What are you paying for your airfare?

[aubriee]

I'm flying Spirit nonstop out of Dallas for both my May and Sept trips. Using a $50.00 off code they sent me, I got airfare for both trips for $143.53 r/t (not counting the luggage fees). I did the 90 day trial $9.00 Club Membership for $19.00 to get the discount on luggage. I plan to do carry on only for both trips, so will need to add $40.00 to those prices for r/t. Still even with luggage fees $183.53 still easily beats the over $400.00 that everyone else was charging for those dates. I'm still looking at airfare for my Oct/Nov trip and noticed that yesterday American has dropped their prices from over $450.00 to $260.00. Of course they charge $25.00 each way for a checked bag, but carry on is free. Spirit is $270.00 right now, but charge for both carry on and checked bags. Southwest, Delta, Continental, and Frontier remain over $400.00. What's really bad is Frontier has a layover in Denver. Why the heck would I want to fly northwest from Dallas to Denver, just to turn around and fly southeast to get to Florida, when I could fly nonstop on American or Spirit for almost $200.00 less per ticket. Since Air Tran got pulled out of Dallas last Nov, decent airfare out of Dallas is getting hard to find, but if you look everyday, sometimes decent fares will pop up for a day or two (before they skyrocket back up to over $400.00 again). I'm thinking about booking the $260.00 American Airlines fares for our Oct/Nov trip. With free carry ons, my husband and I could easily share one checked bag, so that would bring the fare up to $285.00 per person for a nonstop flight with perfect times (first flight out and last flight back home). But that's still $122.00/person more than I'm paying for Spirit for both my May and Sept trips.

How long ago did you get that sept price? Ive been looking for awhile now for End of August and Begining of Sept on Spirit and the prices have been ridiculous I have the $9 airfare club and havent seen any nice rates.

I bought airfare for both my May trip and my Sept trip the same day on January 14, 2012. I just went to my email to check the date. Spirit had a $50.00 off code that day and I was able to use it for both the May and Sept trip.

 

[ashmarie06]

I booked Early Feb for late august. We got nonstop flights from Airtran out of Columbus Oh (2 hour drive from us) to Orlando. 218.80 p/p. We are leaving on a saturday and coming back the tuesday after labor day. I feel like we got a good price, compared to what we would have paid, had we flew out of Cincinnati. We flew November thru Airtran and it was 200 p.p roundtrip. So not bad. The tickets have went up to 237.50 since I bought mine.

 

[Mouseteacher]

We are flying nonstop from Boston to MCO last week of July on Jetblue - fare each way is $155 p/p. We booked in mid February because of the fear that with gas prices rising that airfare will rise too. This was a bit higher than we paid last July to MCO so not too bad.

 

[Goofy22]

I bought airfare for both my May trip and my Sept trip the same day on January 14, 2012. I just went to my email to check the date. Spirit had a $50.00 off code that day and I was able to use it for both the May and Sept trip.

Wow ! Nice out of Atlantice City Nj the cheapest airfare one way so far has been 139.50 each way not included seat fees or luggage fees . ugghhh

 

[TamaraQT]

I am BESIDE MYSELF for what I paid in airfare this year!!!

Ok, here goes. Dates: Wednesday 7/18 to Saturday 7/28. Travelers: 3 adults(checked bags) and 1 child(carryon)

PHL to MCO (Southwest) $134.80 x 4 = 539.20 + $40(EBCI) = $579.20 (tickets purchased Monday 3/6/12)
leaves PHL at 6am...arrives in MCO 820am....we LOVE early flights to Orlando.
We like to have the entire day to enjoy!!!

MCO to PHL (Airtran) $117.80 x4 = 471.20 + 52(priority seats) + 60(3 checked bags) = $583.20 (tickets purchased Monday 3/12/12)
leaves MCO at 11:45am...arrives in PHL 2:10pm.

GRAND TOTAL: $1162.40 for 4 people!!!

I guess I should be happy....it's behind me now, it was affordable, I have nonstop flights, hopefully a decent boarding position on southwest, and GREAT seats assigned on AirTran for my return trip. When you add it all up, I paid $290/pp round trip. That is too close to $300 to me.

I am glad I got the tickets, but looking around now, I found roundtrip on US Air nonstop with flight times close to ours for only $216pp. Add $25 for baggage for 3 people and that is still under $250. So I guess I am having regrets and 2nd thoughts. Next year, I will avoid viewing Southwest and AirTran as my AFFORDABLE options. I think other airlines may be just as affordable if given the opportunity to compare. The no baggage fees on Southwest doesnt really appeal to me anymore when we only take 1 bag anyway. Saving $20 to $25 on baggage fees doesnt make Southwest the more affordable option anymore. Next year, I am going to check the major airlines BEFORE I settle on Southwest or Airtran. Last year I got a good deal on Continental/United. It came with an hour layover at IAD, but for $59 one way, ($80.40 after taxes) it was still more affordable than southwest.

