Good deal Crickett! Go figure on the other fare with the layover.
Is your flight non-stop? Direct can mean you have a stop, but the flight number doesn't change and you don't deplane. Sometimes a layover is better because a direct with a stop can leave you sitting stuck on the plane while it sits at the gate for an hour or more. Just a cautionary note to those who might confuse DIRECT with NON-STOP. Directs can have a 1 or more stops. Non-stop is just as it sounds.

Hey Bluwater,
It's a non-stop... which totally threw me. I have been watching fares for a few weeks and was just checking them out again when this came up. My wife happened to call me at the time I was online and asked what I was doing... I said "I think I'm about to buy our airline tickets for ST. John" and then questioned all the dates and times with her to make sure I wasn't already on vacation in my mind. Not sure why it is, but I'm figuring the travel gods are with me on this one! LOL

crickett : )

I bought tickets from LGA - STT for January, Feb, and March. For $149. roundtrip per person! That new airline Spirit Airlines started service through Fort Lauderdale, FL. non-stop! They are new to caribbean. You don't even have to get it in advance. How luck for STT folks now.

Is this airline (Spirit) for real? We're booked into the WindwardSide guest cottage for Carnival 2006 (our first trip to STJ) and flying out of DC is only $179pp? What's the catch?

I hope none!

Be careful... the return flight might be priced separate. Also watch the times. The flight for the day I am leaving doesn't leave LaGuardia until 3:30 and doesn't get into STT until 10:10PM. I'm not willing to do that. I don't want to waste a whole day of my trip... I want in paradise as early as possible. If the price were right and the times okay though, I wouldn't hesitate to fly Spirit .

crickett : )

Ah, I was reading the web site incorrectly... that was only the outbound leg. Darn.

That's what I thought... usually if it's too good to be true, it it. Try American and just watch it everyday. My fares were $445.00 each for a non stop flight between Newark and STT and I get into STT at 2:30.
Good Luck.

crickett : )

Since finding this board last week I've been soaking up the excellent information, and plan on posting some travel question later in regards to our trip. I've been around the Bahamas and Central America (love Caye Caulker) but this will be the first VI trip.

One item I read as of note in regards to airfare was a posting of a US Air flight out of PIT that was booked 60 days in advace for $260+... right now the plan is to just keep an eye on the rates and jump when the opportunity presents itself.

That's the thing to do... jump when it's right.

crickett : )

MSmyth - when did you see the USAir flight out of PIT for $260? Was it one of their "E-Savers"? Being a 'Burgher myself (GO STEELERS!), I've been watching the prices for a May flight and it's been hovering around $650 RT with one stop each way in either Philly or Charlotte!!

I actually read it on a thread:

https://www.vinow.com/wwwtalk/read.php?4,3859,3877#msg-3877

This is about the same time we're planning on going, end of June, so it does appear a savvy shopper can find a good rate.

That said, I will say US Air can update web pricing multiple times a day which can get frustrating to say the least. After the first of the year I'm just going to hit the web site a couple times a day.

On another air fare note, does anyone know of an accurate air fare web crawl service that could be set up to do multiple emails daily with available pricing? Kayak.com isn't bad, but I was looking for something a little more automated.

Last March, I paid $279.00 (American Airlines) for a non-stop round trip ticket from Boston to St. Thomas. Sounds unbelievable, but it really is true. Our family of four went to St. John for approximately $1,200. We are going back on December 10 and we got the same non-stop round trip flight, only it was $440.00. Still a great deal considering what the price of fuel was when I booked the trip in August. I can't believe that the flights with one and two stops are more expensive, but if you are in the right place at the right time you can get some great deals. This is our third trip to St. John this year - that's how much we love it!!!! You only live once!

That's exactly what I thought Sandy... how can the non-stops be so much cheaper than the flights with 2 or 3 stops. I'm not complaining... it'll be nice to take off just once and land in paradise.

crickett : )

Crickett:

We too fly out of EWR on Continental (non-stop). However, you can put together a combination of flights that might be cheaper than the non-stop.
For example:
Since San Juan has a lot of competition...a flight from EWR to SJU cost us $189. (R/T) each in December. Then we booked an American Eagle flight, SJU/STT (R/T) for $174. each Total $363. each. Since American Eagle is a "partner" with Continental we'll check our luggage straight through to STT. We have a 2 1/2 hour connection in SJU.

Other alternatives are PHL (Philadelphia)/STT via US Air, Atlantic City/STT via Spirit Airlines (or LGA/STT via Spirit). Note: Spirit connects in Fort Lauderdale. Also, Jet Blue to SJU then connect to American Eagle, Cape Air or Caribbean Sun.

F.I.

I like the setup through SJU but I there is nothing like a non-stop. I tried Spirit from LGA to STT and that came out to be a little over $600.00... way more expensive and a hassle of a time to get to LGA. Times are important to me too... I want to get into paradise as early as possible on travel day and get that first tropical drink in my hand asap. LOL As far as PHL, I'm already driving from NB, Canada (10 1/2+ hours) and staying with relatives the night before we fly out of EWR, so that's my limit to drive to an airport. I might have to try booking through SJU and making my own connection next time. Thanks.

crickett : )

Sandy, I'm jealous! Last year we had to pay something like $398.00 for that non-stop from Boston to STT. THIS year has been awful. I can't get that non-stop for less than $586.00!! I am going nuts waiting for the price to drop. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and pay the higher price. I'll kick myself though if the price goes down after I buy them. We go in February. Where are you staying when you go?

Try Providence to St.Thomas on Spiritair.com it said it leaves there at 0700, stops in Ft.Lauderdale for an hour. (easy, because all their gates are in same terminal where your land and it's the same exact aircraft onward to STT) then it leaves at 1050, arrive in paradise at 2:20. The fares were ranging between $49.- $89.each way on the web. There is no catch. They are promoting the the new market and their new aircraft. I don't know how cricket flew on them for $600.from LGA - STT. They don't start that service till the 15th of December 2005?

Hi kimo,
Didn't fly on them... got that rate on their website for next March... passed on it though.

crickett : )