best airline to Orlando, FL (Phoenix: credit, vacation home, buy)

[markas214]

We have a few budget carriers here in Pa that fly nonstop to Orlando for as little as $49 each way. Are there any budget airlines from PHX to Orlando or other areas of Florida? I like to go every spring to take the kids to Disney World or stay at my brother's vacation home in Venice. Since school ends on May 22 I thought I'd go then.

[azriverfan.]

Southwest Airlines has great direct flights to Orlando for reasonable rates but nothing that cheap. If you get a deal for 200 round trip, that would be considered a steal. Most people here will just go to Disney Land in Anaheim. You have to remember that Phoenix is on the west coast for all practical purposes so we are really far from destinations on the east. There is a reason Hawaiian Airlines includes Phoenix in its destinations and doesn't fly east of Phoenix. Altough Phoenix isn't technically on the coast, it's considered by many to be a part of the region involving the west coast.

[losercore]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Southwest Airlines has great direct flights to Orlando for reasonable rates but nothing that cheap. If you get a deal for 200 round trip, that would be considered a steal. Most people here will just go to Disney Land in Anaheim. You have to remember that Phoenix is on the west coast for all practical purposes so we are really far from destinations on the east. There is a reason Hawaiian Airlines includes Phoenix in its destinations and doesn't fly east of Phoenix. Altough Phoenix isn't technically on the coast, it's considered by many to be a part of the region involving the west coast.

Totally agree!!!

I fly almost every week and out of or to Phoenix I choose Southwest. I hate stopping and SW has nonpstops all over the place. You still get a few snacks and drinks, but no movie or anything. Just a bus ride in the sky, but the price is well worth it.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by losercore

Totally agree!!!

I fly almost every week and out of or to Phoenix I choose Southwest. I hate stopping and SW has nonpstops all over the place. You still get a few snacks and drinks, but no movie or anything. Just a bus ride in the sky, but the price is well worth it.

To add to what you said, Southwest doesn't charge you to check in luggage. U.S. Airways charged me $50 to check in a bag. Southwest also doesn't charge for a blanket and pillow and U.S. Airways charged $20 for that. U.S. Airways also charged for snacks which I thought was silly whereas Southwest gives you a snack box with several snacks for free. Overall, the service on Southwest is amazing. Their employees are really friendly and are not condescending. I had two bad experiences with flight attendants my entire time I've flown on Southwest and it wasn't really a bad experience, two flight attendants were a little rude but that's pretty normal on other airlines.. Also, I flew a recent flight and it had web access in the air. They are experimenting with that and future flights will have that. The only problem with Southwest was the boarding pass issue which they corrected and that's no longer an issue.

[yukon]

You can also cancel your flight on Southwest with no penalty or rebooking fee, and it's easy to use the credit on later flights. Which is a good thing when one is traveling to Florida during hurricane season.

[losercore]

Originally Posted by yukon

You can also cancel your flight on Southwest with no penalty or rebooking fee, and it's easy to use the credit on later flights. Which is a good thing when one is traveling to Florida during hurricane season.

Good point. I forget about this. This has been so helpful when business trips get changed.

And to the last poster you are right. I was charged $40 by American Airlines to put my bags on another plane so I could wait in the claim area for 45 minutes till my bags got there. SW has never charged me anything and they are awesome with an extra drink or snack.

I also like the pick your seat option. I pay the $20 to be business select and I am always happy with a great seat.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by losercore

Good point. I forget about this. This has been so helpful when business trips get changed.

And to the last poster you are right. I was charged $40 by American Airlines to put my bags on another plane so I could wait in the claim area for 45 minutes till my bags got there. SW has never charged me anything and they are awesome with an extra drink or snack.

I also like the pick your seat option. I pay the $20 to be business select and I am always happy with a great seat.

Business select is a lot more than $20 extra. If you are comparing it to the "wanna get away" rates which are the tickets most people buy and are advertised, they are $100-$150 more. When compared to the "Anytime" rates, they are $20 more, but most people don't buy the Anytime rates because the only difference between that ticket and the "Wanna Get Away" rates is that they are 100% refundable if the flight is canceled and you can fly standby and change your iternary on the day of travel.

I know you know this but for people reading this and thinking business select is only $20 more than their cheapest rates, it's not. However, it is a great deal for business travelers like yourself. It's basically like flying first class. You get priority boarding (you are first in line even before children or people needing assistance) and a free drink.

[losercore]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Business select is a lot more than $20 extra. If you are comparing it to the "wanna get away" rates which are the tickets most people buy and are advertised, they are $100-$150 more. When compared to the "Anytime" rates, they are $20 more, but most people don't buy the Anytime rates because the only difference between that ticket and the "Wanna Get Away" rates is that they are 100% refundable if the flight is canceled and you can fly standby and change your iternary on the day of travel.

I know you know this but for people reading this and thinking business select is only $20 more than their cheapest rates, it's not. However, it is a great deal for business travelers like yourself. It's basically like flying first class. You get priority boarding (you are first in line even before children or people needing assistance) and a free drink.

Oops!
I forget I make reservations via my comapnies internal travel agency so in my case it is $20. Sorry! I would not know what it is for others. So I am sure you are right and it is more. Thanks

[Finger Laker]

i too love southwest and tend to fly more regionally, although i've done SW to buffalo a couple of times

this past march I flew to Orlando and most carriers were wanting $450 RT (SW included)

I was able to fly on AirTran (via Atlanta) for about $280 RT after their fees

[observer53]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Business select is a lot more than $20 extra. If you are comparing it to the "wanna get away" rates which are the tickets most people buy and are advertised, they are $100-$150 more. When compared to the "Anytime" rates, they are $20 more, but most people don't buy the Anytime rates because the only difference between that ticket and the "Wanna Get Away" rates is that they are 100% refundable if the flight is canceled and you can fly standby and change your iternary on the day of travel.

I know you know this but for people reading this and thinking business select is only $20 more than their cheapest rates, it's not. However, it is a great deal for business travelers like yourself. It's basically like flying first class. You get priority boarding (you are first in line even before children or people needing assistance) and a free drink.

Business Select does not go before the preboarders. They hold the first 15 slots in the A group for the Business Select passengers, so you are still basically the first on the plane (I just flew SW last night, and that's still how it works)