What would you do? Flight questions Milwaukee or Midway??

[traces7]

Here's my problem: I could fly Midway to Orlando for $384 for 2 round trips (direct fllight), but I'd have to take the bus from Wisconsin (I hear the traffic is horrilble by Midway), go down the night before and stay over in a hotel. An additional approx. $160.
Or I could drive to Milwaukee the day of our flight and it would cost $422 for 2 round trip tickets but there are stops in Cleveland and than I'd have parking too. About $50 I think. (Also I'd get to Orlando 3 hours later).
The Midway trip would be about $72 more, but I'm leaning toward that, because the flights are direct. Can anyone give me advice? I'm thinking of buying tickets today, because I don't think prices will be going down. My trip is the end of October.
Thanks

 

[WisMom]

Have you looked at Midwest Airlines or AirTran? Both fly out of Milwaukee with direct flights to Orlando and often have reasonable prices.

 

[traces7]

There aren't any non-stop flights left it seems. There are some flights with transfers, but most are more expensive. Any other suggestions?

 

[robinb]

traces7:

Where exactly are you coming from? We live in Madison, WI and I have flown from MSN and MDW and I can give you some advise once I know where you live.

 

[McKelly]

We booked flights about two months before our tripand both Northwest and Midwest were pretty reasonable. Northwest went down to 185.00 RT - Direct Flight and Midwest went down to $168.00 RT - Direct Flight. The problem is 2-3 days later they were back up in the 250.00 range. So I guess that is not much help. However, we found those prices on their websites, not travel websites, like travelocity, etc.

We prefer to pay a little more and fly out of Milwaukee because my DH DOES NOT like Chicago and wants to avoid it at all costs. But he doesn't like driving there we never thought of the bus, with kids I don't think it would be good.

There are hotels across from Mitchell that if you stay there the night before you can park your car in their underground lot for free. I am not sure of the names of them though.

Just my two cents. We tossed around Midway too, but decided to fly out of Milwaukee. We really like Midwest Airlines anyway.

Have a good trip!

 

[traces7]

Both are an easy drive from my house. We are trying to go on Wed Oct 26 and return on Sun Oct 30. I've checked all the airlines websites, other websites (Expedia, Travelocity, etc) and checked with a travel agent. And can't find anything better at this point. We can take a bus from Janesville (15 mins. from us) to Midway for $60. (not too bad). Which is why I was considering the nonstop Air Tran flight from Midway. The cheapest I found from Milwaukee was a Continental flight with stops in CLeveland. Should I just wait? The travel agent seemed to think because a lot of people want to travel these days that the fares won't go down much. Thanks

 

[robinb]

Both are an easy drive from my house. We are trying to go on Wed Oct 26 and return on Sun Oct 30. I've checked all the airlines websites, other websites (Expedia, Travelocity, etc) and checked with a travel agent. And can't find anything better at this point.

The reason why you can't find good airfare is the same reason you are going those days: the WEAC convention. Everyone wants to travel while their kids are out of school.

We can take a bus from Janesville (15 mins. from us) to Midway for $60. (not too bad). Which is why I was considering the nonstop Air Tran flight from Midway. The cheapest I found from Milwaukee was a Continental flight with stops in CLeveland. Should I just wait? The travel agent seemed to think because a lot of people want to travel these days that the fares won't go down much. Thanks

I would wait just a bit longer. Southwest should have availability out of MDW soon. I'm paying $150 RT (including taxes) in August using Ding! (SWA's special fare system). Otherwise, I would take the MKE fare since a savings of less than $100 is not worth it, IMO, to drive or bus to Chicago.

 

[atigeg]

I am a big Midway Airport fan. The traffic can be bad around rush hour, but no more so than your typical rush-hour snarls. If you don't book a hotel with a park and fly package, there is a great parking lot (Midway Park Savers) across from the Orange Line train entrance from which you can just walk into the airport. They have a coupon on the ATA website for a free day. WE fly out of Midway several times a month and have had good luck with ontime departures.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Barb

 

[traces7]

I don't fly often and this kind of scares me. It seems there would be more problems with missed planes or late planes. Plus we could get there sooner on the Midway flight. Milwaukee would be easier. Guess I'll wait a little more if I can. Thanks for all your help. More advice is appreciated!

