Why the crazy high airfare for Jersey week in November?

[jworth]

Hi, I am new to the board. We booked our hotel room a few months ago for Nov 1-8 and I have been using a flight tracker for air from Philly. I cant believe how high it is that week. I've never had to pay that much for Orlando. I'm hoping its not because Jersey week is insanely crowded. I've heard mixed comments about this. Can anyone give me some feedback on that week or any insight into the high rates that week?

 

[ErinsMommy]

I checked on airfare for that week almost a month ago and it sounds like it hasn't changed - so I would say high demand. They know that'll be a busy week where people are going to want to go away.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Not insanely busy, don't worry about that. Airfare is pretty insane all over right now.

 

[nkereina]

Jersey Week isn't crazy busy, but it is flying out of NJ/Philly area and the airlines know that. Maybe not necessarily just to Orlando, but to anywhere.

FWIW, we're traveling out of Buffalo 11/14-11/22, and I booked back in May when Southwest extended their schedule. Prices have only gone up considerably since then.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

In Minnesota, there is a 2 day period in October where all public schools are closed due to a statewide teacher conference. We experience the same increase in airfare for the week including those dates that you're seeing for Jersey week. When there is high demand, there are high prices.

 

[deakam]

We are going the end of September. I have never paid more than $200 per person for a flight. This year it has been closer to $300 since I booked the resort. I have gone ahead and purchased our tickets because it does not look like they are coming down anytime soon. We fly out of Chicago and it appears that all airlines are roughly the same.

They charge what people will pay. Also--the government just tacked on a whole new set of TSA fees. Not sure when they go into affect.

 

[ibela]

Airfare prices are just crazy period. Last year I paid $250pp roundtrip, this year (same week, same timeframes) it was $350.

 

[Ermise]

We are also traveling those dates (flying down 11/1 and returning 11/8) from the Boston area, and I noticed the flights were much more expensive than in the past. There was a period of a week back in early June where we found reasonable flights ($235) on those dates. They then went back up quickly and seem to have stayed there since.

 

[jworth]

Well at least I know I'm not the only one. Some of the times are already sold out and normally Id wait longer but am afraid there will be nothing left and the prices might go up even higher. It just kills me to pay $500 for a flight to Orlando!

 

[LaurenT]

I don't think it reflects expectations for Disney. As others have said, the NJ area airports will have higher fares because they know everyone wants to fly from there that week. President's week is crazy airfare outmof Albany, but not from areas that don't get that week off....

 

[sonofanarchy]

Airfare is pretty much out of control everywhere, all the time as of late.

I've always felt as though the smartest thing Disney could do would be to start an airline that flies everywhere to Orlando. Keep the fares down and put an end to the ridiculous fares to Orlando. I know so many people who don't go to WDW because the airfare is too expensive.

 

[puffkin]

I fly out of Philly or BWI and never paid more than $200 RT until our last trip in June which was $220. And I got very lucky to grab that fair. Flights are just crazy pretty much all the time and everywhere now. We are driving for the first time every in November. I can't justify $2200 for the 4 of us to fly. That is just beyond crazy.

 

[ForeDisney]

Though we live only 7-8 hours (depending on freeway traffic) from Disney World, at times it suits us to fly to get there "faster". Now we live in Florida and the flights are around $350 - $400 (coach) from Pensacola to Orlando and we're in the same state.

I wont even tell you what business and/or first class was going for. We actually paid less our last trip to Ireland at Thanksgiving first class than we would have flying to Orlando from Pensacola first class. That to me is just ludicrous. It's cheaper to fly trans-Atlantic than it is to fly inside the state we reside.

This year, instead of paying close to $1,000 (after fees) for both of us to fly, we're driving for the first time to Disney. $200 in gas sure seems better and saving near $800 to spend while we are actually on holiday rather on it trying to get there.

I fly a great deal for work, though the business pays so I don't look at prices. When I am paying, they become very important. Airfare is out of control these days.

I have found a little loophole in frequent flier miles that I have been using. When I fly for work, I gain miles but cannot use them for another person. So I just buy a ticket with my miles, figure out how much my wife's ticket will be. Then I purchase a gift card through the frequent flier program for an amount over her ticket. Buy the ticket with the gift card on my flier number and get a lot of the points I spent on the gift card back.

Works out quite well unless we want to fly instate. Then, it doesn't matter. Ticket are still through the roof.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Agree!! My friend here at work is trying to book her flight home from MCO on SW to STL for Oct 5th and it is crazy high!!!


I booked my flights to MCO for $149 and I have never paid that much for Fall...This is on Nov 1st from STL and then I fly home on Tuesday Nov 5th and I guess I should have grabbed them at $139 cause they are up to $157 now!

I wish they would have one of those mileage sales... Where they do $99, $129 and $149 by distance...That would be nice...

So we are all feeling your pain....

 

[jworth]

It is nuts that these airlines can set the rates that high. I even checked from Newark or Baltimore and they were no better. We're flying US Air, but Id fly with someone else if the rates were lower. If we weren't so far, Id consider driving. Im just hoping Jersey week isn't too insane. We don't travel often and this is a big trip for the family and we don't want to have to wait in crazy long lines. At least our travel agent got us a nice discount for our hotel room this morning!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Actually rates for this year are lower than what they were last year for us. That is flying out of PHL into MCO. But we aren't going this year at all, I was just watching with curiosity, being we are planning to return next year. We also don't go Jersey week. It will either be the week before or the week after. That is not because of crowds at Disney though. We have been Jersey week and it is fine crowd wise. But discounts are limited and airfare is higher, so I stick to the cheaper weeks.

 

[sls404]

Crazy prices out of Memphis also!

Last year I got Delta round trip to MCO for $164 the last week of October. This year we are going Columbus Day weekend and cheapest flight I have seen is around $400 Southwest. Delta is $500 and up! The Delta nonstop flight leaving Thursday (10/9) is over $1,000.

 

[twoplustwins]

Also checking Memphis to Orlando for mid-November. Prices were around $250. Last week they went to over $500. Over the weekend they were almost $800.

 

[Canuckbiggs]

Jersey Week isn't crazy busy, but it is flying out of NJ/Philly area and the airlines know that. Maybe not necessarily just to Orlando, but to anywhere.

FWIW, we're traveling out of Buffalo 11/14-11/22, and I booked back in May when Southwest extended their schedule. Prices have only gone up considerably since then.

We are out of Buffalo Nov 6-16th. I booked on Southwest the morning they opened the schedule. 4 direct tickets round trip with a morning departure and afternoon return for $1000 taxes in.

I'm a Cdn and the prices from Toronto are like $3000. So I was happy with that.

How good was your deal?

 

[Donnainnj]

OP you may get a better rate out of Baltimore on Southwest. We have found it worth the extra drive sometimes. Good luck.