When To Fly In?

[katmigordon]

We've always gone in the night before a cruise, but this time we're all the way across the country and it'll be September. We would prefer to fly in the night before but do you think we need to plan to go in two days ahead?

 

[scrappinginontario]

To me it depends on many factors.

Are you on a direct flight or do you have multiple legs to your flight?

Are you flying from a major airport with many flights or are options few?

What time of year is your cruise?

If you’re flying direct from a major airport I would fly in the day before, booking as early a flight as possible.

Answers to the questions above would make a difference for me.

 

[katmigordon]

To me it depends on many factors.

Are you on a direct flight or do you have multiple legs to your flight?

Are you flying from a major airport with many flights or are options few?

What time of year is your cruise?

If you’re flying direct from a major airport I would fly in the day before, booking as early a flight as possible.
Answers to the questions above would make a difference for me.

We'll fly in first class with as direct a route as possible, leaving out from Phoenix Az for whatever that's worth and the tim of year specifically will be September 14 2024

 

[auntlynne]

Morning before cruise - to allow for a later flight if there are issues. Non-stop if you can find one, to avoid problems at layover airport.

It’s about 7 hrs non-stop (on the clock - not your body). If you get bumped to day-of flight, that’s cutting it tight. If you can find a seat!

I would be tempted to come in 2 nights early - this is not like San Diego, where it was reachable by car on cruise day.

And have travel insurance that covers missed cruises.

 

[Erica1016]

I think if you can get a direct flight that leaves early in the day, that one day early should be fine. That allows for some time for delays, if they happen.

 

[Disneyfam854]

Check also to see if your airline is having a lot of cancellations or delays due to strikes and staffing. We had a 9 hour delay flying in day before cruise due to staffing on AA. If we had flown day of, we would have completely missed the cruise. I was even panicking we were going to end up arriving day of instead of night before they way it was going.

 

[Marthasor]

I would check to see how many more flights will, possibly, be available if your flight gets canceled. That's hurricane season in the east, so there is no predicting what could happen. Keep in mind, MCO is a few hours ahead, so any delay/cancellation from AZ is just going to make your time crunch worse. Personally, I would fly in two days prior. I live in the NE and was on the Wish cruise that, thankfully, sailed after the previous one was canceled due to a hurricane last year - it was a very stressful week when it looked like our ship was going to sail, but, because of all of the flight cancellations and delays, we were unsure if we were going to be able to fly into MCO. Booking anything during hurricane season is really a roll of the dice, IMHO.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Flying first class won't matter. We have flown direct to Orlando from PHX many times. One time we were diverted to Dallas to refuel because of the heat and we once had a 4 hour delay that departed PHX when we were supposed to land in Orlando. Most recently, our upcoming direct flight in October was cancelled and we are now flying through Austin.

That being said, with the exception of West coast cruises, every time we have cruised out of Florida or Europe, we have flown in 2 nights before the cruise. That allows for delays as well as getting used to time changes. We usually find something fun to do the the day before we embark the ship.

Good luck, flying has become a real pain as of late!

 

[RedHead0186]

In addition to all that's been said, flying into MCO in the afternoon/evening (presuming you are flying into MCO, I don't think you specified). If afternoon thunderstorms pop up, it can wreak havoc on the flight schedule. You won't be allowed to take off to go to MCO until the storms abate. And even if the storms have stopped, there can be a ripple effect that affects flights for hours afterward.

Flying in the night before is a little too risky for me. If you can get a morning flight that's better (I know it's hard because you're flying east).

 

[katmigordon]

the day, that one day early should be fine. That allows for some time for delays, if they happen.

So, plan will be to fly into MCO on Thursday and spend the night at the hyatt - take disney transport to the contemporary on Friday spend the day at Epcot and hit up the Mk halloween party before setting sail on Saturday.
Then we'll take disney transport from the port to the contemporary when we debark and spend the day in mk with another halloween party ticket.
We were going to do the two days together at the end of the trip, but if we split them up it wont be any more expensive and I can come in a day early.

