need your flight advice

artsake

Okay...  So we're traveling down to Key West again this year over February break.  Unfortunately that makes booking flights a nightmare.  They're insanely expensive with all the New England schools having February break, but at least we don't have to pay for a hotel.  I've looked at multiple airports in both directions and settled on these two options.  Well, at least today.  My biggest concerns are the overall travel time with a toddler and price.  Which would you choose if you were me?

Southwest
Providence to Ft. Lauderdale nonstop
Leave Providence at 11:15 am on the 19th and arrive in Ft. Lauderdale at 2:35 pm
Leave Ft. Lauderdale at 11:50 am on the 26th and arrive in Providence at 2:45 pm
These flights are ideal timing wise because they are non-stop and still allow us plenty of travel time between Ft. Lauderdale and Key West without getting in insanely late or leaving insanely early.
Bags fly free on Southwest, but the tickets come to $747.40 a piece including all taxes and fees.

United/US Airways
Providence to Ft. Lauderdale with a layover in Chicago on the way down and Washington, DC on the way up
Leave Providence at 11:52 am on the 19th and arrive in Ft. Lauderdale at 6:35 pm
Leave Ft. Lauderdale at 7:00 am on the 26th and arrive in Providence at 11:20 am
These flights are much cheaper at $465.80 a piece including all taxes and fees.  This is a savings of $281.60 a piece.
I'm pretty positive we have to pay for bags, but I have no clue how much.
The timing of the flights extends our traveling that day considerably (thinking about the two year old) and we'll have to get up insanely early on the 26th to fly out of Ft. Lauderdale by 7:00 am.

Or....  do you think I should still try waiting it out a little longer?  Help!

psyri

Southwest. Nonstop flights and no bag fees are worth it. I doubt Southwest's prices will go down between now and then. In my experience, prices start going up about 2 months before the flight.

ked77

If it were me, I would go with Southwest even for that much more money.  The timing is perfect and it's a nonstop flight which I think would be key for flying with a kid (I know I would have killed for nonstop when we flew!!)  Plus bags are free and they are so good with traveling w/ kids!  On the other flight you will end up paying probably $100 - $150 for bags so even though it would still be cheaper I think over all it's worth the expense to have that great timing on a non stop flight.

kmm13

FYI, for US Airways our one checked bag was $46 each flight.  The price each went up for additional bags.  That is a huge difference in price, but I have to say that the draw to the nonstop flight with a toddler is very appealing to me!

tmp-147965562503741

ditto everyone else -- i'd go with southwest.  we tend to go with the most convenient flights timing-wise and always nonstop, even if a good amount more expensive, because not only is it easier on the day-of, but also because of all the stressing out about how things will go leading up to the trip.  for example, when we flew to CA last summer, we spent an arm and a leg on a nonstop flight and even bought aliza her own seat, because we reasoned that having the extra room would give us peace of mind about the trip in general in the weeks beforehand... anyway, have fun!  also, i would buy them now, i feel like prices are insane for that week, regardless of when you buy them.

Wedding18

I wouldn't connect through Chicago in the winter. the most you will save with baggage fees is 100.00

Book Southwest.  Keep watching the fares and for sales and if they go down you can rebook and get a credit.  

I booked my disney tickets in July for 199. r/t.  In September they were having a sale and I rebooked for 99.00 r/t.  You just have to be in the right place at the right time.

rber9595

Book southwest and then stalk the prices like Nicole said.  if they go down they will give you a credit for the difference.  I hope they go down for you.  I would never pay that much a piece to go to FL.

Did you check if going out of Boston was any cheaper?

artsake

Thanks, ladies!  They're officially booked!