Outrageous Fares for NY to FL Spring Break

OK- we have been cruising prime time weeks for years and have never seen fares this high. I'm worried I may have to cancel our cruise. Do you think these $600 flights will come down?

A little reading on the board will reveal the answer is likely no.

I guess we will get creative and stay a few extra days and leave out of a different city. For a family of four we have no choice...

Do you normally fly in April? If so, when do you normally buy your tickets? No one can predict what airfare prices will do however based on prior years you may be able to have an idea if/when sales normally take place.

$600 from NY to FL does seem high but I'm guessing that is the current rate. Depending on when your final payment is due you can keep an eye on fares to see if something comes up.

Do you use ITA to check flights?

Of course, it's impossible to give an accurate answer without information on city pairs when all that's said is "NY to FL". Is the OP leaving from NYC or Ithaca? Buffalo or Elmira? If the latter choices, then $600 may be quite normal. If from NYC, then perhaps another story. Are we in a monopoly situation or a highly competitive market? And to where in Florida? MIA? MCO? TPA?

Never mind that we also only have "spring break" for our time period.

So the correct answer is "Maybe or Maybe Not".

I agree with FlyerTalker.

More input is truly needed to provide a good response.

Keith

JetBlue just announced a 2-day fare sale for flights between JFK and FLL for $109. Likely doesn't include your time period, but keep an eye out.

Of course, it's impossible to give an accurate answer without information on city pairs when all that's said is "NY to FL". Is the OP leaving from NYC or Ithaca? Buffalo or Elmira? If the latter choices, then $600 may be quite normal. If from NYC, then perhaps another story. Are we in a monopoly situation or a highly competitive market? And to where in Florida? MIA? MCO? TPA?

 

Never mind that we also only have "spring break" for our time period.

 

So the correct answer is "Maybe or Maybe Not".

I remember being on another website where someone commented about how ridiculous airfare was from Illinois to NY. I asked "You mean Chicago to NYC?"

Nope...Bloomington to Syracuse. Big difference.

I am on Long Island and have checked flights out of JFK, LGA, Islip, Westchester, and Newark. I am also checking any flights into Miami, FLL, and West Palm. We travel this time every year (or Presidents week) and have never encountered prices this high. I am waiting for Southwest to open their flights next week and see how that looks...

I am on Long Island and have checked flights out of JFK, LGA, Islip, Westchester, and Newark. I am also checking any flights into Miami, FLL, and West Palm. We travel this time every year (or Presidents week) and have never encountered prices this high. I am waiting for Southwest to open their flights next week and see how that looks...

Using ITA Matrix:

New York (LGA) to Miami (MIA) - sam., avr. 12

New York (LGA) to Charlotte (CLT) - sam., avr. 12 American Airlines Inc. 3199Dep: 3:50PMArr: 6:00PM2h 10mCanadair RJ 700Economy (Q)

OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES Layover in CLT 1h 10m

Charlotte (CLT) to Miami (MIA) - sam., avr. 12 American Airlines Inc. 3576Dep: 7:10PMArr: 9:10PM2h 0mEmbraer ERJ-145Economy (Q)

OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES

Miami (MIA) to Newark (EWR) - dim., avr. 20

United Airlines, Inc. 1534Dep: 8:55PMArr: 11:59PM3h 4mBoeing 737Economy (V)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) 436,20 $US

Total cost for 1 passenger 436,20 $US

Using ITA Matrix:

 

New York (LGA) to Miami (MIA) - sam., avr. 12

New York (LGA) to Charlotte (CLT) - sam., avr. 12 American Airlines Inc. 3199Dep: 3:50PMArr: 6:00PM2h 10mCanadair RJ 700Economy (Q)

OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES Layover in CLT 1h 10m

Charlotte (CLT) to Miami (MIA) - sam., avr. 12 American Airlines Inc. 3576Dep: 7:10PMArr: 9:10PM2h 0mEmbraer ERJ-145Economy (Q)

OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES

Miami (MIA) to Newark (EWR) - dim., avr. 20

United Airlines, Inc. 1534Dep: 8:55PMArr: 11:59PM3h 4mBoeing 737Economy (V)

 

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) 436,20 $US

Total cost for 1 passenger 436,20 $US

Thank you for the info. I am not familiar with "matrix". Is this a TA tool?

If you haven't already, check out Bing travel, where for flights in March 2014, they suggest waiting to buy a ticket.

The only trick is to fly 1 -2 days before ...

Thank you for the info. I am not familiar with "matrix". Is this a TA tool?

It's a flight search engine. You cannot book on the site, but you can use the info to search the airlines' own websites. In this case, booking separately from different airports is yielding much better pricing, so I would play around with the combinations until you find one that works on all levels for you.

I am on Long Island and have checked flights out of JFK, LGA, Islip, Westchester, and Newark. I am also checking any flights into Miami, FLL, and West Palm. We travel this time every year (or Presidents week) and have never encountered prices this high. I am waiting for Southwest to open their flights next week and see how that looks...

