Which Bullet to Bite?

[Tbone17701]

We are in NE PA and trying to decide on which of the evils to go with for our Easter 2015 air to WDW. Southwest opened higher than expected from BWI (our preference when Philly is higher), so seriously considering Jet Blue from DCA. Haven't done DCA in over a decade, but don't recall it being much fun back then. We don't object to trying Jet Blue though. BWI is about 3-3.5 hours drive and DCA about 4 (depending on traffic of course). We'd be traveling 4/2-4/11/15 (Thursday afternoon and Saturday evening if that helps judge things with regard to traffic). Right now I can book a roundtrip on Jet Blue from DCA for less than a one way on Southwest from BWI and we need 3 tickets. Does anyone who is familiar with the area or who maybe has done both options have any input? We've considered all other possibilities and these are the final choices.

TIA

 

[Terp Dad]

I just took JetBlue from DCA without any problems, however I live in Northern Virginia, so traffic is less of an issues.

If you are taking the late afternoon flight you should be OK as rush hour doesn't kick in until about 3. Look into using one of the offsite parking services. Google DCA offsite parking and compare. 12 days was $87 compared to over $150 onsite. Pick one of the hotels in Crystal City and the shuttle from the hotel is about the same time as a shuttle from the long term parking. Another option is a sleep & fly package and driving down the day before.

One of the pluses with JetBlue at DCA is that they have a small terminal in the old section so TSA lines are shorter.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Did you rule put the direct flight from Avoca with Allegiant?
Even with the fee for luggage and flying into Sanford its an easy flight and drive.
We have used it numerous times. 2 1/4 hr and in Florida.

 

[Tbone17701]

Did you rule put the direct flight from Avoca with Allegiant?
Even with the fee for luggage and flying into Sanford its an easy flight and drive.
We have used it numerous times. 2 1/4 hr and in Florida.

Though we much prefer flying right into MCO and using DME, I was desperate enough to check Allegiant out of both Avoca and Allentown. They don't fly on our dates from Avoca and Allentown was more one way down then Jet Blue roundtrip from DCA. Feeling kind of boxed into Jet Blue, but sweating the whole DCA thing. I'm sure it can't be as bad as JFK though (to drive into and out of). My age is definitely showing as 10 years ago this wouldn't have even phased me.

 

[Tbone17701]

I just took JetBlue from DCA without any problems, however I live in Northern Virginia, so traffic is less of an issues.

If you are taking the late afternoon flight you should be OK as rush hour doesn't kick in until about 3. Look into using one of the offsite parking services. Google DCA offsite parking and compare. 12 days was $87 compared to over $150 onsite. Pick one of the hotels in Crystal City and the shuttle from the hotel is about the same time as a shuttle from the long term parking. Another option is a sleep & fly package and driving down the day before.

One of the pluses with JetBlue at DCA is that they have a small terminal in the old section so TSA lines are shorter.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions

Thank you for your response. I will check into the off site parking options as a park & fly isn't feasible due to our schedules. We actually aren't against paying a "bit" more to park on site if it's much more convenient, but I've read that on site long term parking is limited. That makes me wonder what they do with the overflow? The "bit" more I refer to being willing to pay does not mean $36.00/day!

I also thought I read that the A Terminal is under construction now and Jet Blue is operating from the B Terminal? The only down side mentioned was longer lines for security in B. I wish I could recall where I read that. Hmmm...

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Did you try Harrisburg? Frontier I think flew out of there.

I guess even US. Air is high out of Avoca? We connected in Charlotte last year when I found two round trips for $300 for two of us. Delta started a connection to Charlotte too, but they are always high.

Calculate in fuel, parking, tolls and your time too. Sometimes there is just a cut off with breaking even.
Agree, there is a time in my age where I am not going to battle the highways to save a few hundred.

 

[winthropf]

Another option is Frontier out of Wilmington, DE. I have heard from a friend who works for them that the number of flights is going to be cut down even though they have been flying with almost full flights to Florida.

 

[Tbone17701]

Another option is Frontier out of Wilmington, DE. I have heard from a friend who works for them that the number of flights is going to be cut down even though they have been flying with almost full flights to Florida.

Frontier out of Harrisburg is actually closer for us, but they haven't opened up for April yet and they only offer one flight a day in each direction which is scary if anything happens to that one flight. I will look at Wilmington to at least see how many flights they run daily. I'm just nervous about waiting much longer to book.

When you say they are cutting flights to Florida, do you mean Frontier or JetBlue and if JetBlue, did your friend specify that they were cutting DCA flights or just mean system wide?

 

[Tbone17701]

We went with JetBlue from National. Just couldn't pass up the good price and even though it's early and the initial Southwest prices are high, they appear to be selling as some flights have gone up already. I just wish I'd have looked at JetBlue when they first came out as it may have been even less! Oh well, this whole peak season travel thing is new to us, so lesson learned.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

If anything happens that one flight another plane is sent. If it's a freak snow storm then no one is flying.

 

[Gracie0423]

Just from my experience living about 30 minutes from Harrisburg and an hr from Baltimore and Philly, we flew Frontier last yr end of Nov and prices were high at first ($500RT) then came down to around $250RT/per person, BWI was much higher. This year we are going to fly out of BWI in Feb bc the return flight to Harrisburg via Frontier leaves around 7:30am and we had to catch Magical Express around 4am- never again we loved Frontier though for what it's worth
I'm in the same boat trying to figure out when to book and lock in our price- miss the days of $99RT from Harrisburg!!

Good luck!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If anything happens that one flight another plane is sent. If it's a freak snow storm then no one is flying.

What are you talking about?

OP, DCA is a nice, small airport. If you don't mind the extra driving time, I'd go with JetBlue, especially if you save so much money. You'll get assigned seats and individual seat back entertainment (not available on Southwest).

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

What are you talking about?).

Well, T-bone was worried about the one flight a day. My son works AVP and if Allegiant one flight a day has a mechanical problem another plane is sent. If there is a flight cancelled due to weather, no airlines are flying back to the northeast let alone Allegiant one flight a day.
This seems to be the same across the board with other one flight a day airlines i have used from Harrisburg.

Are you still confused?

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Another suggestion: Look for flights into Jacksonville and rent a car to drive to Orlando. We are flying into JAX on 4/1 for $84 each on JetBlue and flying home from MCO on 4/9 on Delta for @114 each. We lucked into a minivan for a total of less than $100 through enterprise for the week.

We live in the NY area so perhaps you can't get similar fares, but it would be wise for you to check flights into TPA and JAX as well.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Doesn't Jet Blue fly out of Newark, NJ also?

Frontier flies out of Trenton, NJ too and I think more frequently than Wilmington,