Grandma just passed away. Need to get a flight. ATL to Orlando cheap. HELP!

[lokiju]

Just found out my Grandma passed away yesterday.

I live in the Atlanta, GA area and need to get to the Orlando, FL area in time for the viewing Wednesday at 6PM and burial Thursday then fly back on Friday.

Does anyone have any "inside" resources or know any "tricks" on getting a round trip flight on short notice for a cheap as possible. I'm hoping for something as close to $200 total as I can but don't know if it's doable.

 

[iamwiz82]

It's about 450 miles, I'd just drive it.

 

[SunnyD]

Why not just drive?

 

[blackdogdeek]

Can you drive it?

 

[Kaido]

Try Kayak.com:

http://www.kayak.com/

Sorry to hear man

 

[lokiju]

Why not just drive?

7 to 8 hour drive one way vs under 2 hour flight (non-stop flight).

Cost $50 per full tank fill up and round trip fule cost will be around $200.

Money and time basically.

 

[Jadow]

Just found out my Grandma passed away yesterday.

I live in the Atlanta, GA area and need to get to the Orlando, FL area in time for the viewing Wednesday at 6PM and burial Thursday then fly back on Friday.

Does anyone have any "inside" resources or know any "tricks" on getting a round trip flight on short notice for a cheap as possible. I'm hoping for something as close to $200 total as I can but don't know if it's doable.

sorry for your loss. ATL is a major hub and Orlando gets a lot of traffic so it shouldn't be too tough to find a flight that's not to much.

 

[Fritzo]

Some places have Bereavement Fares. Check this out:

http://www.hotwire.com/bereavement.jsp

 

[Uppsala9496]

Call airlines. They have bereavement fares available. Not sure on the details on who is eligible and what proof they need.

 

[dmcowen674]

Sorry for your loss

Call the airlines

It's called a Bereavement flight.

They will fit you in a jump seat if need be.

 

[Fritzo]

Call airlines. They have bereavement fares available. Not sure on the details on who is eligible and what proof they need.

Just don't pull a George Castanza and take a picture of the casket.

 

[DrPizza]

Sorry for your loses.

Don't forget, time to drive to the airport, time to get a rental vehicle after you arrive in Orlando (else someone else's time to go pick you up.) Don't forget about getting to the airport 2 hours early due to security screening.

Oh, and it's just a little over 6 hours according to google maps (6:21) It's 442 miles, which at 30 mpg highway, is $112 for fuel.

Last second flights - generally very pricey.

 

[SunnyD]

7 to 8 hour drive one way vs under 2 hour flight (non-stop flight).

Cost $50 per full tank fill up and round trip fule cost will be around $200.

Money and time basically.

That's the tradeoff - if you want "cheap", driving might be your best option. If you want "time", then you might have to open your pocketbook.

Hopefully it works out for you. Sorry for your loss.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ugh, that sucks so bad man. I'm sorry.
Not an insider, but, I hope you find a good cheap fare.

 

[dlx22]

Southwest is about 290-300 for your time frame. I faced the same situation a couple of years ago and ended up driving it.

 

[Anubis]

Sorry for your loss

Call the airlines

It's called a Bereavement flight.

They will fit you in a jump seat if need be.

this is correct
its not free but its about as cheap as you can get and you will have to provide proof of death at somepoint

 

[MixMasterTang]

Bereavement fares are ridiculous. They give you something like half off the full Y code fare, which will probably end up being MUCH higher than other flights you can find. I'd vote for drive too, you say 2 hours but there is no way it's going to take you less than 4 hours to get to the airport (check in if taking bags), get through security, get through the gates, land in Orlando and make it out of the airport.

 

[lokiju]

Welp, just spent the time since I posted this to now looking at all flight options and then ran some numbers on fuel cost with estimated MPG of my two vehicle choices and rough gas prices and I'll probably have to drive it. Would rather not but any "affordable" flight has a layover in NC that'll make my flight travel time with layover anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. At that point it'd still cost over $100 more than fuel cost and nearly or just as long travel time before adding in time at security lines and all that.

Gah, this is going to make a sucky time suck even more.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Can you drive it?

Why not just drive?

It's about 450 miles, I'd just drive it.

7 to 8 hour drive one way vs under 2 hour flight (non-stop flight).

Cost $50 per full tank fill up and round trip fuel cost will be around $200.

Money and time basically.

Tues departure/Thurs return

Through Charlotte (US Air) $400
Otherwise directs are $500


Consider a rental car with high MPG Do not get at airport.

 

[Jimzz]

Bereavement fares are ridiculous. They give you something like half off the full Y code fare, which will probably end up being MUCH higher than other flights you can find. I'd vote for drive too, you say 2 hours but there is no way it's going to take you less than 4 hours to get to the airport (check in if taking bags), get through security, get through the gates, land in Orlando and make it out of the airport.

Yep Bereavement fares are usually not cheaper then searching online, southwest, priceline, etc...

 

[yhelothar]

7 to 8 hour drive one way vs under 2 hour flight (non-stop flight).

Cost $50 per full tank fill up and round trip fule cost will be around $200.

Money and time basically.

Craigslist Rideshare to split gas costs.

 

[JTsyo]

Amtrak has fares for $231 but you have to take a 13hr trip up to DC and then a 19hr trip back south to Orlando. 38 hrs total. :\ Rail in this country is so screwy.

Greyhound has buses for $35 and takes 8-12 hours.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Welp, just spent the time since I posted this to now looking at all flight options and then ran some numbers on fuel cost with estimated MPG of my two vehicle choices and rough gas prices and I'll probably have to drive it. Would rather not but any "affordable" flight has a layover in NC that'll make my flight travel time with layover anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. At that point it'd still cost over $100 more than fuel cost and nearly or just as long travel time before adding in time at security lines and all that.

Gah, this is going to make a sucky time suck even more.

Yeah, but driving for 8 hours just sucks. Even though your total travel time may not be that much quicker than driving, it still beats it knowing that you don't have to go through that drive.

 

[Baked]

I would rent a motorcycle and ride there.

 

[zerocool84]

I would rent a motorcycle and ride there.

But then he'd still feel like he'd been raped in the butt