Airfare through PriceLine

[rpf54]

Please help me! I'm trying to salvage a Disney trip I've been trying to plan for several weeks for my 9 y. o. son and myself. I started cost research 6 weeks ago so I could add it all up to see if I could afford it. I got prices for airfare, rooms on & off Disney, WDW tickets, etc, - everything. Once I figured which things to choose so I could afford the whole trip, I began buying them one by one as I could afford them. My son & I have never flown. You can probably guess what has happened. The airfare was the most expensive one-time expenditure, so I saved it til last. Monday,when I returned to the Delta.com site to buy my 2 tickets for $210, I found that they are now almost $300 EACH! Is there some strategy I can use at Priceline to try and get tickets for about the same money? I have already bid a number of times; each time the bid was rejected I changed my return date moving it out farther and farther, but never changing my bid per ticket amount which is $55(nets out at $198 when fees & taxes are added). I also have not selected any other changes: more connections, non-jet, etc. Should I? Would that increase my chances? Should I wait to the last day to bid? Our reservations at Disney are for April 6-10. I've researched car rental & bus fare options but I really want to salvage the "1st fight" for my boy if I can. Is there somewhere else to look besides Priceline? Any suggestion will be appreciated! Thanks.

Robert

[dahammer]

from what airport will you depart?

[rpf54]

Pensacola. thanks for responding!

[WillTravel]

I definitely wouldn't wait until the last day to bid. Are there any other airports you can go out of?

I had to look up the distance, and it looks a little too far to drive in one day - at least with only one driver.

I would definitely choose the non-jet option if you are wanting to have a successful bid from Pensacola. Are there any other airports nearby that you would also consider?

Do keep in mind the possibility of a nasty routing that would eat up a lot of vacation time. If you possibly can, I would spring for the tickets where you know the times.

[thereuare]

I think nearby airports may be your best option.

HOTWIRE not lets you choose 'time windows' and i would sooner take that over a completely opaque purchase for the reasons pointed out by WillTravel above.

You can also use our AIRFARE CHECKER to quickly check multiple nearby airports.

[rpf54]

Mobile and Ft. Walton Beach are 50 miles way in opposite directions but then I have to pay to park. I fear clicking the "non-jet" option will send us through Memphis, ATL or Charlotte and waste time as you cautioned. We could leave on Tuesday and we only have 3 day WDW tickets so Wed was going to be a "wash" anyway. I said all that to say I guess we have a little flexibility on our departure date. If all else fails we can endure the Greyhound I suppose. We plan to ride home on Amtrak, the other half of my son's adventure. It leaves Orlando at 1:45 Sunday. I travelled by train alot as a child and loved it. So I'm bidding on RT tickets even though we're only going one-way. Besides you can't bid on one-way at Priceline. The bottom line for me is airfare for $220 or less! But I'm still open to your best advice. thanks for all the replies!