So me and my wife are looking to go to the Grand Canyon for our first anniversary in May and we're trying to decide how to get out there. Cheapness is, unfortunately, of paramount importance, though time is also important (mostly because its time we won't be working and earning money).
So here's my question. Is $287 per person, from Orlando to Flagstaff and back, a good price? I just know nothing about what is or isn't a good price, so I thought I'd go back to my roots and ask the indefatigable Hatrack.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
It's not bad at all. I fly from Virginia to Utah a lot, and I'd be thrilled to pay $287. If I get a screaming deal, I might pay $230, but I've never paid less than that, and my flight for Christmas will be almost $500.
You might still wait until about six weeks before, and put an alert for those days to that place in case the price drop below that and you can get a deal. When you do buy a ticket, buy it on Tuesday - IME, that's when prices are the lowest.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
It sounds okay.
Looking over the middle of May, best I'm seeing for round trip any airport within 80 miles of Orlando to any airport within 80 miles of Phoenix (the more major airport) is about $230, which probably isn't worth it for the extra distance.
Looking for Orlando to Flagstaff, it looks like you might be able to get the price down to $245 round trip if you pick different days.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
The main day constraint is that we want to be at the Grand Canyon for the 16th, our anniversary.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
And I should say the $287 was $250, + the taxes and stuff.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Yeah, that's how I always price airfares. All the prices I quote include airfare.
You can get a bit cheaper if you vary your dates, but $287 is good. Just check around on Orbitz and see what combination you like best as a tradeoff between time there and flight cost. I'd probably go with the $287 itinerary if I were planning a trip.
I assume that $287 is on Alaska?
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Yeah
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I am good at finding good flights, and I have family in that area (Casa Grande, below Phoenix) so I am familiar with the normal prices. I'd say that is a fairly good price....let me see what I can find out though.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
I have used sites like hotwire, orbitz and such to find some great deals on flights.
You have less flexibility than if you went directly through the airline, but can get a good deal.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
I checked Southwest, since they don't usually come up on search engines. For the two of you, anytime around that weekend, the total with tax comes up as $630.40 for non-stop flights. (Flights with stops will be more since you actually have to pay taxes on each leg of the journey.)
This is more than your other price, but it includes bags. I know when I was planning a flight to Utah earlier this year that baggage costs were ridiculous.
However, I think $287 is probably a great price. Unless you run into another sale from one airline or another, it's probably the best you'll get.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I use Booking Buddy, and then check Southwest.com and whatnot. Between all the links on Booking Buddy, which include Kayak.com among others, and Southwest I usually find some good deals.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I found ?235 a person on Kayak.com, to Phoenix, which isn't too much further. About another hour and a half away.....Southwest has a direct flight to Phoenix for about $294 a person, and they don't charge for the first two bags per person.
Both were flying out on Thursday and back on Tuesday, giving you plenty of time to be at the GC for your anniversary.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
AirTran to PHX, same dates, $250.40 (taxes included) per person, plus $15 a bag for one bag each checked.
Jenni and I just flew AirTran today back to FL, and it was decent. You can usually upgrade to business class for about $59 each if you want when you check in online the day before departure. too. Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
I always check airfarewatchdog.com just in case they have what I'm looking for. Generally, if they have something for you, they'll be the cheapest ticket (but not always so make sure you check around). They tend to have more a little closer to your travel date but they could have something now. A lot of what they have are either unpublished fares or have very strict rules, so make sure that the time you want to travel meets their requirements.
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