaska is the only non-stop flight between Orlando and Seattle so I expect it to be one of the first flights on this route to book to capacity.

Airlines took planes out of service during the downturn and it looks like they are now reaching capacity early on - looks like the economy is picking up - extra capacity needs to be added back.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by travellady
Best non-stop fare:

Seattle - Orlando, roundtrip, depart Apr 9, return Apr 18, $371.00. On the 9th we depart at 10:45 PM and arrive at 6:30 AM, on the 18th depart 6:00 PM and arrive in Seattle just after 9PM. Two weeks after I purchased my tickets, my grown sons decided to join us half way through the week and their ticket was $391.00. When I bought their ticket, there were only 18 seats left for the return flight.

When I first started looking, Delta and American had a roundtrip for $306.00. But, they were not non-stops and I really hate to have to make a stop if I don't need to.

I checked the same Seattle - Orlando fare I purchased on Alaska and it's now $496.00. Searching Expedia tonight, Seattle - Orlando roundtrip for the same dates as mine are minimum $316 for Delta. Others are in the $400.00 range.. Based on the few seats left on the Alaska 4/18 6PM return flight, I can see why fares are already rising. However, it's important to note that Alaska is the only non-stop flight between Orlando and Seattle so I expect it to be one of the first flights on this route to book to capacity.

Airlines took planes out of service during the downturn and it looks like they are now reaching capacity early on - looks like the economy is picking up - extra capacity needs to be added back.

If you are looking at the online seat maps for how many seats are left for sale then your number of seats left of 18 is WAAAAY off. The first 6-8 rows of coach are reserved for elite flyers and would therefore appear occupied for you and then many seats throughout the plane (bulkhead, exit row, etc) are held for airport checkin and will appear occupied on the seat map as well.

 

[SOBDOSNV]

We usually spend between $200-$250. We like to take the red eye flight. Hate to spend a day of vacation flying, this way we leave the night after I get off work, and get there the next morning. Only once have we not been able to sleep on the plane. That made the first day a loooonnnnnggggg one, but still better than a wasted vacation day. We have flown on AW, Delta, Continental.

 

[travellady]

prncess674:

I know on United airlines for example, what you say about the first 6-8 rows is true - in that case the seat, when availalbe is indicated by a different color and a non-elite flier can't reserve it. I travel a bit on business so have noticed different airlines seat maps are handled differently.

In the case of Alaska, I don't believe this to be the case. Because I'm flying coach, I can only select starting with row 6 ( I suspect the other seats are first class). When I purchased my tickets, most all of these rows showed availability. I selected row 9 (I'm not an elite flier) and my sons are across from us. When my sons decided to join us, I watched for almost two weeks hoping prices would go down. While I watched, I saw seats changing from available to occupied throughout the seat map, including the first 6-8 rows. That's why I decided to jump on it and make the purchase even at an even slightly higher price.

Also, bulkhead seating is signified by a different color outline, those available for handicapped have an H on them and show as occupied when they are assigned to somebody.

I guess what I'm saying is different airlines handle their seat maps differently - the reason I make my statement about high occupancy is I've watched the seats get snatched up since mid August and noticed those that went, over time, from available to occupied.

 

[prncess674]

Alaska definitly has elite seating, there seat map program is not as sophisticated as United's or American Airlines seat map program. I too consider myself very versed in airline information. I fly over 100,000 miles a year not including bonus mileage. I have flown Alaska several times to and from Seattle and they do have elite seating. I am not trying to argue with you and I am glad you are happy with your tickets and seats but judging by an online map is not the way to judge how booked a flight will be. Airlines will and do often makes seats available. They will usualy mark out "good" seats on the online map so they will be available for last minute high priced flyers. I generally don't buy tickets for work until a few days before departure and I would not be a happy camper if all that was available was a last row middle seat so they pre block many seats for this exact purpose. If you go into the sabre reservation system it shows there are still many seats availabe in low fare buckets which indicates there are more than 18 seats available. If the plane was 90% booked at 6 months prior to departure they would only be selling full fare tickets which are in the $1,000 range.