When do I buy???????

[Ibcruzing]

Sailing on Carnival Valor 9/11/05. I am flying to Miami from NYC/LGA. I have never been to Miami, so I am not familiar with the rates. American Airlines price is $188.90rt, is this a good price or should I wait to purchase closer to sailing?:confused:

 

Any advice would be helpful.

[parody]

$188.90 is a good price to fly to Miami from LGA. Absent other information, a good way to find what a good low fare is, is to check what Southwest Airlines is charging for a comparable trip. Southwest, however, doesn't use LGA or MIA, so you would need to look at something like Islip to Ft. Lauderdale. Their lowest price fares are in the range of $175, assuming that they are available. Usually, flying to FLL is cheaper than to MIA and many cruisers do this. My quick comparison shows that fares on other airlines are about $50 less between LGA and FLL rather than to MIA.

[hdawson]

Check the websites for JetBlue and AirTran. They usually have very good prices. You may want to consider flying into Ft Lauderdale for cheaper fares.

Also those two lines still allow checked bags weiging up to 70 lbs ea. And then there is Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. Also those two lines were ranked

number one and two in service among all US airlines.

[Ibcruzing]

Parody, thanks for the info. I will be flying down the day before and staying in South Beach. Do you still suggest I fly to FLL instead of MIA? Do you know how much it would cost to take a cab from FLL to south beach?

 

(My quick comparison shows that fares on other airlines are about $50 less between LGA and FLL rather than to MIA) What airlines are you referring to ?

[Ibcruzing]

Hdawson, took your advice search both airlines. Jetblue $238.00 and Airtran $178.00. At this rate, AA is the better deal for me. Thanks for your help.

[parody]

Parody, thanks for the info. I will be flying down the day before and staying in South Beach. Do you still suggest I fly to FLL instead of MIA? Do you know how much it would cost to take a cab from FLL to south beach?

 

The lowest round trip fare from LGA to FLL is likely to be on Spirit Airlines at about $177, although AA has some flights at $175. If you took a limo from FLL to South Beach, it would cost you between $17 and $120 depending on whether you prefer a shared van or an exclusive sedan or van. (For quotes, see http://www.floridalimo.com/) I'm assuming that you would not use the Tri-Rail commuter rail system (although coming from NYC, you may be very familiar with the Long Island Rail Road or the Metro-North commuter rail systems) which would cost only $3.00 (see http://www.tri-rail.com/). Consequently, if you can get an AA fare for $188.90 round trip to Miami, I would select that as your time is worth something greater than zero.

[Ibcruzing]

Thank you, Parody and Hdawson, for your help. I decided to go with AA.

[DanJ]

As to when to buy, do it now. Airfares are only going to go up. The tickets I bought for $195 r/t for LA next January went up to around $350 r/t 3 days later.

[Driftwoodgal]

Parody,

 

Is it possible to take the train from the Fort Lauderdale airport to Bayside Market place in Miami? Would luggage be a problem?

 

Thanks!

[parody]

Is it possible to take the train from the Fort Lauderdale airport to Bayside Market place in Miami?

 

The answer is yes, but a transfer to Metrorail and then to Metromover will be required. From the Tri-Rail map (http://www.tri-rail.com/system_map/index.htm), one would need to get off at the Metrorail Transfer station. Then looking at the Metrorail map (http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/metrorailstations.asp), it appears that one would need to get off at the Government Center stop. Finally, to minimize walking, one would need to transfer to Metromover (see http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/images/pdfs/publications/moverbro.pdf).

[Driftwoodgal]

Parody,

 

Thanks for the information....... by the way love your cockers!

[parody]

by the way love your cockers!

 

Thanks, I'll pass along your compliment. For completeness, I should add that the transfer from Tri-Rail to Metrorail is free (see http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/transferother.asp#Tri-Rail-to-Metrorail) and Metromover does not charge a fare and is also free. Thus, the trip from FLL to the Bayside Market would only cost $3.00! For schedules on Tri-Rail, check out their website.

[Driftwoodgal]

Parody,

 

Thanks for the information, have you ever traveled on this train? I see that you aren't from Florida. The six bucks would be wonderful if it wasn't a hassle to do it.

 

I own a dog and cat boarding kennel so any animal picture melts my heart.

[parody]

have you ever traveled on this train? The six bucks would be wonderful if it wasn't a hassle to do it.

 

Although I have taken commuter rail for over 20 years and have collected statistics, etc. on every commuter rail system in the US, I have never used Tri-Rail. With a little advance planning, however, it shouldn't be much of a hassle as I assume that you do not need to worry about parking -- the main difficulty with many systems. Basically, on weekdays, Tri-Rail operates on hourly headways southbound from FLL (see http://www.tri-rail.com/schedules_fares/stm_wday.htm). During peak hours on weekdays, Metrorail operates continuously every 8-10 minutes, so no advance planning is necessary. Metromover, being a downtown circulator system, operates on 90 second headways (almost a moving walkway). Thus, you really only need to plan on which train you need to meet at FLL.

[musicmansmom]

if you feel that you are seeing a good price buy them NOW. i bought my tickets last june for $302 roundtrip from midwest to seattle for this month. the prices kept going up and up. they are now $917 :eek: . this is with northwest and they still have the cheapest price. wow, it is rediculous. i say if the price is right get them as soon as possible.

[SWEETNLOW2005]

The price is right. Fly directly into MIA. With the price of a shuttle even if you found something cheaper into FLL it would more than likely come out to the same . It isnt worth all the hassle. I am flying from the midwest in Oct from ORD to FLL. I've purchased my ticket for 191.00 .

[Ibcruzing]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I purchased my tickets a week ago at $188.90, the tickets now cost $231.00. I saved $168.40. More money for drinks.:D

[KruznKel]

WOW wish is was that cheap up here for airfare LOL... I just purchased my airfare RT and the cheapest I could find for next march was $450CDN oh well still a good deal since some airlines were charging almost 800 for the same dates..