What is up with airfare prices from DFW to MCO?

[S'sMom]

As I am looking, I can not find flights that are reasonable (as far as cost) for December. Each way is about $328 one way and about $150 the other way . That has never happened. I am thinking that since AirTran will no longer fly from DFW (Which is the airline, we used most of the time). There really is no other airlines that offer the non-stop to MCO at a lower price. AA offers the non-stop but that is the one that is so costly. Of course, I searched SW, but they are expensive as well (with layovers). The others are also layover flights for even more.

I understand the economy, but I thought that I would just ask, in case I am missing something.

Maybe we can use Spirit and just fly into FLL, but I am not sure how far away that would be. Oh well, the nature of the beast. Gotta love it!

 

[Disney Dork in DFW]

As I am looking, I can not find flights that are reasonable (as far as cost) for December. Each way is about $328 one way and about $150 the other way . That has never happened. I am thinking that since AirTran will no longer fly from DFW (Which is the airline, we used most of the time). There really is no other airlines that offer the non-stop to MCO at a lower price. AA offers the non-stop but that is the one that is so costly. Of course, I searched SW, but they are expensive as well (with layovers). The others are also layover flights for even more.

I understand the economy, but I thought that I would just ask, in case I am missing something.

Maybe we can use Spirit and just fly into FLL, but I am not sure how far away that would be. Oh well, the nature of the beast. Gotta love it!

I know exactly how you feel! We wound up purchasing the nonstop flights on American back in April for our trip in December, and even then it was outrageous. Now it's effectively the same as a mugging, just minus a few cuts and bruises.

We are also eagerly awaiting the expiration of those peculiar provisions of the Wright Amendment. Once they go away in 2014, Southwest/AirTran will undoubtedly begin nonstop service all over the country (hopefully including MCO), which will hopefully also force American and others to lower their prices.

BTW, if your dates are somewhat flexible (ours weren't so we couldn't do this), and you don't mind a little scenic drive, you might consider flying from Shreveport to Orlando Sanford instead. Those prices are usually noticeably cheaper, and if you were planning to rent a car anyway, it might be worth it!

 

[S'sMom]

I know exactly how you feel! We wound up purchasing the nonstop flights on American back in April for our trip in December, and even then it was outrageous. Now it's effectively the same as a mugging, just minus a few cuts and bruises.

We are also eagerly awaiting the expiration of those peculiar provisions of the Wright Amendment. Once they go away in 2014, Southwest/AirTran will undoubtedly begin nonstop service all over the country (hopefully including MCO), which will hopefully also force American and others to lower their prices.

BTW, if your dates are somewhat flexible (ours weren't so we couldn't do this), and you don't mind a little scenic drive, you might consider flying from Shreveport to Orlando Sanford instead. Those prices are usually noticeably cheaper, and if you were planning to rent a car anyway, it might be worth it!

Thanks so much!Unfortunately, the dates are not as flexible as I would like. I have tried it in several ways. Austin, Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio, etc. .. Still expensive. Either we will go and then just use Spirit Air or we wont go. Not sure. It is all very interesting. Thanks again

 

[KathyTX]

I booked roundtrip from DFW to MCO on American for December for $99 each way, just booked Thursday night... but it looks like those fares are gone now.

Guess I was really lucky to get that deal.

 

[S'sMom]

I booked roundtrip from DFW to MCO on American for December for $99 each way, just booked Thursday night... but it looks like those fares are gone now.

Guess I was really lucky to get that deal.

Yes your fares are awesome!!! My dates are December 17-20, 2011. I am thinking that the weekend leaving has something to do with it.

 

[aubriee]

Last July I was watching airfare from DFW to MCO for my Nov 26th-Dec 4th trip. Air Tran's last flight out of Dallas is Nov 22nd and I fly out Nov 26th, so just barely miss being able to use them. I was about to have a heart attack looking at the high fares on American, Southwest, and Delta. I am used to paying $148.00-$220.00 r/t on Air Tran (paid $180.00 for my Sept trip). The late Nov/Dec airfares were running over $300.00. One day American dropped their prices and I grabbed them at $277.40 r/t. I have never paid that much for DFW-MCO airfare. Those same tickets (flight# 1712 and 351) are now running $495.40 r/t and have been for several weeks now. I'm thinking about taking my grandson done there, but don't want to pay that much for air fare for a 2 1/2 y/o.

I also need DFW-MCO air fare for Feb 4th-11th and May 5th-13th. With Air Tran leaving Dallas, I'm afraid our days of cheap air fare is over.

 

[DebbieB]

If you are going to go around the holidays, it's probably too late for good fares.

Fort Lauderdale to Orlando is 211 miles.

 

[S'sMom]

With Air Tran leaving Dallas, I'm afraid our days of cheap air fare is over.

