Airfare

[Len90]

LOL the best part about it is I thoroughly enjoy doing all of this. Mom still does the hotel and is the one who makes the call to WDW dining. I take care of airfare, rental car, and figuring out which dates we should eat at each restaurant.

I don't know if you're aware of this, but you don't have to call to make WDW dining ADR's anymore. You can go on-line to make dining reservations. Last time I went with my family I did the ADR on-line at the Disney website.

The last time we had to go through this was 10-11 months ago and the online ADR was just getting off the ground. I still think it is more of an experience to call up dining for your ADR's, but the online might be given a shot this year... if we can get everything together.

[viking245]

Viking, my Rafiki bows to the superior knowledge of your viking Mickey. That was really informative and helpful information. Thank you!

LOL Thank you very much!

My 'training' comes from my sister-in-law (DS-I-L?) who is our "family travel planner". It sounds like Len is on the same track as far as research and planning. For me, it all started when DS-I-L and I got the family (10 total this trip) in on going to WDW for Christmas '08 (9 days). She got our resort (All Star Sports) reservations in January that year (Tip #1 - plan ahead!). As the year went on, and specials came about, we upgraded to POR and the dining plan for less than the original reservations.


Of all the resources for specials out there, the one I think is most straight forward and up-to-date is http://www.mousesavers.com/.

My trip planning these days to most might be considered obsessive, but I enjoy it! And end up getting more for less.

[Len90]

Viking, my Rafiki bows to the superior knowledge of your viking Mickey. That was really informative and helpful information. Thank you!

LOL Thank you very much!

My 'training' comes from my sister-in-law (DS-I-L?) who is our "family travel planner". It sounds like Len is on the same track as far as research and planning. For me, it all started when DS-I-L and I got the family (10 total this trip) in on going to WDW for Christmas '08 (9 days). She got our resort (All Star Sports) reservations in January that year (Tip #1 - plan ahead!). As the year went on, and specials came about, we upgraded to POR and the dining plan for less than the original reservations.


Of all the resources for specials out there, the one I think is most straight forward and up-to-date is http://www.mousesavers.com/.

My trip planning these days to most might be considered obsessive, but I enjoy it! And end up getting more for less.

You are not obsessive at all. The only way my family has been able to afford 8 nights at the Yacht Club is through playing around with the discounts. We have bee nfortunate to book during promotions on both our previous trips. I am extremely obsessive when it comes to the airfare and rentals. I will make reservations with three rental companies and call them multiple times to work out the best discount and coupon that we should be booked with. It takes a lot of time, but it helps in saving a lot of money... enough money that will pay for a couple of dinners!

[Brian845]

We booked our airfare for our August trip last week, and I was amazed by the deal our travel agent got us. We've been looking at prices online, and our agent saved us $1000 off even the direct prices from the airline. We don't fly very often, and maybe I'm missing something online, but I can't imagine why anyone *wouldn't* use a travel agent?

Len, I know you're from NJ, what would you expect to pay for a family of 4 (kids under age 9) to fly from Newark to Orlando, leaving on a Saturday, and returning on a Sunday?

[horizons1]

According to a recent travel survey:

The #1 source for finding and comparing fares is currently through aggregators (Kayak, FareChase, etc) and then they usually link to the airline's respective site for booking.

The #2 choice is airline direct. The good thing about airline direct is you can get unpublished fares (Southwest does not subscribe to all the global distribution systems and so their fares don't always show up on other sites) but you lose the ability to compare airlines side-by-side.

Bottom line - there is no substitute for doing your homework.

[Len90]

We booked our airfare for our August trip last week, and I was amazed by the deal our travel agent got us. We've been looking at prices online, and our agent saved us $1000 off even the direct prices from the airline. We don't fly very often, and maybe I'm missing something online, but I can't imagine why anyone *wouldn't* use a travel agent?

Len, I know you're from NJ, what would you expect to pay for a family of 4 (kids under age 9) to fly from Newark to Orlando, leaving on a Saturday, and returning on a Sunday?

We do usually end up using AAA to book our trip. The AAA does allow you some perks with the Diamond Discount card you get. I will say, the travel agent at AAA doesn't have to do any work though as we walk in prepared with the dates and expected price in mind. No need to sit there and play with the calendar.

