Flight costs in April - outrageously priced :(

[DarthVader]

I've been watching airline tickets now for some time and while our vacation is still 100 days away, the cost of flying hasn't budged any.

I've literally seen prices in the 6,000 dollar range for a family of 4 round trip from Jet Blue.

I'm looking for some consolation and affirmation that the price will go down soon.

Since this out first April vacation flight (near the end of the month for us), I'm hoping for some affirming words and/or advise.

We're flying out of Boston and into MCO. I have looked at a other nearby airports but that didn't really help with the prices. I'm calling AAA this morning but their online search tool has the prices in the 2,500 range. My wife suggested AARP (yes she's old ) but I'm not sure.

 

[jenos0524]

That's the galling part, I mean gas prices are at record lows, yet airlines are looking to gouge us. I thought as time went on, I'd start seeing some normal prices, but no. I'll never book a flight in April again, but since we're all but locked and loaded for our disney trip, I'll have to pay up for expensive tickets. I just refuse to pay anywhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 dollars for a flight to FLA (from Boston) for a family of four, never mind the 6,000 that I have seen

By the way this isn't a dump on JetBlue but the industry. I just went to delta.com and picked an early morning flight and a mid morning one. Here's the cost for a family of four main cabin selection (NOT first class).

.View attachment 125418

I am kind of curious which dates you are trying to find. I just searched quickly for SW from Providence to Orlando and got Under $1300 for 4 people (Saturday 4/23 to Saturday 4/30)

 

[DarthVader]

04/15 to 04/24. SW is giving me the best $$, I only checked TF Greene once, nothing really in depth, but even so, for SW, it was 2,000 and not under 1300

 

[Clamman73]

04/15 to 04/24. SW is giving me the best $$, I only checked TF Greene once, nothing really in depth, but even so, for SW, it was 2,000 and not under 1300

Some googling shows that is Boston public schools spring recess week...that gives a reason for the high prices.

 

[YozhikRoth]

The only problem with the association between lower gas prices and airline prices is the airlines buy their fuel on massive forward contracts, to try to hedge themselves from rising prices. These contracts can be as long as 6 months to a year, so if gas prices suddenly fall, the airlines are still locked into a higher price. Of course when they are making money on their hedges, they still pass the higher prices onto the consumer.

 

[jenos0524]

04/15 to 04/24. SW is giving me the best $$, I only checked TF Greene once, nothing really in depth, but even so, for SW, it was 2,000 and not under 1300

The reason it is so expensive is you are flying out on a Friday and back home on a Sunday. leaving boston on a Friday is one of the most expensive days to leave the area, then Leaving Orlando on a Sunday is also one of the most expensive days to leave that area. You are also combining that with School Vacation Week for our Area which kids get out that Friday 4/15 and return the Monday 4/25. That is the worst time to fly. I would say $3K is the best your going to get at that time. (My wife is a teacher and that is why I NEVER travel during school vacations. (Even February vacation is crazy), Sorry for the Bad News...

 

[jenos0524]

The reason it is so expensive is you are flying out on a Friday and back home on a Sunday. leaving boston on a Friday is one of the most expensive days to leave the area, then Leaving Orlando on a Sunday is also one of the most expensive days to leave that area. You are also combining that with School Vacation Week for our Area which kids get out that Friday 4/15 and return the Monday 4/25. That is the worst time to fly. I would say $3K is the best your going to get at that time. (My wife is a teacher and that is why I NEVER travel during school vacations. (Even February vacation is crazy), Sorry for the Bad News...

To add to my post, Check out these screen shots on SW website you can click flexible dates and you will see that the ones surrounding school vacation are crazy. For example if you go from 4/5 - 4/15 it would cost you around $800 for 4 people, vs the $3-4K for 4 people on your dates...

Providence to Orlando...

Orlando to Providence...

 

[DarthVader]

Some googling shows that is Boston public schools spring recess week...that gives a reason for the high prices.

My kids school on april vacation which is why we're going on that week

For example if you go from 4/5 - 4/15

This is why we're leaving when we're leaving as well, i.e., school vacation

 

[jenos0524]

My kids school on april vacation which is why we're going on that week


This is why we're leaving when we're leaving as well, i.e., school vacation

Well good luck.. My advice would be to change the dates and leave before april vaca starts or leave on the monday/tuesday of vaca and have them have an extended break. I know teachers hate when parents do that, but missing only 2/3 days is better than missing a whole week at another time of year. 18th - 27th that way kids only miss 3 days of school and you cut the flight cost in half. Only Other option would be to look into the train Which takes about 20-24 hours to travel but will cost approx $1200.