I think that you are right If we have to, we can fly into Ft. Lauderdale and make the 3 hour drive. If the price is right, a 211 miles drive wont hurt

It very well could be too late and if that is the case, I will just make other arrangements closer to home. I guess I will just and see.

 

[cg1200]

If you are going to go around the holidays, it's probably too late for good fares.

I'm traveling from the NYC area the week after Xmas and fares have been outrageous since the beginning of the year. They've been over $800 at times R/T on jetBlue and Airtran. Only recently I've seen them dip into the $500's (still outrageous). I know that is a popular week but I've never heard of an $800 fare from NY to MCO.

I'm going down to Disney for a conference in a few weeks and paid $99 each way.

 

[soxfan11901]

AA has flights DFW - JAX for those dates for just under $150 each way. It's closer than FLL.

 

[LMN]

I just picked up AUS (Austin) to MCO on Delta for $236 Jan 11-15 this morning. I started looking about a week ago and the cheapest fare I could find was $270. I've never paid that much for this route, but it had been a while since I've flown. The last few times we have gone to DW we've driven. Snapped up the $236 fare when I saw it this morning. Hope you can find something comparable for the time that you're going. Good luck!

 

[S'sMom]

AA has flights DFW - JAX for those dates for just under $150 each way. It's closer than FLL.

This is a SO MUCH better price/option. I will take a look now
Thanks,

 

[aubriee]

I'm not sure what your exact dates are but I was just checking for my Feb trip and found American had just put some of their fares on sale ($86.00 each way and $193.40 r/t). Remembering this post I checked for Dec 3rd-10th and found a few fares for those dates for the same price. $193.40 is an excellent price flying out of DFW. Check your dates. My dates have been running over $400.00, so I grabbed the $193.40. Now if the prices would just go down for my May trip.lol

Edit: Good thing I grabbed those tickets two days ago. Those exact same flights are now back up to $459.40.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I just picked up AUS (Austin) to MCO on Delta for $236 Jan 11-15 this morning. I started looking about a week ago and the cheapest fare I could find was $270. I've never paid that much for this route, but it had been a while since I've flown. The last few times we have gone to DW we've driven. Snapped up the $236 fare when I saw it this morning. Hope you can find something comparable for the time that you're going. Good luck!

Delta had some great sales last week! I was watching for my brother for our upcoming trip in January. He held off, because most of the sale emails he's seen were for flights only through mid-Dec, and he thought maybe this week or next we'd see dates extended and prices drop. Now Delta is back up to where they were before the sale...hope he didn't make a mistake by waiting!

 

[Disney Princess]

We too have been checking fares for a while. We got $101 on Delta from MCO-DFW on Christmas day. We went ahead and booked that. We are still waiting for a good fare from DFW-MCO on Friday, December 16th. We know our dates are challenging for booking, but we are stuck leaving Friday after work. We are considering using Delta to Tampa that night. We are renting a car for our first couple of days anyway, so we may go that route. Of course, if Spirit Air comes down a bunch, we'll book that to FLL and drive a little more that first night. It is so hard to know what to do.

We were SO sad that Air Tran is leaving now. Of course, we have three free one-ways left on Air Tran that are worthless to us now. We are hopeful that maybe Air Tran will at least start flying out of DAL soon.

 

[JodyTG]

I found a pretty good deal...3 tickets (me, DH,7yo DS) for $527.40 RT 12/11-12/18. Yes, we have a lengthy layover in Houston both ways AND we get to Orlando a few hours later than we usually do AND we leave to come back home earlier than usual...BUT it's going to be cheaper than driving. So, we added one more day to our trip.

We figure it'll all even out.

 

[MrMarv]

The moronic-and-then-some 'Wright Amendment' is responsible for sky-high airfare prices out of DFW, and has placed significant restrictions on how many cities Southwest can offer nonstop service to out of Dallas Love Field.

As it stands now, Southwest can only offer nonstop service to eight cities outside the state of Texas, whereas American has no such restrictions flying in & out of DFW.

Consequently, when you restrict the availability of any given product the price (airfare in this case) is bound to soar, and that moronic rule also costs Southwest millions of dollars in extra fuel costs every single year.

 

[aubriee]

The moronic-and-then-some 'Wright Amendment' is responsible for sky-high airfare prices out of DFW, and has placed significant restrictions on how many cities Southwest can offer nonstop service to out of Dallas Love Field.

As it stands now, Southwest can only offer nonstop service to eight cities outside the state of Texas, whereas American has no such restrictions flying in & out of DFW.

Consequently, when you restrict the availability of any given product the price (airfare in this case) is bound to soar, and that moronic rule also costs Southwest millions of dollars in extra fuel costs every single year.

True, unfortunately we are stuck with it until October 2014. So at least three more years of American being able to charge whatever they want to for nonstop flights out of Dallas. With Southwest pulling Air Tran out of Dallas as of Nov 23rd our days of cheap airfare are gone, until at least Oct 16, 2014.