🕒 Best Times to Book Flights to Orlando

Travelling midweek (Tuesday/Wednesday) and selecting red-eye or early-morning flights typically saves $20–$90 roundtrip versus peak times.

📉 Cheapest Month to Fly to Orlando

Historically the lowest domestic fares to Orlando appear in September, early December (post-Thanksgiving lull) and late January. These windows often produce the best sale prices.

✈️ Nonstop Flights — Airlines & Typical Prices

Representative roundtrip economy ranges from major U.S. hubs (illustrative):

Note: SFB (Sanford) is served by Allegiant with many low-frequency leisure routes — excellent for cheap fares if the schedule suits you.

🔥 How to Find Flight Deals to Orlando

• 🔔 Set price alerts on Google Flights and Kayak for both MCO and SFB.
• 📅 Use the monthly calendar and +/-3-day search to find the cheapest weekday combinations.
• ✈️ Watch budget carriers (Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier) for flash sales — always add baggage to the comparison total.
• 🔀 Compare MCO vs SFB — switching airports can save $50–$120 after transfer costs are included.
• 💳 Check Chase and Amex travel portals — they sometimes offer exclusive bundle discounts or low-fee redemptions.

🌴 Orlando Airport Guide (MCO & SFB)

Orlando International (MCO)

• Primary gateway for major carriers and award redemptions (best nonstop and lounge options).
• Ground transport: taxis, rideshare, shuttles and upcoming rail links in some corridors — factor transfer time into your plan.
• Popular lounges: Delta Sky Club, United Club, Amex Centurion (access rules apply).

Orlando Sanford (SFB)

• Smaller, fast to navigate — commonly used by Allegiant.
• Often cheaper for leisure travelers, but check onward shuttle or rental-car costs for total price.

💳 Credit Card & Reward Tips

• Use travel portals (Chase/Amex) to compare portal pricing vs. direct airline fares.
• Redeem points for Southwest or JetBlue to secure flexible domestic tickets — Southwest’s two free checked bags frequently beat a cheap base fare + bag fees.
• Pick cards with trip-delay and baggage protections to avoid separate insurance for short domestic trips.

⏳ Last-Minute Flights & Tactics

If you need a seat within 72 hours:

• 🔁 Redeem flexible points (Chase UR, Amex MR) for last-minute award space — often better value than paid fares.
• 📱 Monitor airline apps (Southwest, Spirit, Frontier) for short-term promos and app-only deals.
• 🛣️ Consider repositioning to alternate nearby airports if fares spike — Tampa or Melbourne may occasionally be cheaper depending on dates.

🛡️ Travel Insurance — When It Helps

For Orlando trips insurance is optional for most domestic travelers. Consider a policy if you have non-refundable event tickets, cruise connections, or travel during hurricane season. Many premium cards include limited trip-delay and baggage protections.

💼 Baggage Fees — What to Expect

• American / United / Delta: ~$30–$35 first checked bag (domestic standard)
• Southwest: 2 free checked bags (major family travel saver)
• Spirit / Frontier / Allegiant: pay-as-you-go for carry-on and checked bags — always add these before comparing fares

💶 Price Examples (roundtrip, economy — illustrative)

Always calculate total trip cost (ticket + baggage + transfers) before booking — a slightly higher fare that includes baggage or lands at a more convenient airport often wins overall value.

✔️ Quick Checklist

• Set alerts for both MCO and SFB on multiple search engines.
• Search full-month calendars and prefer midweek travel.
• Factor baggage and ground transfer costs into your total price comparison.
• Use travel-reward portals and cards for additional savings.

Useful tools: Google Flights • Kayak • Skyscanner