 

[rt2dz]

It is only 189 miles to Dallas from my house and Austin is just as close. I can make both drives in less than 4 hours which is a whole lot less than 15. It's not bad to drive that few hours and then to get more time in the parks later.

Driving is horrible seeing as my son doesn't sleep in the car.... ever. And my husband falls asleep the second we start driving, so it is just me doing all the driving. I-10 is the most boring drive ever.

To each there own. But, I think you've made a calculation error. The driving distance from The Woodlands (and that doesn't mean you live in the actual Woodlands--that's just what you put your location as) to DFW is 236 miles. And then, take into account all that construction between Conroe and Huntsville... I have never made that drive in under 4 hours. Five if I make good time . Five and half more typical with all the state troopers. It's just a lot of gas, time, and BIG parking fees at the airport. You might want to calculate all that against paying a little more to fly out of IAH or even Hobby--using a shuttle/car service (or a friend) in flying out of IAH.

Now, for Austin, that sounds about right. However, are you really going to spend less in gas (round trip) than you are saving not out of IAH?

Not trying to argue. Really! I'm just trying to see the savings. We're flying out of IAH, and I can't find anything that much lower that would make driving to Dallas or Austin worth it. Is there something I'm missing?? Even though I relied heavily on services (Bing, Yapta, Airfare watchdog), I did a great deal of stalking myself running all sorts of scenarios.

 

[quirty30]

We've made about 10 trips from Chicago to WDW over the last 3 years; back in 2009, we made 3 trips and each was right around $200RT. The following 2 years, we were paying closer to $225....though one spring break trip ran us $267. This year, for an upcoming June visit, the best I found at one point for $242. Ultimately I decided to use soon to expire Airtran points for the trip down, and booked SW coming back for $121 a person. We're flying out of MDW rather than ORD, which is much closer for us. We've also flown out of MKE on occasion. Despite being able to choose from 3 airports, I've noticed much higher fares overall when I check. I'd say $275-$300 seems to be more "normal" lately.

 

[ToddyLu]

Just paid $152 each way on SW non stop..New Orleans to MCO for October. I have been watching fares for a while and while they may drop before Oct it was only about $20 more each way than similar flights we booked for our May trip. I booked those flights in Feb. So we paid $930 for 2adults, one senior and included EBCI.

 

[TamaraQT]

It was a fluke when I found those tickets. I'd check each morning and a couple times after that during the day, and one morning I was just sitting around and decided to start checking the websites. We have never flown United before but thought why not check them out and sure enough I saw those tickets....I had to get out and redo it 3 times because I thought I was seeing things. I hear ya about the $155 being the new $90 because that is what it is looking like for our return flights. Have a wonderful trip, just think that headache is out of the way .

OMG!!! Same thing happened to me last year and I thought it was a FLUKE too!! I checked one of the airfare travel sites (fare buzz) and I got one way tickets on Continental airlines from PHL to MCO for $59!!! I almost fell out of my seat when I saw it. I needed 7 tickets so that was a GREAT DEAL for me. It wasnt nonstop but I didnt care......not for $59!!! I had an hour layover at IAD but the flight times still had me in Orlando before noon. A day or so after I booked, I got an email from Continental informing me my flight was now changed to United Airlines (merger thing) and I had to make new seating assignments for both flights. I was almost afraid they were going to cancel the flight or something because the price was too good to be true.

So I am glad you were able to snag a GREAT deal. I was trying to hold out to see if it would come back around again this year, but I was too afraid to wait any longer. This year I am back using Southwest and AirTran. You got some great rates. I hope you have a smooth trip as I did with United. I would definitely fly them again...especially for that price!!

 

[conniehar90]

Heading down next week from Chicago. We paid $325 for spring break season on SW. It was a lot of work getting that fare - originally booked on a 1 stop flight but watched every day and pounced when the fares dropped. Other flights were about $500 or more.

Also heading back in July. Booked the flights as soon as fares were released and got $225. A few weeks ago, they jumped up to $310 and haven't come down. We shall see if they drop as the summer gets closer.

I think these are the new normals. We paid $208 (not sure why I remember) for our honeymoon in 1990. With gas prices as they are, I don't see airfare coming down any time soon.

 

[shannonstar]

To each there own. But, I think you've made a calculation error. The driving distance from The Woodlands (and that doesn't mean you live in the actual Woodlands--that's just what you put your location as) to DFW is 236 miles. And then, take into account all that construction between Conroe and Huntsville... I have never made that drive in under 4 hours. Five if I make good time . Five and half more typical with all the state troopers. It's just a lot of gas, time, and BIG parking fees at the airport. You might want to calculate all that against paying a little more to fly out of IAH or even Hobby--using a shuttle/car service (or a friend) in flying out of IAH.