 

[soniam]

Flying first class won't matter. We have flown direct to Orlando from PHX many times. One time we were diverted to Dallas to refuel because of the heat and we once had a 4 hour delay that departed PHX when we were supposed to land in Orlando. Most recently, our upcoming direct flight in October was cancelled and we are now flying through Austin.

That being said, with the exception of West coast cruises, every time we have cruised out of Florida or Europe, we have flown in 2 nights before the cruise. That allows for delays as well as getting used to time changes. We usually find something fun to do the the day before we embark the ship.

Good luck, flying has become a real pain as of late!

Where are you coming from that you are being routed through Austin? I live in Austin. I would hate to be routed through here. Not many flight options, except maybe Southwest. It's not Oklahoma or anything, but it's still not like DFW or Hobby in Houston. The airport itself is nice though and has a lot of great local food options.

 

[SeanSD]

We picked an early non stop from San Diego once and it got rerouted to Tucson for more fuel and then delayed takeoff after topping up fuel from there due to winds. We ended up getting to MCO about 7 at night.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Where are you coming from that you are being routed through Austin? I live in Austin. I would hate to be routed through here. Not many flight options, except maybe Southwest. It's not Oklahoma or anything, but it's still not like DFW or Hobby in Houston. The airport itself is nice though and has a lot of great local food options.

Phoenix

 

[darnheather]

Honestly if I had the time and money I would fly in two days before and rent a car to go shopping or do something fun to start the vacation early.

 

[OpieDoodle]

It depends on a lot of factors. Personally I at minimum try to aim for the day before we sail and the EARLIEST flight possible. Prefer directs or a closer layover. Example, where I fly from lays over in Atlanta often. If I get an early flight the day before and I get stuck in Atlanta I can reasonably rent a car and drive to port in a pinch. Always aim for bigger airports as layovers, it sucks trying to run to your plane but if something happens you'll have more options to rebook something.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

We'll fly in first class with as direct a route as possible, leaving out from Phoenix Az for whatever that's worth and the tim of year specifically will be September 14 2024

The plane gets there the same time regardless of what class you're flying.

I don't see any reason for more than 1 full day early with your transit at that time of year. If you were flying from the snowbelt in January I might consider adding a bit more time as a buffer but you have no significant weather issues to speak of on that route.

 

[Jason Martin]

We live near DC and always fly down the night before due to all potential factors. This also gives us the option if our flight is cancelled to get down 95 south with enough time to make it.

Fortunately we have never had to do this but if you remember last Christmas Southwests issues. Many people drove 10+ hours when their flights were cancelled. Morning of doesn't leave you a lot of options

Overseas cruises two days before to get time adjusted

 

[goofystitch]

We always fly in two days ahead ever since there have been so many problems with flight delays or cancellations.

 

[Mrlogboy]

If you’re in America one day before if you’re coming to America two days before if you fly in the morning of say, arriving at 6 AM in Florida or wherever the port as you are gambling lol . Flying same day has no wiggle room for if you’re playing Sunley get to fly through Sunday, a thunderstorm, the pops up etc. etc. etc.. all depends on the risk you’re willing to take

 

[RedHead0186]

The plane gets there the same time regardless of what class you're flying.

I don't see any reason for more than 1 full day early with your transit at that time of year. If you were flying from the snowbelt in January I might consider adding a bit more time as a buffer but you have no significant weather issues to speak of on that route.

But, keep in mind significant weather in another part of the country can still have great ripple effects on flights. O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the US and it's in Chicago. If they get a snowstorm, that means those planes can't get out to the other airports, so then those flights can't take off, etc.. People need to remember flight schedules are pretty much just a precarious set of dominoes-if one falls the rest could possibly go too.

Heck, I was in Kansas City flying to Chicago (Midway) last week. Beautiful sunny day in KC, no weather at all in Chicago, but my flight was delayed nearly 3 hours. Why? Because the plane for my flight was coming from Orlando, and they had a lengthy ground stop due to thunderstorms. Perfect example of how the weather can be perfect at both the takeoff and destination (and no bad weather in between those two points), but the flight is still affected by weather in a completely different part of the country.

And yes, sometimes airlines can shift planes around to accommodate, but with flights being so full these days and less gaps in the schedule, that gets harder to do than it used to be.