Shocked at cost of air fare

[jmulvaney]

We booked "wanna get away" direct flights from PIT to MCO for around $260 over Labor Day weekend on SW. I didn't think that was too bad, especially with free bag check. We do have to drive 2 hours (at 3:30 am if I decide not to get an airport hotel the night before), but most close airports are about 2 hours away from us (Cleveland and Columbus too).

 

[tinkerbella16]

I have been lucky the last 2 years flying to Orlando. Last year we paid $167 roundtrip per person on a non-stop flight. This trip I scored airfare for $159 per person roundtrip, nonstop! Came to $479 for the 3 of us to fly round trip. Couldn't believe I was able to get it that low! I almost fainted from not believing it! LOL

Every airline is different. We have been able to fly so cheap because we fly out on a Wednesday and come home on a Tuesday, so that right there helps a lot. Flying out of weekends is more expensive because it's busier.

 

[Grandmatoniko]

Ouch!! I dont think my hubby would ever agree to go with that high of airfare. We always fly for less then $100 pp each way.

 

[nene0182]

Flights this year are a lot higher then we have ever seen. Right now our home airport is over $1000 per ticket or we can drive an hour and pay $700/ticket. Thankfully, we seemed to have bought our tickets when there was a deal or a pricing mistake because we paid $340/ticket to fly from the airport an hour from our house which is cheaper then if we were to drive the 5 hours to Minneapolis. The next day, the prices doubled and never went back down.

 

[flicx]

Last time we flew round trip from PA (Latrobe) for 78 dollars a person. I have never paid above 175 roundtrip since we started going in the early 80's. I have no problem finding a deal for airfare. I wish I could find tickets to Disney and to the deluxe resorts at the deals they used to have! Those are the costs that have gone up crazy, and still are climbing!

 

[chrismb22]

It's all FP fault.

Seriously, we were looking at $526 per person out of Philly (I almost cried) but are now headed to Atlantic City for only $230. Even with the 90 minute ride it's worth it for us and I never say that.

 

[tinkerbella16]

It's all FP fault.

Seriously, we were looking at $526 per person out of Philly (I almost cried) but are now headed to Atlantic City for only $230. Even with the 90 minute ride it's worth it for us and I never say that.

That is where I fly out of! So much cheaper! I am in the $9 fare club so I get the discounted airfare and flying out on weekdays makes all the difference in price!

 

[agavegirl1]

Last October, same date/days of the week $378.00. This October $438. Same flight numbers on Delta. Found my budget detail documents. This is from Minneapolis, a new Delta primary airport due to the purchase of NWA. With all the mergers and acquisitions, airfare to everywhere has gone up, service has gone down and flight choices are more limited.

 

[dls116]

We got Southwest out of Manchester, NH for $214 per person round trip and direct flights. Not sure when OP is traveling but unless it is over a holiday or spring break you can still find reasonable airfare out if the northeast.

I flew Southwest out of Manchester years ago (2005) and I know that was the cheapest rate then too, and it was a direct flight. Seems to be the airline/airport to go through! haha. Of course, at that time I was just going to Daytona to visit a friend and we never went to Disney Can't believe I was so close and didn't go!

 

[DizzDoll]

It's all FP fault.

Seriously, we were looking at $526 per person out of Philly (I almost cried) but are now headed to Atlantic City for only $230. Even with the 90 minute ride it's worth it for us and I never say that.

I live in Middletown and was wondering how much cheaper it would be to fly out of AC as opposed to Newark. AC is about 1.5 hours from my house and Newark about 40 minutes. Might be worth the drive time.

 

[laura3773]

We booked "wanna get away" direct flights from PIT to MCO for around $260 over Labor Day weekend on SW. I didn't think that was too bad, especially with free bag check. We do have to drive 2 hours (at 3:30 am if I decide not to get an airport hotel the night before), but most close airports are about 2 hours away from us (Cleveland and Columbus too).

I don't know what parking costs at the airport in Pittsburgh, but we fly from the DC area and have found that doing a stay/park/fly deal with a hotel ends up being the same price as just parking at the airport. You may want to look into that with such an early flight.

 

[abja09]

I live in Middletown and was wondering how much cheaper it would be to fly out of AC as opposed to Newark. AC is about 1.5 hours from my house and Newark about 40 minutes. Might be worth the drive time.

