How to Save Money on Flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Looking to save money on flights to Orlando? In this guide, I’ll show you how to search for and book the best airfare deals to MCO.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the tenth busiest airport in America with 60 over carriers and it’s the 30th busiest airport in the world.

Two airlines in particular, jetBlue and Southwest have made MCO a mini-hub and both have some of the best fares in and out of Orlando International Airport.

Orlando is a mini-hub for jetBlue and Southwest. Fierce competition often means fare sales.

Tips for finding cheap airfare

No matter which airline you choose to fly, spend a little time doing some research and check back frequently. Airfare to and from Orlando has been on the rise for the past 5 years but you can still find some cheap seats on your flight to MCO by taking a few simple steps.

Orlando International Airport

How to search the web for airfare deals

About 95% of bookings are made online, according to FareCompare.com. Start with the airlines’ official website because it will have more flight options at similar fares.

Also, try websites that allow you to compare deals from multiple airlines. My favorite is Google Flights but also try Airfarewatchdog and FareCompare.

Cheapest days to fly to Orlando

In most cases the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Monday and Friday are usually the most expensive.

If you can, be flexible with your travel dates, try to shift your dates around by a day or two.

Just confirm that there is availability at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel before getting locked into to a non-refundable flight. 

 

Split up large groups

Many people flying into Orlando International Airport are traveling as a family.

Try breaking up your family into smaller groups when shopping around.

For example, if there are only 2 cheap seats left on a flight and your search is for 4 seats, the website will give everyone the higher fare.

Try searching for one seat first, then add other members of your family to see what happens to the fares.

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Orlando International Airport

 The best day of the week to book a flight

Fare sales can appear anytime but I recommend signing up for fare alerts with the airlines you are shopping.

You can sign up for fare alerts on the airline’s website and customize your alert for the exact route you want to fly.

Some travel websites offer fare alerts as well.

The best time to shop for airfare is Tuesday afternoon, this has been the industry standard for the past several years.

Wednesday morning is also a good time to shop for Orlando flights. 

Use Google Flights to shop for cheap flights

Use Google Flights to find the cheapest fares to/from Orlando! Google Flights searches most airlines using the power of Google. 

Some airlines allow you to book a flight right through Google, others will require you to book directly on their website but it's a convenient way to search multiple airlines at once. 

Check for a lower price even after you book your flight

After you book your air travel, check back to see if fares have dropped for your flight.

Jetblue will issue you a credit towards a future flight on the difference. Other airlines might have similar programs.

If you see that the cost of airfare has dropped since you booked, give the airline a call.

If your airline doesn’t offer any price protection, try calling your credit card company. Some offer travel perks which might include price guarantees.

 

Even more ways to save money on flights

What about airline credit cards for frequent flyer miles?

jetBlue, Southwest, and British Airways have some of the best credit card programs available.

You can read more my article, Tips for Earning Frequent Flier Miles to Orlando International Airport. 

For over 12 years Darren Wittko has been helping people save money at Walt Disney World as both, a travel writer and a travel advisor with Magical Vacations Travel. He’s featured in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren resides in Celebration, FL.

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Tags: Orlando airfare deals, cheap flights to Orlando, cheap flights, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando