Return flight home (FLL) question

[nhtravels]

We have a cruise booked leaving out of Miami and I have a boatload (yup, I just did that!) of Southwest points that I'm hoping to use, which means flying into (and returning) FLL.

 

What time is typically "safe" for a return flight?  Our cruise gets back on a Sunday, if that makes a difference.

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

If you look deep into the board, you will find dozens of threads on the topic, all pre-covid. Nobody has recent experience, which has some relevancy.

 

The general time is no flight before 11 or 11:30. But keep in mind we don't know how busy Port Everglades will be...in the pre covid days there could be 20+ thousand people getting off ships and going to the Ft Lauderdale airport. Probably won't be happening in the near future.

 

Transport may be more limited when you sail. There used to be a number of options...depending on when you sail, some of those options may not have returned.

 

So, I wouldn't be overly aggressive trying to get an early flight. It might work, it might not.

[Ashland]

I would be comfortable arriving into POM and having a flight out of FLL around noon-1:00pm. 

[Tapi]

Noon would be fine. I would NEVER recommend booking a flight this early, but one time (getting off the MSC Divina in Miami) we were off the ship so early, that we were able to standby on an 8:30am flight out of Ft. Lauderdale.  

[nhtravels]

Thanks everyone!  I appreciate all the responses!  

[Cienfuegos]

Back in more normal times, Fort Lauderdale airport often saw a bump in traffic activity on Sunday evenings, as weekend visitors / commuters returned to the Northeast for the work week.

 

Hopefully, those times will return soon.

[darlak8]

nhtravels - Hi Cyndi, I have the same Bliss cruise booked as you.  I hope you're still on that cruise?  A few people have joined the Roll Call since you started it in May.  Hope you'll jump back on the board!

[BNBR]

Would be better if you shared which flight options were available.

[delaware32]

Just an FYI . As of November Southwest will also be flying in and out of MIA in addition to FLL . We'll probably decide which one once a hotel decision is made . We're on the February 2022 Bliss Miami to Los Angeles .

[nhtravels]

I saw that SW was adding Miami starting in November!  I'm on the same cruise as you (Bliss, Feb. 2022), but I'm doing airfare for the Breakaway in May.   Gotta burn up those points!

 

 

[Moon Orchid]

On 10/10/2020 at 6:56 AM, delaware32 said:

Just an FYI . As of November Southwest will also be flying in and out of MIA in addition to FLL . We'll probably decide which one once a hotel decision is made . We're on the February 2022 Bliss Miami to Los Angeles .

Wow, great news.I did not know that. Thank you😃

[odie1024]

What would be the best way to get from Miami port to FLL? We have Jet Blue credits to use from cancelled flights earlier this year. Will be flying into Miami to use AA credits. Thanks.

[CruiserBruce]

The best way would be a private helicopter, or a limo with champagne. But Uber or shuttle service (very frequently mentioned here) will work fine.

[Luke gs Daddy]

We made a 10 am flight from POM on SW.

[JohninDC]

23 minutes ago, Luke gs Daddy said:

We made a 10 am flight from POM on SW.

You might have done that pre-virus, but my bet is that when (if? 🤔) cruising returns the post cruise screening will add a considerable amount of time to your schedule. Coming from POM I would not book a flight out of FLL before noon to be safe.