feedback on airfare -- LAX to BUF

[swsc16]

I'm planning our July trip to Niagara falls area. Accommodations have been booked (thanks DAE!). Now for the airfare from LAX to Buffalo.

Dates: July 3 - July 10, 2009 (4th of july vacation!)
3 tickets needed: couple plus 6yo (2nd child will only be 13months in July, so she's free). Looking for cheapest flight, but with 2 young kids, I also need to watch out for the flight times.
The cheapest I found is Delta -- $290 rountrip incl taxes/fees, excl baggage fees.
Outbound leaves at 11:25am, return flight leaves at 1:40pm --- both perfect times for us.

Southwest opens their July 4th flight on Feb2, but I checked June 19 - 26, and it's about $400+. Should I get this Delta flight now, or wait for Southwest, or other airline sales?

Thank you very very much for your advises.

 

[djs]

I would book the Delta flight, especially since it's a decent fare and the times work for you. Southwest may be cheaper in the end (since there are no bagage fees), but why risk that it will be.

The other consideration would be flying time and where you'll layover. With Delta you will connect through Atlanta, whereas with SW you can either connect through Vegas or Chicago. If time on the plane is a concern, then the SW routing (to me at least) is more favorable.

 

[Art]

As someone who uses Buffalo as his base for flying, I'd grab the Delta flight in about half a second.

For whatever reason, Delta seems to do some very aggressive pricing in this market. However, those prices do sell out fairly quickly. Even though I've had the nagging fear that someone would come along with a lower price, it hasn't happened yet.

If it matters, however, rest assured that the final leg into BUF will be a regional jet if you have a CVG rather than ATL connection.

Art

 

[swsc16]

Thank you very much djs and Art.

djs, thanks, your reply made me compare the flight times. Yes flight time (incl. layover of about 3 hrs) is longer in Delta, than in SW. But I'm pretty sure we can manage. My 6yo has travelled by air 4x, since 6mos old And my 2nd baby, it'll be her 1st plane trip, but so far she's had 4 road trips already at 7mos. old..... we certainly know how crazy it is to travel with young kids, but we've managed pretty well so far... (and having lots of fun :whoopie: )

Available seats seems to be only 5-10% filled.... but on the price of $290, do you have any idea at all if this price is going to last? I know that's a hard question, but maybe you have a crystal ball

I think I'm just holding off a little bit knowing this is non-refundable, and will have fees on any ticket changes... but yes, I shouldn't hold off very long...

Thanks again! It will be our first time to go on the NorthEast.

 

[swsc16]

If it matters, however, rest assured that the final leg into BUF will be a regional jet if you have a CVG rather than ATL connection.
Art

Art,
Sorry I'm slow and not really a true travel expert... what is your bottomline in what you said above? Delta flight will have ATL connection.


P.S. I lost count on my 6yo's plane trips... he actually had 7 plane trips already (not 4).... I've been meaning to document our travels in a quick Excel document.

 

[djs]

Although quite expensive right now, one option you may want to consider is JetBlue as there will be TV to occupy the kids (though they fly out of Long Beach and not LAX). Right now it's double what you found on Delta.

 

[Art]

Sorry. If the flight is through Atlanta (ATL) there is a better chance that it will be on a full size airplane than if the flight connected thru Cincinnati (CVG).

With the full size airplane, there is likely to be three side by side seating. With the smaller regional jet, there will only be two by two seating on each side of the aisle. While many of us dread the middle seat of the three by three seating, it is often preferred by families since it keeps everyone together.

How long these fares will last is anybody's guess. However, if you are hoping for a sale, remember that the flights that have good deals are the ones that the airlines haven't been able to sell, i.e., the ones that aren't in the prime time slot that you want.

Art

 

[swsc16]

I bought the Delta tickets today. Southwest came out to be $100/person more expensive.
Thank you so much!