From personal experience a round trip for a family of 4 Adults out of Newark on similar days (Friday, Saturday) is around $1000 for peak tickets. IF you were able to get bargain fares through JetBlue, then you easily could be at $850 for the $104 a head a way or even cheaper if you were able to snag the $84 special rate.

The only way the age of the kid makes a difference is if they are under the age of 2. You get to consider them a lap infant and thus are not required to purchase a seat for the child. Otherwise the airfare would be the same for a 3 year old as it would be for a 50 year old.

[Wizzard419]

They are considering adding a fee for infants on airlines.

[mindflipper]

The only way the age of the kid makes a difference is if they are under the age of 2. You get to consider them a lap infant and thus are not required to purchase a seat for the child. Otherwise the airfare would be the same for a 3 year old as it would be for a 50 year old.

Is that still true? I remember a friend a few years ago had to buy a seat for an infant and they used a thing like a carseat in the chair. Said it was a safety issue in case of turbulence of decompression to have an infant secured in a seat.

[Amy]

The only way the age of the kid makes a difference is if they are under the age of 2. You get to consider them a lap infant and thus are not required to purchase a seat for the child. Otherwise the airfare would be the same for a 3 year old as it would be for a 50 year old.

Is that still true? I remember a friend a few years ago had to buy a seat for an infant and they used a thing like a carseat in the chair. Said it was a safety issue in case of turbulence of decompression to have an infant secured in a seat.

I think most airlines still allow you to have your infant or toddler sit on your lap, although most parents opt for the safety of buying a seat and using a car seat. It is safer although from what I have seen, the toddlers generally end up in the parent's laps anyhow...

[horizons1]

Seats for infants are not required on domestic flights but highly recommended.

[viking245]

According to a recent travel survey:

The #1 source for finding and comparing fares is currently through aggregators (Kayak, FareChase, etc) and then they usually link to the airline's respective site for booking.

The #2 choice is airline direct. ..............

Bottom line - there is no substitute for doing your homework.

2 years ago I was researching airfare for our trip to Austin TX. I was doing the airline direct routine over the course of a couple months (watching prices). It got about time to execute and I decided to see what Expedia (or one of them?) had to offer. They showed a cheaper rate. Looking closer, they had us going down one airline and back a different one. I then proceeded to book directly with the respective airlines for the same "cheaper" rate.

I like to book directly with the airline because it's my understanding that when they overbook a flight or have some other flight issues, you have a little more pull than if you booked through a 3rd party or "aggregator" (new word for me ). That might be old-school hooey, but still sound good to me.

I have never tried a travel agent other than AAA. Though just recently (not to change the subject) the current location I'm researching for this coming summer, the hotel website's AAA discount is better than AAA's website discount for the same hotel and dates. I wonder if this has to do with their (relatively) recent union with Travelocity.?.

[Wizzard419]

The different airlines isn't that much of a surprise (even with direct booking). When I fly up to Vancouver I usually start out on American but end up on Alaskan for part of the journey, and whatever the weird old prop plane is for the last part.

[coxsarmy]

southwest airlines has the lowest rates many times when you take into consideration the baggage fees....
and MAINLY their flexibility to modify the reservation should your trip change.

[Len90]

southwest airlines has the lowest rates many times when you take into consideration the baggage fees....
and MAINLY their flexibility to modify the reservation should your trip change.

There are very few airlines out there that don't charge a baggage fee. Jetblue and southwest are the two biggest that I can think of off the top of my head. It is a major draw for me and will lead me to want those even if they are $15 more a ticket since a checked bag is $20-$25.

[Amy]

southwest airlines has the lowest rates many times when you take into consideration the baggage fees....
and MAINLY their flexibility to modify the reservation should your trip change.

There are very few airlines out there that don't charge a baggage fee. Jetblue and southwest are the two biggest that I can think of off the top of my head. It is a major draw for me and will lead me to want those even if they are $15 more a ticket since a checked bag is $20-$25.

Unfortunately neither of those airlines are available in our area I agree though, it makes sense to pay a little more for a ticket if you aren't nickeled and dimed for extras. Plus that $25 a bag is only good for one way!