wwyd? after Dream cruise...MCO or Sanford?

[melmar136]

I can't decide what to do, so thought I'd run it by all of you. Maybe someone has done it before...?

We will be returning from the Dream on Sun 8/28. I don't have our returning flights booked yet. I booked our flights to WDW for only $67 on SW and was waiting to book the others, hoping they'd go down. Since we can't get flights after the cruise until at least noon, those seem to be the most expensive, and just seem to keep going up!

So, today I was looking into flying home from Sanford instead, into Worcester, MA. I thought we could rent a car near the port, drive to Sanford and fly home from there (for only $99 per person). The rental car is around $75. It would be $70 for 2 of us on the DCL bus if we were going to MCO, right?

Seems like a no-brainer, right? I'd be saving a lot of $, getting a good flight time (2:15pm), and it would be a non-stop flight. Unlike the others I have looked at out of MCO. (lowest was $155 with 2 stops and we'd be getting into Boston around 10 pm)

I guess my problem is, I don't know anyone who has flown Direct Air from Sanford to Worcester, and don't know how the planes are (old? small?) how the landing is there, at such a small airport, etc.

Do I go with something I know (major airline, MCO) or go with the unknown?

I have read some reviews on Direct Air and it is very mixed....so, tell me please, what would YOU do?

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I can't decide what to do, so thought I'd run it by all of you. Maybe someone has done it before...?

We will be returning from the Dream on Sun 8/28. I don't have our returning flights booked yet. I booked our flights to WDW for only $67 on SW and was waiting to book the others, hoping they'd go down. Since we can't get flights after the cruise until at least noon, those seem to be the most expensive, and just seem to keep going up!

So, today I was looking into flying home from Sanford instead, into Worcester, MA. I thought we could rent a car near the port, drive to Sanford and fly home from there (for only $99 per person). The rental car is around $75. It would be $70 for 2 of us on the DCL bus if we were going to MCO, right?

Seems like a no-brainer, right? I'd be saving a lot of $, getting a good flight time (2:15pm), and it would be a non-stop flight. Unlike the others I have looked at out of MCO. (lowest was $155 with 2 stops and we'd be getting into Boston around 10 pm)

I guess my problem is, I don't know anyone who has flown Direct Air from Sanford to Worcester, and don't know how the planes are (old? small?) how the landing is there, at such a small airport, etc.

Do I go with something I know (major airline, MCO) or go with the unknown?

I have read some reviews on Direct Air and it is very mixed....so, tell me please, what would YOU do?

I would be conservative and fly out of MCO on a carrier I know. Direct Air uses Boeing 737-400 aircraft. But, if anything went wrong, and I am not saying it would, what would you do? Since you obtained such great airfares on Southwest going to Orlando-MCO, I would consider paying more going back on a known carrier MCO to Boston just averaging costs. Someone else may have better ideas, but I would do more research.

btw, doesn't Jet Blue have numerous nonstops from MCO to BOS? And, SW has one nonstop leaving around 2:30pm for about $250 pp.

 

[dgaston]

I've flown Direct Air from Worcester to Sanford round trip at least twice. Its a public charter and the planes are fine, but I have yet to be on time in either direction. Most of the time it's due to weather in New England.

That said, we're flying them again this May, this time into Palm Beach just to see a bit more of FL.

I always plan on a rental when using Direct Air. Both Worcester and Sanford are tiny airports and easy to navigate.

As for SWA look into flying into Providence, Hartford, and Manchester. That's where it's easiest to find direct flights.

 

[goofy4tink]

Haven't flown DirectAir out of Worcester yet...did fly PanAm out though. Loved Sanford Intl...terrific airport. I'll be flying out of Worcester into Sanford in April and again in Oct. I do know some who have flown DirectAir from Worcester....most reported good experiences. It is true that if there is an issue with planes or severe weather, it's hard for DirectAir to get either another plane or to reschedule the flight. There are only so many planes to go around. And they only fly on certain days and only one flight on each of those days.
When I booked our cruise for this coming April, I had already booked flights with DirectAir..got ridiculously good fares. But, knowing that there can always be issues with DirectAir due to their limited flights and schedules, I booked flights that gave us enough time to get to port by car...just in case. I can always pack up the car and drive down on Thursday and have plenty of time to get to port.
So, what would I do? I would be very tempted to fly into Worcester. BUT....that $99 fare doesn't cover choosing your seats, or any baggage. The fees add up. Also....how are you getting to and from the airports??? I really have no issue with DirectAir and Worcester Airport. You just have to be informed so you realize what 'could' happen...probably won't, but it could.

 

[irishone21]

We have flown from/into Worcester twice....and had a great experience both times. We try to travel in April so the bad weather is less of a factor than in February (we are restricted to school vacation weeks..I am a teacher). However, last year we did fly in Feb. & had no problems.
We are on the 4/17 Dream sailing. We are doing exactly what you are considering on the way home. We've already rented a car near the Port and will drive to Sanford, where we will catch the 2:15 flight into Worcester.
Weather & mechanical problems are always a possibility....for any airline...so we always fly down the day before our cruise, and if we get held up on the way home......it's usually worth the money we've saved by flying Direct Air.

Good luck no matter what you decide!

 

[goofy4tink]

We have flown from/into Worcester twice....and had a great experience both times. We try to travel in April so the bad weather is less of a factor than in February (we are restricted to school vacation weeks..I am a teacher). However, last year we did fly in Feb. & had no problems.
We are on the 4/17 Dream sailing. We are doing exactly what you are considering on the way home. We've already rented a car near the Port and will drive to Sanford, where we will catch the 2:15 flight into Worcester.
Weather & mechanical problems are always a possibility....for any airline...so we always fly down the day before our cruise, and if we get held up on the way home......it's usually worth the money we've saved by flying Direct Air.

Good luck no matter what you decide!

See you in April!! We fly out of Worcester on the 14th and home again on the 23rd!! See you on the Dream!!!