What would you do?

[Native NYer]

We need to purchase airfare for our trip next summer (August 4th-11th). We need 5 round trip tickets. We'd like to have an early morning flight to MCO and a late flight back to either JFK, LGA, or EWR. But so far, only major airlines (American, Continental, and Delta) have fares for our departure date. The CM who booked my package said that the return trip will be available by September 14 if we want to add airfare to our package.

From what I understand, Disney does not book flights on JetBlue. So, if I book through them, I'd have to book myself. Any idea when August 2010 rates will be available? I'm wondering when August fares are typically released.

Also, not sure if I should just go ahead and book Continental on the 14th. While I want to secure and pay for my flight, I'm not sure Continental is the best choice.

I could also fly SW from either Islip or BWI (my brother lives in MD so I could just spend the night before in his house). However now with the Early Bird Check-In, I'm not sure this is a good idea. We're flying with 2 kids (they'll be 2 and 6 at the time) and I want to make sure we're sitting together. Also, I'd LOVE to be able to take advantage of RAC at AKL. We used it both times last year at the Poly when we flew American (before they cut their early flights from LGA to MCO) and LOVED checking our luggage and getting boarding passes at the resort.

Ok DIS experts, what would you do? What airline would you choose? Would you book your flights directly through CRO?

 

[twinklebug]

Your youngest will be 2? In that case you'll qualify for Southwest's family pre-board (between the A and B groups) You should have no issues with finding 5 seats close together. I like SWA as their leg room is more than most standard carriers & I have long legs. It also helps when leaning down to get in & out of the bag at my feet (and with small kids I'm positive you'll be doing this a lot!) Jet blue is the only other carrier I've heard of that has the same spacing between seats.

The frustrating thing about SW is waiting for your dates to open up. Chances are you'll have to wait until Feb/Mar to see them.

I'd also take into consideration who has direct flights offered at the time you want to take off. I don't mind a transfer when I'm alone, but with more bodies to watch over you have to get them to the next gate and don't want them wandering between flights.

 

[Native NYer]

Your youngest will be 2? In that case you'll qualify for Southwest's family pre-board (between the A and B groups) You should have no issues with finding 5 seats close together. I like SWA as their leg room is more than most standard carriers & I have long legs. It also helps when leaning down to get in & out of the bag at my feet (and with small kids I'm positive you'll be doing this a lot!) Jet blue is the only other carrier I've heard of that has the same spacing between seats.

The frustrating thing about SW is waiting for your dates to open up. Chances are you'll have to wait until Feb/Mar to see them.

I'd also take into consideration who has direct flights offered at the time you want to take off. I don't mind a transfer when I'm alone, but with more bodies to watch over you have to get them to the next gate and don't want them wandering between flights.

JetBlue does have lots of space. But if you want even more, you have to pay an extra $25/seat. I didn't know SW had just as much space.

I'm leaning toward paying more $$$ for Continental or JetBlue just to be able to use RAC. The idea of checking luggage at the airport is not appealing.

 

[twinklebug]

JetBlue does have lots of space. But if you want even more, you have to pay an extra $25/seat. I didn't know SW had just as much space.

I'm leaning toward paying more $$$ for Continental or JetBlue just to be able to use RAC. The idea of checking luggage at the airport is not appealing.

SWA doesn't have more room if you're comparing to JB. It does if you're comparing to a number of other airlines though, and for me that extra inch or two makes a world of difference.

Examples from seatguru.com:

Southwest: (pitch (legroom) / width)
Economy Class: 32.0-33.0" 17.0"

JetBlue: (pitch (legroom) / width)
Coach Class: 34-38.0" 17.8"
Coach Class: 32-38.0" 18.0"

Continental: (pitch (legroom) / width)
Economy Class: 31.0" 17.2"

 

[Native NYer]

SWA doesn't have more room if you're comparing to JB. It does if you're comparing to a number of other airlines though, and for me that extra inch or two makes a world of difference.

Examples from seatguru.com:

Southwest: (pitch (legroom) / width)
Economy Class: 32.0-33.0" 17.0"

JetBlue: (pitch (legroom) / width)
Coach Class: 34-38.0" 17.8"
Coach Class: 32-38.0" 18.0"

Continental: (pitch (legroom) / width)
Economy Class: 31.0" 17.2"

Thanks for this info!

It's interesting that JetBlue seats with more leg room are slightly narrower. Not a huge difference though.

 

[Nickmom522]

According to my records from last year, the flights for jetblue for August '09, came out around mid-December '08.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for this info!

It's interesting that JetBlue seats with more leg room are slightly narrower. Not a huge difference though.

It's actually two different planes. There's the (more standard) Airbus 320, with 150 seats, and with the 34" to 38" pitch and 17.8" seat width. Then there's the smaller, 100 seat Embrear E90 where the pitch for most seats is 32", except the exit row is 38" - and all seats are 18" wide.