What is the deal with such high flight costs now?

[chloelovesdisney]

We fly to Orlando from NYC nearly every year, and sometimes up to three times a year. We usually pay around $180 - $220 per person/rt. I've been pricing tickets for our November trip off and on since we booked the hotel and the flights are always around $360 - $400 for reasonable times.

It's not a far flight and there are many airlines that go there from the three surrounding airports, why are the prices running so high right now.

I hope they come down, I'll just keep watching.

I applied for the SW card this week but by the time it comes in the mail and I charge the required amount I know it will be past the date the tickets for November go on sale. I don't know if there will be any more seats available to get with miles in a month or so when I expect to have the miles to use.

 

[Nechville]

We fly to Orlando from NYC nearly every year, and sometimes up to three times a year. We usually pay around $180 - $220 per person/rt. I've been pricing tickets for our November trip off and on since we booked the hotel and the flights are always around $360 - $400 for reasonable times. It's not a far flight and there are many airlines that go there from the three surrounding airports, why are the prices running so high right now. I hope they come down, I'll just keep watching. I applied for the SW card this week but by the time it comes in the mail and I charge the required amount I know it will be past the date the tickets for November go on sale. I don't know if there will be any more seats available to get with miles in a month or so when I expect to have the miles to use.

I super lucked out and got ours a week or so ago for $230 for our November trip. Never seem them that low. Last year we paid $278, year before, $258. So glad I booked them as the day after I did they went up to $350! My trip next month to Denver is ridiculous though! I'm sure they will come down. Isn't the low point supposed to be 45-55 days before? Fingers crossed!

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Take a look at prices into TPA instead of MCO. We are traveling from ISP to TPA for $218 round-trip.

 

[Gracie09]

When are you flying? Jersey week will effect the prices greatly, even in NY. Also all the consolidations of airlines means fewer seats so more demand. Fuel prices are also increasing.

 

[asmit4]

Air has become seriously ridiculous. We were looking and it was 300 and up RT into MCO. We are driving because of this. I refuse to pay more than 250RT- especially when I'm willing to fly out of Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo or Pittsburgh to do so.

 

[JVL1018]

It's making me crazy!
Last year we went during Jersey week. Newark was crazy high. But, we got flights out of JFK on American for $204 r/t. I hope the flights go down for you.

I'm looking at mid August and flights are like $350-$400. We were going to drive instead because I just couldn't. We've never paid more than $225.

But my husband got laid off two weeks ago, so trip was on hold. He was fortunate enough to find another position this week, and they approved the August vacation, but now we don't have the extra days to drive, so we have to fly and I'm going to have to bite the bullet and just pay the extra. Grrr.

 

[luvdisney87]

I agree! I have been waiting to book airfare until free dining came out and now that I have booked my trip, airfare went up to $440 from MSP! It was $363 two weeks ago. So now I'm sitting and waiting and waiting and waiting....not very patiently. Flying into TPA is not an option since we don't want to rent a car.

 

[DebbieB]

It's not just Orlando, it's up everywhere. I think part of it is all the mergers - United/Continental, Northwest/Delta, Southwest/AirTran, USAirways/American. Less competition means being able to charge more and get away with it.

I remember when Southwest first came to PIT, you could get roundtrips for under $150. Now $300 is a great deal. I'm looking at October, over $400.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Blah, it's crazy. If I saw those tickets for $230 like Nechville I would have grabbed them, I will keep watching. We won't drive in Florida so MCO it is.

 

[maxiesmom]

Air has become seriously ridiculous. We were looking and it was 300 and up RT into MCO. We are driving because of this. I refuse to pay more than 250RT- especially when I'm willing to fly out of Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo or Pittsburgh to do so.

Have you checked Flint, MI? FNT? They usually have the cheapest rates of any of the major airports in Michigan.

 

[Redarrow5150]

That's changed when Southwest officially took over Air Tran and they also don't have a lot of options in regards to flight times. The bottom line is a better economy and less competition have resulted in higher rates.

Have you checked Flint, MI? FNT? They usually have the cheapest rates of any of the major airports in Michigan.

 

[Nechville]

I agree! I have been waiting to book airfare until free dining came out and now that I have booked my trip, airfare went up to $440 from MSP! It was $363 two weeks ago. So now I'm sitting and waiting and waiting and waiting....not very patiently. Flying into TPA is not an option since we don't want to rent a car.

My $230 was from MSP! Hope they come back down for you.

 

[pooch]

We fly to Orlando from NYC nearly every year, and sometimes up to three times a year. We usually pay around $180 - $220 per person/rt. I've been pricing tickets for our November trip off and on since we booked the hotel and the flights are always around $360 - $400 for reasonable times. It's not a far flight and there are many airlines that go there from the three surrounding airports, why are the prices running so high right now. I hope they come down, I'll just keep watching. I applied for the SW card this week but by the time it comes in the mail and I charge the required amount I know it will be past the date the tickets for November go on sale. I don't know if there will be any more seats available to get with miles in a month or so when I expect to have the miles to use.

All seats on swa are available for purchase with points, no blacked out dates or seats ever

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Ah, good to know, thanks!

 

[nacho113]

We were thinking higher traffic/prices because of opening of new Harry Potter expansion at Universal. Its definitely all the buzz on the internet

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We were thinking higher traffic/prices because of opening of new Harry Potter expansion at Universal. Its definitely all the buzz on the internet

I don't see this affecting airline ticket prices.