What is the most you'll pay for airfare?

[Desnik]

For our family of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids, flying on Jeblue from NY to Orlando I won't pay more than $900 roundtrip for allof us with all taxes and fees included. Our airfare usually costs $700-$850 depending on the time of year and which airport. Luckily we are in a good spot and have 3 NY/NJ airports which we are reasonably close to so it helps when searching for a better deal. We are spoiled by Jetblue and won't fly on any other airline.

With the price of gas and distance for us flying is always the best bet in our situation. We use to drive all the time but I just can't handle that long car ride anymore!

 

[Alexander]

That seems a tad bit pricey. When are you going to WDW?

That's what we paid when we just went in April. That price was down from $749 when I first started looking.

Right now there is nothing under $300 for our Aug/Sept trip from any of our 3 home area airports.

 

[kandb]

Just booked our jetblue flights from NY area. We got $109 going down on a Tuesday, leaving at 4:00pm in the afternoon and $92 coming home on a sunday, leaving MCO at 8:00. A little early on Sunday but I figure the day of departure, we are usually just waiting around a few hours waiting to leave.

I think with tax and fees it came out to around $220 a person. No baggage fees and free snacks.

 

[OThopeful35]

I had to book Delta going and southwest on the return back home for a total of $600 for 1 adult, 1 child from SFO. If I wouldn't have stalked airline websites and used two different airlines, tickets would have been over $900 We may have just gone to Disneyland. American airlines wanted $1200 rt

 

[dmband]

typical airfare for me is around $300
but i pref jetblue non stop which I have got from $223-509
it is 100% worth it with kids and more so when they are under 5

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

Just booked our jetblue flights from NY area. We got $109 going down on a Tuesday, leaving at 4:00pm in the afternoon and $92 coming home on a sunday, leaving MCO at 8:00. A little early on Sunday but I figure the day of departure, we are usually just waiting around a few hours waiting to leave.

I think with tax and fees it came out to around $220 a person. No baggage fees and free snacks.

I think that's the trick. Leave during a weekday and the prices go really low. I will now plan any vacations that way.

I booked our outbound trip yesterday. We've spent $1,100 total. It's more than I was hoping to spend but after seeing this thread, I feel like I've gotten a deal!! Our trip going down, yes, we'll be twiddling our thumbs in the airport for a while before taking DME, but that's fine with us. Our trip coming home doesn't leave MCO until 9:45 PM so that will give us a whole day to spend at the resort.

Outbound - 144 p/p, o/w - $620 total
Inbound - 129 p/p, ow - Used DH's rewards for this one so we basically got one ticket for free. - $480

 

[keishashadow]

I think that's the trick. Leave during a weekday and the prices go really low. I will now plan any vacations that way.

I booked our outbound trip yesterday. We've spent $1,100 total. It's more than I was hoping to spend but after seeing this thread, I feel like I've gotten a deal!!

only until the flights fill up & the tix prices rise

i'm done complaining about what i see as a 30 - 50% increase in flight costs for several trips i have planned this yearit is what it is.

perhaps the routes to MCO will now be originally priced "at rack" (just as WDW does before heavily discounting rates) and no longer will the early worms get the best rates.

 

[1tufgt]

We ended up booking our flights for $353 per person round trip which was about what I had estimated due to the gas prices this year. I can live with that but was spoiled by the total of $475 that we paid round trip for 3 people last year. LOL

 

[jeff968]

The most I'll pay is $250 a ticket and I almost insist on Non-stops. I shop early and find what I need. We got non-stops into Orlando from JFK last year during President's week for only $179 with all fees.

 

[kkmauch]

I thought the most we would pay is $250 per person. But then we ended up having to get $399 pp. It was a shock to the system...BUT it all worked out! Delta changed our flight times by over 2 hours and we got a refund. Booked Sun Country the same day for $294 pp. Not $250 but not $399 either!

 

[keishashadow]

The most I'll pay is $250 a ticket and I almost insist on Non-stops. I shop early and find what I need. We got non-stops into Orlando from JFK last year during President's week for only $179 with all fees.

that was last year, most of had similar success stories over the years with some dilligence when booking. Problem is there's been a really big spike in tix prices for many of us who are restricted to traveling on weekends! If you haven't priced things out lately you may be very unpleasantly surprised

 

[ColoradoDisney]

We paid $443 on Southwest for Denver to MCO (non-stop) for early June. We could have saved a $50 per ticket if we were willing to do a stop over/lay over. We could have also saved another $50 by returning on a Monday rather than a Sunday. If I was willing to take the 6 AM return flight, it was cheaper as well.