 

[DarthVader]

We've pulled them out of school before and the kids had a rough time catching up on the school work. My school system doesn't accommodate that sort of action and wouldn't provide any sort of packet so the kids could keep up with their peers.

Both the wife and I vowed that we'd avoid puling them out of school if at all possible and so that limited us to when we could take them.

 

[jenos0524]

We've pulled them out of school before and the kids had a rough time catching up on the school work. My school system doesn't accommodate that sort of action and wouldn't provide any sort of packet so the kids could keep up with their peers.

Both the wife and I vowed that we'd avoid puling them out of school if at all possible and so that limited us to when we could take them.

I understand, since my wife would never want one of her students to miss school never mind her own kid. My last advice would be to 1. take the train. I know it is a long trip but from Providence to Orlando it would be about $1200 for the 4 of you. (I think you can pay more and get the room with the beds) or 2. Rent a car and drive. That would prob cost you anywhere from 50-75 a day for the car, plus gas (Prob around 600-700) when all said and done especially if you go with a SUV to have more room. If kids are older they would mind you driving right through trading off drivers every 6-8 hours.

Advantage to renting a car, is you don't put the miles on your car. To save even more you can drive your own car...

I agree flight prices are crazy, School vacations are horrible. (Thats why I am going in late August, and I still paid $290 a person for a flight)

 

[wclark3]

We will be there the same week as my wife is a teacher and I feel your pain. If you live north of the city Manchester Airport has some good Southwest flights. A quick search came up with about $2500 for 4 people. Another option, if you are renting a car anyway, is flying into Tampa. That is about an extra 45 minutes compared to the drive from Orlando International.

 

[wclark3]

Also, if you were willing to switch your dates from Friday thru Sunday to Saturday thru Monday you can get direct flights for $2055.

Air
Total Price: $2055.84
ITINERARY
Travel Date Flight Segments Flight Summary
DEPARTAPRIL 16, SATURDAY
APR 16
SAT

1. 05:30 PM
   
   Depart Manchester, NH (MHT) on Southwest Airlines
   
   Flight
   #2344
   
2. 08:45 PM
   
   Arrive in Orlando, FL (MCO)
   
   
   
   WiFi available
   

Saturday, April 16, 2016Travel Time 3 h hours15 mminutes
(Nonstop)
Wanna Get Away(opens new window)
RETURNAPRIL 25, MONDAY
APR 25
MON

1. 08:30 PM
   
   Depart Orlando, FL (MCO) on Southwest Airlines
   
   Flight
   #31
   
2. 11:20 PM
   
   Arrive in Manchester, NH (MHT)
   
   
   
   WiFi available
   

Monday, April 25, 2016Travel Time 2 h hours50 mminutes
(Nonstop)
Wanna Get Away(opens new window)

 

[ABQ]

I was just going to ask if the OP had checked SW out of MHT as it's NOT New Hampshire's school vacation week, they offset from MA by one week normally. At least I'm sure that's the case for the Feb vacation, not certain about April.

 

[NicTom1211]

That's the galling part, I mean gas prices are at record lows, yet airlines are looking to gouge us. I thought as time went on, I'd start seeing some normal prices, but no. I'll never book a flight in April again, but since we're all but locked and loaded for our disney trip, I'll have to pay up for expensive tickets. I just refuse to pay anywhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 dollars for a flight to FLA (from Boston) for a family of four, never mind the 6,000 that I have seen

By the way this isn't a dump on JetBlue but the industry. I just went to delta.com and picked an early morning flight and a mid morning one. Here's the cost for a family of four main cabin selection (NOT first class).

.View attachment 125418

I completely agree, we traveled in November during Jersey Week and our flights were considerably cheaper. We lucked out because Jet Blue caused some chaos for us and we got a credit otherwise we would not of been able to make the April trip.
Its so hard to understand sometimes where they get their facts from. Especially because any flight I have ever been on to Orlando from Newark Airport has always been packed. And we have flown at a range in times and dates so its not like we always fly a "prime" flying time. From the 1st flight of the day to the last there has never been an available seat.