Airfare - Does anyone know any special tricks?

[sweetpee_1993]

The inlaws are taking the kids out of town this weekend. Hubby & I are trying to think of things we'd like to go do. Everything keeps coming back to "...yeah but I'd rather go to Disney...". The only thing holding us back is the insane airfare...$1200 round trip for just the two of us. Soooo, I thought I'd ask if any of you know of any special tricks to get last minute deals on airfare when schedule/flight times aren't all that flexible.

Thanks muchly!

 

[PryncessLace]

I use airfarewatchdog.com to find the latest deals on airfare. I have never needed it for last minute though. It's worth look though

 

[Courtney1188]

Well, this wasn't a last minute trip, but using priceline me and my boyfriend found tickets for the date we wanted that were $300 round trip for both of us! So keep trying!

 

[swimmom]

They've got you when it comes to last minute. I had to fly my DD home from college last minute and I had to use airline miles. You could try standby. I don't think there are any other cheap ways.

 

[slappy magoo]

I don't know where in Texas you are, but I was just checking out Orbitz using both Houston and Dallas. Dallas tix are about 340 a person, Houston about 430 a person. They're not non-stop, but they're not 1200 for the 2 of you either.

 

[dznygirl64]

We only have Airtran locally that goes to Florida we signed up for there e mail sales,they always have great sales.If I lived as close as Texas I would drive there.

 

[kimmychad]

The inlaws are taking the kids out of town this weekend. Hubby & I are trying to think of things we'd like to go do. Everything keeps coming back to "...yeah but I'd rather go to Disney...". The only thing holding us back is the insane airfare...$1200 round trip for just the two of us. Soooo, I thought I'd ask if any of you know of any special tricks to get last minute deals on airfare when schedule/flight times aren't all that flexible.

Thanks muchly!

where are you flying out of?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Flying out of Houston...needs to be after about 4 in the afternoon Friday & would like to return as late as possible on Sunday. I'll definitely check out your suggestions when I get home. Thank you!

 

[Rob562]

Also make sure to check out kayak.com. It searches all the major travel sites, as well as the airline sites in case they're offering specials only available direct from the airline.

-Rob

 

[kimmychad]

I found some flights with southwest that meet your ctiteria, and they're nonstop. sorry their still 1200. but if you check bookingbuddy.com there were some on there cheaper.

 

[slappy magoo]

AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
Flight 291 / 841
5:12pm
Houston, TX (HOU)
10:26pm
Orlando, FL (MCO)
4hrs 14min - 1 Stop
Change planes in Atlanta, GA (ATL)

Flight #291 on-time: 67 %
$398
per person
Total $437


Via travelocity http://travel.travelocity.com/flights/AirSearch.do?breadcrumbStart=3

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Eh, when I pull everything up outbound I get the nice rates but then they want me to come back home at 6:00 a.m. which ain't happening. If you try to book in the evening on Sunday the rates go from $437 round trip to over $600. :shrug: Not meant to be, I suppose. Oh well. It was worth trying. Maybe we'll just go over to San Antonio or maybe to San Marcos to do some Christmas shopping.

Edit: Duh! Thanks to everyone for their advice & to Slappy for lookin' for me. I was at the pharmacy cheering when I read your post. LOL!

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

You also check sidestep.com. They will bring up priceline, kayak,etc.

Pam

 

[Kerby626]

How about a quick trip to the CA version of Disney???? Or jsut come visit us

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes - FLY AIRTRAN. My wife and I routinely travel from MI to Orlando for about $90 each, per leg. I can't remember when our bill was greater than $425.

On less than 3 days advance purchase to fly Airtran outbound on Friday at 4:00 in the afternoon & return around 6:00 in the evening Sunday is over $600 each. :lookaroun Plus, they aren't direct flights. I don't want to bother going if we can log some fun-time on Sunday considering we would arrive late Friday then only have Saturday. We can get Southwest out of Houston Hobby for just under $600 each. Even tho it's extremely rare to have time away from our boys (generally we don't want to be away from them, we enjoy doing stuff all 4 of us together) I just don't see spending nearly $2k for less than 2 days of a Disney fix. Especially since I know we'll be there in January for 9 nights and that money could go towards that adventure. Ya know?

But, gosh, when I think about it I can't even remember the last time we did anything...even dinner & a movie...without the boys. It's been a while. :hammer:

Hubby tried to talk me into flying down on Thursday nite but I wouldn't hear of it. Friday is our youngest's 12th birthday. I have to at least do lunch and the "Great Cake Pig-out" with him at school. That's why I can't leave before about 4 Friday afternoon: gotta have time to drive to Houston, board the dog, & get thru security.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

How about a quick trip to the CA version of Disney???? Or jsut come visit us

Dude, I wish. I'm actually getting quite an itch to go to Disneyland but even a gal who's never been knows better than to try it on a weekend. :hammer: Flights are still an obstacle. Last minute flying is for the rich or desperate...and I'm neither. :lol::lol:

 

[Raven66]

Try Travelocity. When my MIL passed a few years ago I used them to find last minute flights from Memphis to Michigan. I don't remember the exact amount but it was less then 600 a person. I use them whenever we fly to Orlando. I seem to always get the cheapest prices from them.


I hope you get to go!!:wave:

 

[disney4life2008]

I usually book as soon as I make my hotel ressies. I got a great deal on AirTran out of Bloomington, IL (in May) for my November trip at $119 round trip. You just have to keep watching the rates. Southwest also had a great special last week, I think $50 seats to everywhere.

 

[slappy magoo]

This probably still won't work, being that you have to leave in the afternoon. But if you can work some magic on your end, I went to travelocity's "last minute" section. They have deals on flight and two nights at the swan or dolphin at under 500 a person (again, flight and hotel). Downside is the flights out all seem to be in the morning or early afternoon, so I didn't bother looking sat return flights for you. But if that sounds intriguing, check it out for yourself. Good luck.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

This probably still won't work, being that you have to leave in the afternoon. But if you can work some magic on your end, I went to travelocity's "last minute" section. They have deals on flight and two nights at the swan or dolphin at under 500 a person (again, flight and hotel). Downside is the flights out all seem to be in the morning or early afternoon, so I didn't bother looking sat return flights for you. But if that sounds intriguing, check it out for yourself. Good luck.

I totally wish! No, can't leave any earlier. I'd be the world's worst piece of crap for a mom missing every bit of my youngest's 12th birthday.

I think we've given up on the idea. It just doesn't seem meant to be. I appreciate you thinking of us & trying so hard to help out. I sooooo wish we could just go!