As a frequent business traveler, I would say that airline tickets in general are higher this summer versus last. Here are some of the reason:

-Oil prices are up
-Less competition as several carriers have merged
-Economy is stronger, so more people are traveling for both work and pleasure.

From Denver to Orlando, it is rough to get anything less than $300. Once in a great while you will see a $250 fare but they usually require mid week travel, multiple stops, or early morning flights.

I booked Southwest to avoid paying for luggage and in case I needed to change flights. I also hoped that there would be some sales and I could rebook. Unfortunately, the price of tickets has actually gone up. For the same dates, they seem to be bouncing around $500-$700 depending on the airline. For that price we could almost go to Hawaii or London!

 

[brenda1966]

We paid $443 on Southwest for Denver to MCO (non-stop) for early June.
Unfortunately, the price of tickets has actually gone up. For the same dates, they seem to be bouncing around $500-$700 depending on the airline. For that price we could almost go to Hawaii or London!

thanks for posting. Flying out of DIA is really hitting the pocket book hard this summer/fall. I'm playing the waiting game, have also looked at flying out of Co Springs, but at this point it's not worth the hassle.

 

[jeff968]

that was last year, most of had similar success stories over the years with some dilligence when booking. Problem is there's been a really big spike in tix prices for many of us who are restricted to traveling on weekends! If you haven't priced things out lately you may be very unpleasantly surprised

Ah, on the contrary, I have. My nephew is getting married on 12/28 at Disney. I thought I was doomed and had a van reserved to drive. Then I found tickets for $170 each!!! Granted, I'm going into Jacksonville and I have a connection in Atlanta but $170 RT a piece. I purchased 5 tickets very quickly, $854 out the door!!!

 

[keishashadow]

Ah, on the contrary, I have. My nephew is getting married on 12/28 at Disney. I thought I was doomed and had a van reserved to drive. Then I found tickets for $170 each!!! Granted, I'm going into Jacksonville and I have a connection in Atlanta but $170 RT a piece. I purchased 5 tickets very quickly, $854 out the door!!!

you are proof that where there's a will, there is a way! i wouldn't consider a connection or flying into jacksonsville for an Orlando based trip, but congrats on your extraordinary find!

 

[jeff968]

you are proof that where there's a will, there is a way! i wouldn't consider a connection or flying into jacksonsville for an Orlando based trip, but congrats on your extraordinary find!

It is all about flexibilty and priorities. I couldn't afford $2000 for 5 NS tickets into MCO. The other option, $350 a week unlimited miles in a rented van isn't a bad deal but 40 hours RT driving will be hard on everyone. I've gone into JAX before, 2.5 hour drive to Orlando, not bad at all and my number one priority is met, affordable tickets.

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

Well, I used to think I wouldn't pay more than $300 per person, but having just booked our October trip and paid $425 per person for nonstop Milwaukee to Orlando, I guess I have to revise my limit. Good thing I booked when I did -- 10 minutes after I snagged 2 of the last 3 seats at that fare, the MKE to MCO leg went up $120. What's ridiculous is that I just paid more for airfare to Orlando than what I paid just a few years ago for Hawaii.

 

[disneychic2]

I was nervous this year wondering how long to hold out, when to bite the bullet and just get the tickets. Well, I read on here that if you book your airfare with Airtran through Disney, you get better prices. I got r/t tx for 3 adults for $597 which includes all fees and taxes. We stop in Atlanta, but that's okay with us. I am used to paying around $200 for r/t each year from either Cleveland or Akron airport. I have gone as high as $235, but that was just once. With oil prices so high, it's really hard to play the waiting game!

 

[wdwfan1]

NYC area - ISP, JFK, LGA, HPN, SWF & EWR are doable.

We always fly out of Islip on Southwest--love the easy security check and the proximity to our home.

In December we paid $109 each way per person. In March the rates were really high for the dates we needed--around $300 each way. I checked often and one morning the trip home was $99. I booked that but the trip down was not budging. One morning it went to $229 (I think) and I bit the bullet and booked. Then I got a DING and paid $119 for each of us.

Now I am looking at October and not liking what I see. I booked the tip home with free reward tickets, but the trip down is still pricey. I will keep checking and have my fingers crossed.

If you are willing to keep checking, you may be able to get a good deal on SW. Good luck and enjoy your vacation.

 

[cg1200]

I'm looking at airfares well over $500 pp for Xmas week 2011 from the NYC area. I paid about $350 from HPN to MCO in 2010 over Thanksgiving week which I thought was decent. I've been watching flights since JetBlue released their fares for Xmas week and they aren't moving much. I've seen them over $700 pp from other airports. I think the best I can do (non-stop) is $599 from SWF. Very steep. If it dips below $500 I'll probably bite.