Airfare (Partially) Booked!
a.k.a. What’s with these *!?@*& Airfare Prices?!
I swear the theme of this trip is “When did everything get so expensive?!”
Today was the Southwest Airlines release date for our travel dates. I love flying on Southwest due to their customer service, free checked bags, and the ease I’ve always had traveling with them. Southwest only has a few flights into and out of our airport, but I’m willing to be flexible on our flight times as I like the airline so much. I also usually tend to find cheaper flights on Southwest than other airlines.
Usually.
This trip? The segments that would’ve made up our round trip itinerary would come in around $700. Each. With a lackluster (read: early) return time for our flight home.
Good grief.
I knew flight prices have been crazier than usual – we paid just under $600 per person to fly to Pensacola this fall. I assumed we had to pay a bit more as we were flying into a smaller regional airport and flight prices tend to be higher at smaller airports. I never imagined the prices to fly into an airport as massive as Orlando would be MORE!
I’d done some preliminary research about the flights on other airlines before this morning but did another round of it today now that I knew the Southwest flight schedule. It appeared we would pay about the same on any airline on the way there with an early arrival time, but I could find better deals on our return flight on other airlines with better return times. I’d much rather fly back at noon or four in the afternoon on our way home in order to give us a more relaxed morning (and more Disney time!).
However, it made me nervous to wait too long on our ideal outgoing Southwest flight. I worried the flight would either become fully booked for the lowest fare rate or that rate class would rise in price if I didn’t jump on it.
Therefore, I booked our departure flights!
I’m thrilled to take another Southwest flight to Orlando! We have a short layover, but it’s a smaller airport and I’ve gotten a Southwest connection there on past trips so I’m not concerned. The best part is we’ll arrive in Orlando before noon!
I know our room may not be ready when we arrive at the Polynesian (and perhaps this is even less likely with our DVC stay), but it will be nice to arrive at Disney with plenty of time for M to have an afternoon nap. She naps pretty well in our stroller and we’ll have that with us, so we’ll make something work. I much prefer having an early flight than getting stuck without an afternoon nap!
I can’t believe we’re halfway there on booking flights! I’ll likely book the other segment in a day or two once I speak with G about which flight times he’d prefer. Having the whole thing booked will be great!
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We bought in at Poly actually, and I can't wait for our trip there in March for all of the reasons you listed!!
Thanks so much for joining in!
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