Now, for Austin, that sounds about right. However, are you really going to spend less in gas (round trip) than you are saving not out of IAH?

Not trying to argue. Really! I'm just trying to see the savings. We're flying out of IAH, and I can't find anything that much lower that would make driving to Dallas or Austin worth it. Is there something I'm missing?? Even though I relied heavily on services (Bing, Yapta, Airfare watchdog), I did a great deal of stalking myself running all sorts of scenarios.

I appreciate the advice. We drive to Dallas at least once every three months for visiting family, so that drive just doesn't seem like a big deal to us anymore. We wouldn't be paying parking fees b/c we would leave the car at their house for the duration. I have family in Keller, Fair Park, Gainesville, Palmer, you name it. We would drive up Wednesday night and fly out in the morning on Thursday.
As for Austin, my mil lives in Brenham, so we would drive there Wed night or to husband's best friend who lives in Elgin. The Elgin peeps would probably even take us to the airport.
I am watching the flights out of Austin right now on Jet Blue and if what is current is any indication, I will get flights for 250/person with no luggage fees. The flights out of Dallas would be Spirit (not my first choice of course) which would be 592 w/out fees, but then 120 more with the fees.
So far, for my dates flying out of IAH would be 1589 for 3 people without fees. That's more than I paid for a split stay at BCV and AKV. Having driven twice though, I will say that I don't plan to do it again unless I just have to. So, for now, I am going to play the waiting game.

I haven't ever really seen that many state troopers on I-45. We enerally drive 75mph and the traffic/construction in Conroe is only bad if you try to leave during rush hour or on a weekend.

 

[jgraney106]

We got $210.00 round trip per person on Airtran, flying from Rochester New York to Orlando on a non-stop flight! We are going to Disney Sept 26th through Oct 3rd. Even the flight times are decent! Guess we lucked out!

 

[peloha86]

Need some expert Disboard advice

When: Dec. 25, 2012 to Jan. 5, 2013
Where: Northern California to Orlando (MCO)
Fare: $402 to $460 pp/RT, total cost $1604 to $1840 for 4 adults (not including baggage)

Is this a good fare or should I wait for Southwest to come out with their fares? Fighting for seats or preassigned seating?

TIA

 

[pigletto]

Need some expert Disboard advice

When: Dec. 25, 2012 to Jan. 5, 2013
Where: Northern California to Orlando (MCO)
Fare: $402 to $460 pp/RT, total cost $1604 to $1840 for 4 adults (not including baggage)

Is this a good fare or should I wait for Southwest to come out with their fares? Fighting for seats or preassigned seating?

TIA

Edited: Misunderstood your question about the seats. Sorry!

 

[SteelerCountry]

5 ~round trip flights, non stop Pittsburgh/Orlando
3~ adult SW tickets
11 night rental car


all for=$220.50

signed up for SW credit card!! DH and I both got one! whooo hooooo!

 

[lylone]

Our last two trips one in April and the other in December for both of us, round trip were just at $300 from ATL.
I get Airtran emails when they do specials on their airfare and always wait until 2 months out to buy the tickets. Too bad they are going away...

 

[marymal99]

We are flying out of MSP end of Aug 25 to Sept 1 and had to pay 381.00 AIR TRAN
more than I have ever paid !

 

[Lisa71]

We paid $442 each round trip from LAX to MCO for June. We paid almost $150 less per ticket last time. We had been watching the fares for months and they slowly crept up, not down. Oh well, we get to go, and that is awesome!

 

[peloha86]

We paid $442 each round trip from LAX to MCO for June. We paid almost $150 less per ticket last time. We had been watching the fares for months and they slowly crept up, not down. Oh well, we get to go, and that is awesome!

Thank you very much for the info! We went to WDW/DCL for our first time last year, and we enjoyed our visit very much!

It's the AIRFARE that kills me.

We just have to save more and keep life simple to visit our east coast mouse

BTW, I have seen airfare fluctuate anywhere from $50-$150 one way PP from the West coast to the East coast.

United Airlines has a "Fare Lock" feature on their airfares. If you like the online airfare they quote you, you can "lock it in", fare and seats, for a fee of $12/72 hours, $20/7 days for the entire ressie. If you want to reserve or cancel, you still pay the fee.
Just a thought.

 

[taychase1015]

Just booked tickets today from Wash. DC to non-stop MCO for $550.80 round trip for three. After reading this thread this morning, it seemed like a really good rate and couldn't pass it up. All other airlines were running $650 and up.