Which airline do you recommend?

[DisneyBliss7]

For those of you who fly what airline do you prefer? We live in NY and I don't want to drive again especially since we are staying on Disney property and we plan on using their transportation. And how soon can we purchase tickets?

 

[MaxTheHorse]

Unless you fly enough to have top-level frequent flyer status, I don't think it matters which airline you fly. They are all pretty much buses with wings these days.

I think price and convenience of schedules/routes are more important otherwise. And keep in mind the bag fees too (everybody except Southwest), and the fees some airlines choose to reserve a seat (AirTran).

 

[6elginfans]

Without a doubt you have to give Southwest a try. Sign up for their Ding specials and wait for a good rate to arrive. Also, they do not charge for 2 bags per person. This is a very unhappy event with other airlines, when you have to doll out money at airport check in for your checked bags. Paying the $10 for early check in is worth it.

I fly Southwest 2-3 tines a month on business and 1-2 times a year with my family of 6. Either way they are Superior to their competitors.

 

[k3chantal]

We determine what airline to fly by how many stops it takes to get there. For many years there was not a direct flight to Florida from California. We are going Virgin America this May because they just started a direct flight. Of course three months later, our friends noticed and purchased a direct flight from United that was five hundred dollars less. Amazing what competition does to companies!

But, I would make my choice by what time the flight leaves and arrives and by my pocket book (if getting a direct flight was not an issue).

 

[DisneyBliss7]

Without a doubt you have to give Southwest a try. Sign up for their Ding specials and wait for a good rate to arrive. Also, they do not charge for 2 bags per person. This is a very unhappy event with other airlines, when you have to doll out money at airport check in for your checked bags. Paying the $10 for early check in is worth it.

I fly Southwest 2-3 tines a month on business and 1-2 times a year with my family of 6. Either way they are Superior to their competitors.

I never heard of the Ding special! Do I just go on their website and sign up there? Thanks for the info

 

[ccgirl]

For those of you who fly what airline do you prefer? We live in NY and I don't want to drive again especially since we are staying on Disney property and we plan on using their transportation. And how soon can we purchase tickets?

I fly frequently. I have not seen a DING special for MCO in a very long time.

Most airlines charge a baggage fee so usually the total cost is lower for me flying out of BOS or PVD on Southwest or JetBlue.

With the children, I prefer JetBlue and would pay a little more for it since they have the tv's in each seat. Makes it so much easier and I don't have to pack as much for the kids on the plane. Plus, you get to pick your seats.

With children that small, you are eligible for family boarding on SW so I would not pay the $10 EBCI.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

We like JetBlue alot. It makes a difference having the tv and it's nice that your first bag fly's free. That means we will get three large bags and three carryons to fill. Not that we need it but it's nice to have the empty one for souvenirs coming home with us. Also with Jetblue families get to board first!

 

[snorkelfool]

Without status on a particular airline, just choose based on total cost and flight times. The airlines are pretty much all the same. You can book your tickets up to usually a year in advance. Tues is a good day to buy tickets as they typically have the lowest fares published that day.

I bought our October tickets for LGA/MCO about a month ago. I was able to get nonstop, roundtrip for $226/person on Delta. I decided to go ahead and buy as I doubted I would get a fare much lower than that even with a fare sale...and I wanted to lock in the flight times and seats that I preferred before they were gone or cost more.

You can sign up with Kayak for a fare alert notification on your specific trip. They will send you an email if the fares change.

 

[kamik86]

I fly southwest a lot. Only did one other airline, Delta, once. But now I am starting to fly a lot for work and really like southwest. I have heard good things about jet blue but they don't fly out of the closest airport to me.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

And keep in mind the bag fees too (everybody except Southwest), and the fees some airlines choose to reserve a seat (AirTran).

It is not true that WN is the only airline which allows free bags on domestic flights. JetBlue allows the first checked bag free, and most US airlines allow military families to check bags free. You can also get free checked bags if you are buying full fare economy tickets or buy your tickets using airline branded credit cards.