 

[robinb]

I don't fly often and this kind of scares me. It seems there would be more problems with missed planes or late planes. Plus we could get there sooner on the Midway flight. Milwaukee would be easier. Guess I'll wait a little more if I can. Thanks for all your help. More advice is appreciated!

Since we almost always fly out of MSN, we always have a connection (usually MSP, DET or ORD). Yes, you can run the risk of missing a connection due to weather or mechanical problems. You run that risk every time you fly. Personally, I think your total travel time will be less out of MSN or MKE.

 

[ILPHIL]

We just flew Midwest from Milwaukee - Orlando earlier this month. Very reasonable fare and a lot easier than dealing with Midway. It's a shame no flights are available when you are traveling.
I know O'Hare can be a zoo, but have you checked fares from there? Much easier to get direct flights from there than either Midway or Mitchell Field.

 

[fiveacesmmb]

I booked a DING fare from Midway to Orlando for the end of Sept. for 115.00 RT. Getting to Midway is easy, and traffic isn't bad at all. I grew up very near there, and know how to get in easily. Take I-94 down to Illinois and then into I-294. Take that to I-55....go towards the city then (east) , and exit at HARLEM AVENUE. Go south (right) to the next stop light.........ARCHER AVENUE. Turn left (east) and stay on this till Narragansett (about 1 MILE). The road then forks. Stay to the right, and you will now be on 55th street. Take this all the way to CICERO AVENUE. The airport will be on your right. Follow the sign for long term parking. You may even decide to park in the lots that are right on 55th street before you get to CICERO AVENUE. I can almost guarantee that you will not hit heavy traffic this way. That's the way I'll be going in Sept. as I now live in the far west suburbs. Hope this helps!!!!

 

[TheShellys]

We are leaving for WDW in 2 weeks. We found a nonstop on Northwest months ago for $168 non stop.

We are in Madison area and make the short drive to MKE plus we got a hotel the night before (Best Western) for $99 park n fly rate. Makes that 7am flight much easier when you are only minutes from the airport.

MKE is easy to fly out of and they have had some very cheap fares. Before we booked we looked at flying out of Chicago, but this is much easier.

 

[dsnyfrek]

Would it be worth checking the fare from Rockford. I know they have one or two flights to Orlando, and it is usually a good deal. I am in the same boat with the half way thing: between Milwaukee and Chicago. We ALWAYS opt to fly from Milwaukee. Much easier to get to and usually a good price.

I wish you luck!

 

[smkjt]

check out usa3000. They have flight out of Milwaukee. GREAT PRICES!!!

 

[traces7]

Because of the convention and everyone wanting to travel I suppose. USA3000 didn't have my dates, neither does Rockford. But thank you for your help. I believe all the non-stop flights from Milwaukee are full. I think we will take the non-stop Midway flight (it's $384 non-stop for 2 of us). Or maybe I'll just keep waiting and see what happens. The travel agent I spoke with thought seems to think all seats are filled for this time and the remaining are filling fast and probably won't go any lower. It's crazy and frustrating!!

 

[robinb]

Personally, I don't think it's worth the extra hassle to drive or bus to Chicago to save only $50-$60 total. You'll spend that on gas or bus fare. Plus, $192 RT out of MDW isn't that great of a rate. The WEAC convention is a Wisconsin teacher's convention and won't effect MDW rates that much.

 

[traces7]

with the airfare prices. Maybe this is a bad idea. I hope I don't regret it! But if we don't get there in October when we wanted there's always some other time I suppose.

 

[robinb]

FWIW, We're going over Chistmas/New Years (12/23-1/7) and I would jump at $197 out of MDW. It's just not a great rate for your dates. I'm looking at over $300 right now out of MSN and way over $200 out of Chicago. My MSN "buy price" is around $235 and I start thinking about MDW somewhere around $170 these days. I'll patiently wait for rates to come down.

 

[traces7]

There's a sale right now, from Midway (the flight I was watching) departing is $69, returning is $91.
And out of Milwaukee on Air Tran with a connection on the departing flight is $79 departing and $114 returning (which is nonstop). Are these good prices? Or will they go lower?