What to do about airfare?? About This Page:

[Jakeonthecob]

OK, so we all know gas prices are not coming down anytime soon. So the million dollar question is do I buy my airfare now or wait and see if prices come down. We are going to need 3 roundtrip airfares from O'Hare to Orlando and are currently finding that Spirit Airlines is the cheapest at $174 roundtrip per person. What do you guys think? Is that a decent enough fare to take? Also, just so you know it is a non-refundable fare so if the prices lowers I think I am stuck with my price. I have seen the Spirit Airlines web site have daily specials for as low as $138 roundtrip, but those prices have only been for dates into June. Our trip will be Nov 30-Dec 6 so I am curious what you guys think i should do. Thanks in advance for the help.

P.S. I just received my first Passporter book Saturday and Love it so far. This is also my first post here.

[joyful1nh]

Welcome! I'm pretty new here myself, used to hang out at one of the 'other' discussion boards

I'm not a gambler myself, so I'd buy now and if the price goes down call the airline and beg (may or may not help, but worth a shot). Also, did you check Midway -- and my brother just got an awesome fare from Bloomington, don't know if that is too far for you or not....

Good luck!

[Jakeonthecob]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to look at Bloomington now (its about a 3 hour drive from where I live). As for Midway, I still have not found anything better than the $174 on Spirit's web site. The other lowest fare I have found is $177 on Expedia for Spirit as well.

Bloomington shows to be minimum of $235 for ATA.

Thanks for the suggestions though. I may just call SPirit tonight and book it and ask what there policy is if the fare were to drop.

[Mikkimouse3]

Hi,
I was in the same position as you. I was sitting here hoping that the airfares would come down. But then I read an article on CNN.com. It said that those who are waiting for Airfare to come down might be in for a shock. Gas prices going up ,coupled with the fact that Air travel is back up to where it was before 9/11, will make flights fill up quick and therefore there will be no need to lower the fares!! I bought mine online last night. Roundtrip-Buffalo New york to Orlando for $206.40 taxes included.
I looked up what I paid for them last year and it was $212.00, so I actually feel pretty good about my fares!!
Hope this helps!

[joyful1nh]

I just got e-mail from Southwest -- Midway to MCO is advertised at $79 each way -- and Southwest will credit you if the price goes down..... Tell that to Spirit if ORD is more convenient for you!

[Evie5253]

Hi Jakeonthecob, and welcome to the boards!! Your dates are the same as mine, and I've been watching the airfares for months now. Your fares that you've found seem pretty good compared to what I've be seeing. Southeast airlines just posted their fares to Orlando today for $69.00 each way. Their website says Gary/Chicago, so I don't know if that's what your looking for. Check them out at www.flyseal.com. Have fun planning!

[2princessmom]

Welcome to the Boards!
I would suggest getting your airfare now. If you have Southwest I would checking out their fares. I find that they are usually cheaper and like was said earlier they will credit. Also, I have found that even when I have nonrefundable tickets they still give me a credit if the airfare goes below a certain level. I hope this helps.

[Jakeonthecob]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I took the overwhelming opinion and booked the flight last night. All told I paid $500.10 for three round trip tickets to Orlando from O'Hare on Spirit. The total includes all fees and taxes, so the per person total is $166.70. I guess it is not as bad as I thought, and I do feel relieved that it is booked and done with.

I also called the Spirit 800 number and the same flight booked on the phone was a total of $30 more. Plus, by booking online, you can make changes to your reservations up to 30 days before departure and you can avoid a $25 fee they charge on the phones. It seems like Spirit really pushes the online ticket system. I also checked into what happens if fares are reduced, and like most airlines, they will give you a credit for a future flight.

Thanks again, and hopefully this will help someone else as well.

[kadterp]

Wow you got a good deal! Is that non stop? For us from CT for a family of four through Southwest, we paid 706.80 so you did good! Good luck with planning your trip and welcome to the boards!

[my2girls]

You got a wonderful price - I will be looking for airfare in Feb 05 - Also keep in mind the airline out of united (TED) seems to run pretty cheap out of O'hare.

Excellent job!!!!

Kristine

[Jakeonthecob]

Hey Kristine, we are right up the road from you. Randall road that is.

Yes this was the roundtrip price I paid. I looked at all the alternatives I could before I made this purchase...TED, SW, ATA, you name it, I looked at it. Spirit was the cheapest this far out. They also have daily specials on their website, so I will keep watching those in hopes of finding lower fares so I can get a credit. A credit would be nice as it would help make us go back sooner.

[mom2my4dwarfs]

Hi Jakeonthecob -
I also live in LITH, what a small world. I see you already booked your flight. We just got back from WDW on Sunday and flew out of Rockford into Sanford. We paid just a little under $1,000 for the 6 of us.

[my2girls]

what a small world we live in - How about all that building they are doing on Randall Road. What a disaster the traffic has been lately. I have checked into TED, Spirit, and Rockford. We are pretty stuck with using O'hare. I am holding out for good airfare for Feb 05.

Kristine

[Jakeonthecob]

Yeah could definately do without the construction on Randall Road and 62...YUCK!!!



Just wanted to let you guys know that I check the Spirit Airlines site daily and have already lucked into a $15 per person difference from what I paid originally. I went back to their site and followed the instructions for changing my flight and now have a $45 credit for future fares. I am now paying $455.10 for three round trip tickets to MCO from ORD. I am very happy.

[mom2my4dwarfs]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah could definately do without the construction on Randall Road and 62...YUCK!!!



[/ QUOTE ]

That construction on 62 is driving me nuts. I can't wait for it to be done.

That is cool about the lower airfare.