I live in Colts Neck and we fly every summer to Florida for about $250pp. This summer it's over $350pp. To save I am flying Sw out of Philly and home United into Newark. I had to change dates around to get my round trip for $279pp which was ok because I was not paying that much to fly to MCO.
I have not tried AC but know others that have and like it. I did price Spirit one time out of AC and by the time I had to pay all the extra fees it was not worth the drive there

 

[DizzDoll]

Good to know. Thanks, neighbor!

 

[chrismb22]

That is where I fly out of! So much cheaper! I am in the $9 fare club so I get the discounted airfare and flying out on weekdays makes all the difference in price!

Good to know people have told me that airport is MUCH easier than Philly so I am looking forward too it. We are flying to Orlando the Sunday after Thanksgiving (11/30) so I expect all airports to be insane.

 

[jackiemarie]

We got our air through Southwest for $450/person (Denver to Orlando non-stop) for May 30-June 7. I think the last time we went to Disney, it was $300 or $350/person, so i was in shock too! But, glad I booked when I did, because now flights are through the roof!

 

[MinnieIV]

I used to study on the East Coast, I live in the Phoenix area, so I've flown a lot for someone my age. Enough that the counter ladies at LaGuardia were familiar with me. haha. But the prices I saw to fly to Orlando this year? They were pretty rough, I was able to find us flight for only $20 more though than when we flew to JFK or LGA. We split our flights, American on the way over and Delta on the way back, American was a little more expensive than going Delta roundtrip, but Delta did not have the times we needed, so for ten dollars more per person we flew American. Total was $352 per person out of PHX (not direct, one stop only in MIA) I believe, flights yesterday were $350 but there was NO two person availability left on our flights anymore. So for two dollars more we are gladly paying to not sit in the middle in the very last row. This is for Mid-May this year by the way.

Also first time flying Delta and its the first time ANY airline has ever changed a flight on me months before we flew out. Our return flight was pushed back an hour. So far not really happy with Delta so far. But it could be because I'm a miles member with American.

QUESTION: How is everyone getting great deals on SW? Every time I checked and check its about $600 per person. WAY more than flying Delta, America, U.S etc. Same with JetBlue, I used to fly them ALL the time but their flights to MCO were 900 PER person (I could fly FIRST CLASS for only $8 more!). Flying out of PHX has ALWAYS been a nightmare though. Sometimes I give up and just fly out of Tucson. Even though its two hours away.

 

[Ozzygirl]

Flying out of Portland Maine to MCO there are no nonstop flights. You need to either drive to Manchester or Logan and pay for parking, for a nonstop flight.

I figure in the $50 gas to Logan, tolls and the daily parking fees and not having to leave an extra 2.5 hours earlier for a 7am flight and I'll just suck it up and pay for a 1 stop through LaGuardia or BWI for $350 R/T. Today Jet Blue is showing $414

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Lol our flights are at least $700 per person, sometimes more and we live an hour from the Canada/US border. Yours sound like a bargain. Be grateful you fly out of the US!

What province are you in??

We are 2 hours to the border, but pay WAY less than $700 pp. We have flown from both Buffalo and Syracuse and if you buy tickets on or around the time when Southwest or Jetblue initially release their fares for your travel date, prices are significantly less than you have quoted. Even flying from Toronto is cheaper than $700 pp!

 

[m86]

We are paying about $800 from Amsterdam to Orlando via Detroit, and that includes luggage, food and drinks. A great deal!!! I really feel sorry for people that have to pay that much for a domestic flight.

 

[morethananyonex]

What province are you in??

We are 2 hours to the border, but pay WAY less than $700 pp. We have flown from both Buffalo and Syracuse and if you buy tickets on or around the time when Southwest or Jetblue initially release their fares for your travel date, prices are significantly less than you have quoted. Even flying from Toronto is cheaper than $700 pp!

Manitoba, so our options aren't that great. If we travel in the winter driving somewhere for a flight is risky because if we get hit with a blizzard road travel can be near impossible.

We can drive 8 hours to Minneapolis for flights that are about half the cost. The closest is 3 hours away (Grand Forks, ND) but there aren't a ton of options there and the cheaper ones are Allegiant which I believe doesn't even fly to MCO (so Magical Express is out of the question).