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PBI High Air Fares

Superchief

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We usually fly from KC to PBI every year in Oct-Nov, and have found the air fares to be comparable to FLL in the past. However, the air fares to PBI have recently been double the fares to FLL. I have been watching these fares since the Jan., and they continue to be high. Has anyone else noticed this trend to PBI? Is this due to the Southwest merger or other airline consolidation at PBI.

I am hoping this is only temporary, but I am considering booking flights to FLL while they are still cheap. PBI is much more convenient to Singer Island and is a much easier airport to navigate.
 

dougp26364

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We've noticed it as well. This year we're flying into FLL because of the price difference. For that matter, we're driving from Wichita to KC to fly into FLL. Prices from ICT are closer to $400 per person. Out of MCI we found flights for $225. I can make the 3 hour drive each way for that kind of savings.
 

Superchief

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We've noticed it as well. This year we're flying into FLL because of the price difference. For that matter, we're driving from Wichita to KC to fly into FLL. Prices from ICT are closer to $400 per person. Out of MCI we found flights for $225. I can make the 3 hour drive each way for that kind of savings.

I think I will book the FLL flights before they go up. Are rental car rates comparable?

The Courtyard at the airport usually has good Park and Fly rates in case you have a early morning flight. When I lived in Topeka, we often stayed there the night before our trip for about $99, including parking for up to 14 days.
 

dougp26364

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Grand Colorado on Peak 8
Spinnaker French Quarter Resort Branson
I think I will book the FLL flights before they go up. Are rental car rates comparable?

The Courtyard at the airport usually has good Park and Fly rates in case you have a early morning flight. When I lived in Topeka, we often stayed there the night before our trip for about $99, including parking for up to 14 days.

For the most part they're comparable. Right now there higher than a cats back but, if you're patient and watch they dip down. For our week they're in the $345 range but I caught a dip and have one reserved for $185. I typically shop compact cars. I anticipate seeing the rates dip down to below $150 at some point. If not, I've had good luck with both Hotwire and Priceline.

Right now our flight is an afternoon flight but, I anticipate a few changes in flight times before our trip next December. For hotels we usually use the airport Marriott and spend some of our Marriott Rewards points. We typically park our car at The Spot in their covered parking area.
 

Jennie

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I know the following information has been posted from time to time on various TUG forums but I'll repeat it here in case you missed it.

We rent a car in Ft. Lauderdale from Hertz each year for up to a month. (We own 4 back-to-back timeshare weeks at one resort). Instead of renting the car at the airport, we reserve one to be picked up at a hotel location about 5 miles outside of the airport. Thus we are not charged all of the extra nonsense taxes, facility fees, etc. that are added on when a rental car is picked up at an airport location. (However, you cannot arrive via the rental company's free van, nor call for a free pick-up. Take a taxi or car service).

The savings is significant. The price we found for an intermediate size car for 4 weeks (using AARP or Costco or a similar discount code) was $1475. if we picked it up at the airport. But by picking up the exact same vehicle at a nearby off-airport location, we paid $740.. Also the price for a month is the same as for four weeks. So you can rent it for up to 30 days, if needed, at the same price as the four week/28 day price.

The good news is that the car can be returned directly to the airport location without incurring any extra charges.

Make sure, however, that the off airport location will be open at the time you plan to arrive. Many close at 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday and sometimes earlier on Saturday. A few are even closed on Sunday. We usually make two separate reservations, a day apart. So if we arrive late on the planned date, we take a shuttle or taxi to our timeshare and then call Hertz the next day for their free pick-up service to the rental location.

So far there is no charge or repercussions if you fail to show up for a reservation. But we call the "800" number as a courtesy, or cancel on-line the same day, even if it is after the location has closed.

We find that Hertz has very similar rates to Alamo, National, and Enterprise. We used to use whichever one was the cheapest, thinking that there was no real difference between them. That was probably the case for many years. However, after dealing with two totally false damage allegations made by Alamo in two years (which we disputed and won), we will never again do business with that company. Do a google search for "Alamo complaints" and you will read hundreds of horror stories. Further research revealed that Alamo, National, and Enterprise are owned by the same company. Hence we avoid all three of them like the plaque.
 

linmcginn

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We just returned from a trip to Marco Island via Fort Lauderdale. After checking car rental rates on Hotwire, Priceline and Hertz, I came across car rental car agency called Sixt. It is off site but they do have a shuttle that takes you and from to the agency. It was the best rate for a rental car that I found. Even with the double AAA discount we could get with Hertz, their rates were still a lot better. There are only 4 agencies in the US. Three of the four are in Florida(Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando).
 
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