The airlines are pretty much all the same. You can book your tickets up to usually a year in advance.

On legacy airlines, you can buy tickets around 330 days in advance of travel.

 

[MaxTheHorse]

It is not true that WN is the only airline which allows free bags on domestic flights. JetBlue allows the first checked bag free, and most US airlines allow military families to check bags free. You can also get free checked bags if you are buying full fare economy tickets or buy your tickets using airline branded credit cards.

Was unaware of free bags on B6. I've never flown with them.

Are military bags free for every flight, or just when on "company business?"

 

[OurMinnieFamily]

Hi - I am flying out of LGA and going into MCO. I used pricelines name your own price option. I got our tickets for $135 a person. The bad thing is you don't pick your hours or airline, they pick that. I got lucky-ish. We fly out at 8 am on Thursday and arrive in Orlando around noon. Coming home it's a noon flight getting us into LGA about 4

LGA is the cheapest NY airport. And if you don't want to use the name your own price also check for flights out of westchester, smaller airport but their not bad in price.

 

[Duffy Lover]

Another vote for Southwest... I love them! Keep in mind that as a parent of a child 4 years old or younger that you can board between the A and B boarding groups.

You really can't beat the "free" luggage!

 

[tinker625]

We are using Jetblue. There is five of us and they dont charge a lagguge fee the first bag. Jetblue also has TV. The kids would like it.

 

[Aliceacc]

We're on Long Island.

I love Jetblue. I find their fares to be very competitive, particularly since they don't charge for that first bag. And I love the fact that each seat has its own TV-- it really keeps the kids occupied. Throw in the free snack, and I'm sold. And they have so many flights out of JFK-- we're leaving at about 7 am, and returning at about 10 pm, so it gets us those two days in the parks.

We always travel in August, and I've always been happy with the prices I get between Christmas and New Years.

The thing that thows me off with Southwest is that you don't get to choose your seats ahead of time. I know everyone says you can ensure that you're in Group A, but the worrier in me would fret for months that one of my kids would end up sitting alone. Silly, I know, but I just don't want to go there until the kids are older.

 

[2binak]

We've always flown JB because they offered a non-stop flight to MCO and they were always the least expensive out of our local airport. Their staff members are very friendly, the tv's in each seat, the larger seats & the free 1st bags are all nice pluses.

This year, we're flying SW out of another airport though because JB stopped running the non-stop to MCO and JB's prices were really high. I don't think you can go wrong with JB or SW.

 

[Aliceacc]

I will add that a friend at work has DVC. She goes to Disney every February break, and flies Delta or American. She says she's found that if she books when they FIRST release their prices, she does better than with JB or SW, even accounting for the baggage fees.

 

[ccgirl]

Something to keep in mind...

With SW, JB, or Airtran, if the price goes down you will get a credit for use on future travel (if requested). None of the other airlines, that I know of, do that.

My credit on Airtran was so much once that I ended up being able to pay for my checked bags from the credit.

Also, SW does not charge a change fee. So, if I changed my mind and wanted to fly another time/date I could without a change fee.

If SW, Airtran, JB, change my flight times they have all allowed me to switch to more convenient flights.

 

[DopeyDame]

I generally go to kayak.com - it's a one stop website that will tell you the cheapest prices on most of the airlines except Southwest. Then check out southwest's prices. Pick whichever has the best price (factoring in bag fees, etc.) and the best schedule for your needs. There isn't one "stand out" airline and other than Spirit, I don't think any are miles worse than the others.

 

[BellAbbeys Mom]

I know the one poster said that LGA was the cheapest..I have to disagree...JetBlue (at least for the days I am going 5/22-5/26) were MUCH cheaper out of JFK...I believe it has to do with JetBlue having their own terminal at JFK...it was nonstop 7am flight ...coming home in the evening for four people...$890...I personally did not feel that was too $$$ given the four people...you can go directly on JB site and check for prices there..

GOOD LUCK!