Are plane fares like hotel deals?

[DaveClay12]

I really really really really want to come down for second weekend, but I'm, well, monetarily challenged. I know many people endorse getting good hotel deals by waiting until the last few days before the fest. Does the same principle apply to airplane fares, or is it always better to book early? Any help/personal experiences would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Dave

[swag]

In general, I'd say no.

A few reasons.

#1 is inventory. There are now more hotels rooms in New Orleans than there were in 2001, and of the large hotels, only 2 (hyatt, fairmont) have failed to re-open post-K. The air side is a different story. With rising fuel costs, the airlines are "cutting inventory" nationwide, meaning fewer flights on smaller planes. The number of seats available to MSY is only about 70% of the pre-K levels. With the smaller population and reduced convention trade, that makes sense, but during special events like Fest, with demand approaching pre-storm levels, it gets tight. Last year, last minute seats were hard to find and expensive, and I expect this year to be similar.

#2 is airline rules. When buying thru normal, direct channels, like the company's website, hotel room costs are generally static as long as inventory is there. During less busy times, a hotel room booked the day before check-in may cost the same as one booked months in advance. With the airlines, you are fighting both booking rules and inventory. With Jazzfest, the cheaper fare buckets usually sell out well in abvance, but even if not, they still have advance purchase requirements, typically 14 or 21 days. If you buy later than that, you pay more, even if the flight is somehow wide open.

Reason #3 is convenience. What may be available and affordable late will liklely be the least convenient flights, for example, on Wednesday instead of Friday or Monday; leaving at ungodly hours like 5:30 am; arriving at unfriendly hours, too late to Fest that same day; or with poorly timed connections in out of the way hubs.

Priceline may give you a chance, if you can handle the risk of inconvenient flights or not going at all, but I think the days of easy cheap flights via Priceline have passed. They seem to be focusing mostly on the hotel side of their business.

My advice is to book air as early as you can. Also, depending where you live, Greyhound or Amtrak may offer an alternative. If it gets late and MSY flights can't be had, consider BTR (Baton Rouge) or GPT (Gulfport), or check for flights to Houston Hobby (HOU), from where you may be able to add on a cheap flight via Southwest.

[Rossvegas]

Just to add to Swag's (terrific) post, I have found that many of the carriers that used to fly directly into NOLA aren't yet. (e.g. Air Canada, United from Toronto). That means that you usually have to fly into a hub city, and then fly from there into NOLA. Getting the flights to the hub isn't the problem; getting from the hub to NOLA is. Since people all coming from all over the planet to the hub, that last leg can be tough to secure if you wait too long...

[DaveClay12]

Thanks as always, Swag... I'm in NYC, so Greyhound and Amtrak would be very tough for me. I guess I'm just gonna have to get my act together sooner rather than later.

[ohio]

Amtrak from NYC to Nola is 30+ hrs...
& $200+ w/o a sleeper

[Staxsun]

Thanks as always, Swag... I'm in NYC, so Greyhound and Amtrak would be very tough for me. I guess I'm just gonna have to get my act together sooner rather than later.

I'm lucky that I'm close enough to drive (of course I pay a million dollars to park). That said, another alternative is to fly to somewhere that's sorta close and bus or Amtrak from there. If you can get a good price to Jackson MS, Mobile AL, Baton Rouge, Houston. etc., the bus ride isn't so bad.

[PaulC]

jus' checked that route this mornin' for some ny buddies... 2nd weekend,... wed. night (4:30 departure to mon. morn,... $256 (total) round trip on northwest out of LGA..... the return time is a killer though... 6:20 a.m..... easy solution,.. don't sleep till ya' get on the plane...

southwest has a $99 one way new orleans to long island on the Tues. afta' the 2nd weekend....

[johnstp]

One year when I couldn't find a decent airfare to NOLA, I flew into Biloxi from NYC. Great fare, cheap car rental, relatively short ride to NOLA. Car parking wasn't a problem as I was staying at a hotel with lots of available street parking. If you go that route, I would recommend a Garden District hotel. You should be able to find parking on the street.

[Rossvegas]

You guys have it so good. My flights from Toronto are going to cost me $700 - $800. I was thinking of using points, but the inbound flight gets me there at around 2:15 on Friday, and that means I likely won't be walking through the gates until 4 after I drop the bags, etc. I don't mind paying the freight to get there, but when i hear about $200 airfares, well...

[jerseygirl67]

I really really really really want to come down for second weekend, but I'm, well, monetarily challenged. I know many people endorse getting good hotel deals by waiting until the last few days before the fest. Does the same principle apply to airplane fares, or is it always better to book early? Any help/personal experiences would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave -- I am coming the first weekend. Got flight and 5 nights (from Newark NJ) for 560ish. Leaving at the crack of dawn on the 23rd, but return flight is 9:40am. It does have a stop over but that's worth it. My sister and her friend got same deal but leaving from Philly. Theirs is a direct flight.
We used www.bookit.com
Good luck!

[Orleansnj]

Amtrak from NYC to Nola is 30+ hrs...
& $200+ w/o a sleeper

And, it is the worst experience EVER in the world. You will run out of toilet paper on the train as soon as it leaves Virginia, you will then freeze your azzzzz off when you travel overnight - no matter if it is 107 outside - and, all hospitality is vacant.

Did it once - and that was enough.....

Now - one way to save money is to fly on different airlines for your departing and returning flights. Living in NYC you have your choice of airports and carriers to make your life easier - and far more economical. You can fly out of Newark, say, and back into JFK or LaGuardia.

You can do Jet Blue for fairly cheap money - just be creative and flexible.

Trust me - we have more options in this market than just about anywhere else on earth....

[DaveClay12]

Dave -- I am coming the first weekend. Got flight and 5 nights (from Newark NJ) for 560ish. Leaving at the crack of dawn on the 23rd, but return flight is 9:40am. It does have a stop over but that's worth it. My sister and her friend got same deal but leaving from Philly. Theirs is a direct flight.
We used www.bookit.com
Good luck!

Thanks for the advice... bookit.com seems to have some really good deals. I'm pretty internet savvy, and I've never heard of them before... Are they trustworthy? A good site? Anyone have any experience with them before?

[Blumie]

One year when I couldn't find a decent airfare to NOLA, I flew into Biloxi from NYC.This is great advice. In years past I have flown into Baton Rouge and even as far away as Pensacola to take advantage of cheap fares. (And, in the case of Pansacola, to take advantage of its proximity to the Florabama Lounge and the ability to rent a cheap convertible!)

But any way you cut it, NOW is the time to book. For all the reasons Swag and others have indicated, do not expect airfares to get any cheaper.