When is "this time"? Different places have different spring breaks. Did you say when it is and I just missed it? I did some detective work, looked up the school district in Fort Salonga and checked the school calendar. Based on that, I'm guessing you are looking for the week of April 13.

Don't panic, Southwest doesn't even have those dates on sale yet, so they are definitely an option. And you are close to Islip. Southwest will release the dates you are interested in on October 14, so check then. But the prices will probably only go up from whatever they start at.

I know it's unpleasant, but with 4 people driving to FL can really save you a bundle. Even assuming you eventually find flights in the $400 round trip price range, that's $1600 for the 4 of you. Driving might cost you $300-$350 in gas round trip in a typical car, some tolls, food, a hotel room for a night if you don't want to push and drive straight through and you're still at around $500-$600. If money is an issue and you really want to go, that saves you $1000. And your break is from 4/12 through 4/23, 12 full days, so you have the extra time to drive. Might have to leave a day early if you want to catch a cruise leaving Sunday though, and Saturday would require either 2 days early or one day early driving straight through.

When is "this time"? Different places have different spring breaks. Did you say when it is and I just missed it? I did some detective work, looked up the school district in Fort Salonga and checked the school calendar. Based on that, I'm guessing you are looking for the week of April 13.

 

Don't panic, Southwest doesn't even have those dates on sale yet, so they are definitely an option. And you are close to Islip. Southwest will release the dates you are interested in on October 14, so check then. But the prices will probably only go up from whatever they start at.

 

I know it's unpleasant, but with 4 people driving to FL can really save you a bundle. Even assuming you eventually find flights in the $400 round trip price range, that's $1600 for the 4 of you. Driving might cost you $300-$350 in gas round trip in a typical car, some tolls, food, a hotel room for a night if you don't want to push and drive straight through and you're still at around $500-$600. If money is an issue and you really want to go, that saves you $1000. And your break is from 4/12 through 4/23, 12 full days, so you have the extra time to drive. Might have to leave a day early if you want to catch a cruise leaving Sunday though, and Saturday would require either 2 days early or one day early driving straight through.

Just an update- Southwest flights were over $500 when they opened so we landed up booking 2 one way fares. $200 going down with a 40 minute connection and through caution to the wind and staying 3 nights in Orlando, returning Wed. after Easter and Paid $105 return. Needless to say the 3 extra nights will cost us a small fortune too (Universal, Hard Rock, the whole "shebang"), but what the heck, the boys are growing so fast and might as well do it since we are there anyway :)

Thanks for getting back with the happy ending. You'd be surprised how many want endless amounts of info and help, never to be heard from again! Sounds like you found a good solution and increased "quality time" with your family.

I remember being on another website where someone commented about how ridiculous airfare was from Illinois to NY. I asked "You mean Chicago to NYC?"

 

Nope...Bloomington to Syracuse. Big difference.

LOL! So true, so true. That's a good example of a situation where a couple hours of driving will save hundreds per ticket.

Lets see. Flying from cold NY to warm FL during spring break peak season when every college kid in North America wants to get down there for one of the worlds biggest parties. If the airlines can get $600 for a ticket they have no incentive to reduce prices. I wouldn't expect to see any fire sales at that time of the year. Unfortunatly you might be left with a tough choice to make.

Just an update- Southwest flights were over $500 when they opened so we landed up booking 2 one way fares. $200 going down with a 40 minute connection and through caution to the wind and staying 3 nights in Orlando, returning Wed. after Easter and Paid $105 return. Needless to say the 3 extra nights will cost us a small fortune too (Universal, Hard Rock, the whole "shebang"), but what the heck, the boys are growing so fast and might as well do it since we are there anyway :)

I always go for extending my vacation. Glad you found a solution that works for you.

When is "this time"? Different places have different spring breaks. Did you say when it is and I just missed it? I did some detective work, looked up the school district in Fort Salonga and checked the school calendar. Based on that, I'm guessing you are looking for the week of April 13.

 

Don't panic, Southwest doesn't even have those dates on sale yet, so they are definitely an option. And you are close to Islip. Southwest will release the dates you are interested in on October 14, so check then. But the prices will probably only go up from whatever they start at.

 

I know it's unpleasant, but with 4 people driving to FL can really save you a bundle. Even assuming you eventually find flights in the $400 round trip price range, that's $1600 for the 4 of you. Driving might cost you $300-$350 in gas round trip in a typical car, some tolls, food, a hotel room for a night if you don't want to push and drive straight through and you're still at around $500-$600. If money is an issue and you really want to go, that saves you $1000. And your break is from 4/12 through 4/23, 12 full days, so you have the extra time to drive. Might have to leave a day early if you want to catch a cruise leaving Sunday though, and Saturday would require either 2 days early or one day early driving straight through.

Different strokes for different folks! :D

I love to drive and try NOT to fly; the only flight I will consider is from home to Lauflin,NV on a charter. Drop your bag at checkin and it will be in your room when you arrive.

Just take money, this is a casino flight.