clairefromcali

Hi, I'm trying to plan an overnight trip from New York to Phoenix for business in April and I'm having a lot of trouble finding affordable direct flights. I know that US Airways/America West and Jetblue fly direct, but do you have any other suggestions? Is there an airport in Scottsdale that might have more affordable options? Any help would be much appreciated!

steviegene

I have no suggestion just a similar complaint.
Flew to phoenix in september for a wedding and felt like we got robbed. We booked well ahead and payed almost $750 for two people.

J62

You can also fly Continental from Newark to PHX non-stop. If Jetblue doesn't have a good fare, don't expect anyone else to either. Current CO fare for mid april is $350RT

Also, be careful using the term 'direct' when you talk to an airline.

In airline parlance 'direct' means one flight number from point a to point b. It is not the same thing as non-stop, and it doesn't even mean same plane. Many 'direct' flights will have a stopover at a hub, and some will even change planes.

rkkwan

Continental also flies non-stop, from Newark.

Fares are a little higher for the non-stops compared to one-stops, but the main issue is that most discount round-trip fares require a Saturday night stay.

If you need to go for just one-night mid-week, you may find it cheaper to buy two roundtrip tickets and throw away the returns. Use two different airlines to avoid issues; or if you have to fly the same, don't put down the same FF number on your reservations for both roundtrip purchases.

rkkwan

Well, I saw some US/HP fares for just under $300, with no Saturday night stayover requirement. That's pretty decent.

BeachBoi

Actually, most of the fares NYC-PHX are one way, as are most HP fares to anywhere.Jet Blue fares are one way as well, and neither requires a Saturday night stay.Claire what are your actual dates of travel? Northwest might have something for very close to $200, but will not be non stop.

jkgourmet

If you can leave from Islip, go with Southwest. You must buy tickets directly from their website as they don't sell thru expedia and orbitz, etc. JetBlue is the cheapest if you can't leave from Islip.

clairefromcali

Thank you all for your help! Can you tell me what HP flights are though? Are you referring to a carrier? Or a type of ticket?

BeachBoi

HP = America West Airlines

nytraveler

Phoenix is a bear. Bad/expensive flights and schedule from everywhere I've tried. A flight that long is bad enough I insist on non-stops unless there is NO choice - and have a client that likes holding meetings there.

Somehow I always end up on a triangele (NY-Phoeniz -DC or Boston or somewhere) and none of them have convenient flights to/fro Phoenix. And the prices are always awful.

Interestingly enough it is also the only "big" city airport I've been in that doesn;t have a bookstore. Not a single one. I was waiting for a delayed flight once and asked - they acted as if I were asking for a house of ill repute - not something you usually find in every airport.

jkgourmet

I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about. There is a bookstore, a large one, in Terminal Four, which is the largest terminal. AmWest and SouthWest, as well as our limited international service, all fly out of Terminal Four. Sky Harbor is, I've read, one of the five busiest airports in the country.

I think the problem finding direct and cheap flights to Phoenix is that Southwest does not subscribe to orbitz or expedia or any other online site. To find or book a Southwest flight you have to go directly to their website. They only sell tickets direct. That's one way they've kept their prices so low. And the ontime record and customer service are very highly rated.

nytraveler

Well - when I was there two years ago I asked specifically - 3 different people - and all said there was no bookstore at all at the airport. And I searched everywhere and couldn't find one. Was flying to DC - not on Am West or Southwest - perhaps they meant not in this terminal (or didn;t know what was in other terminals).

Don;t know what's on Orbitz or whatever - these were all business trips and the corporate travel agent (client's in-house agency) did all the booking - and could never find anything convenient - or at a good price - and they were booking over 250 people each time. (But they may not include Southwest among their approved carriers - but generally they take any major scheduled carrier - won't use the "fake" airlines. Does Southwest not have first class - if not that would eliminate them.)

Travel_Fan

By the way, the Scottsdale Airport is used for corporate jets, small planes, and flight training among other services. I've never seen a large commercial jet coming in for a landing or taking off.

jkgourmet

Correct, Scottsdale airport does not have commercial flights. Williams Field in Mesa has just started a few charter flights to LV and Laughlin. Tucson Airport is a 1.5 to 2 hour drive, but generally speaking, the flights are more expensive and often require a change of plane in Phoenix.

Southwest does not have 1st class. They do not pay commissions to travel agents. (perhaps this explains why they are the most profitable US airline in the industry?)

The original OP asked for advice about "affordable flights" - I guess I never thought of 1st class having ANYTHING to do with the concept of affordable. Contradictory terms, IMO.

michelleNYC

I fly in and out of Phoenix quite often for business from NYC and usually fly America West without a problem. If that doesn't work for some reason, I'll fly Continental out of Newark. Easy and fairly painless flight -- I usually spend around $325 - $425 per R/T flight.

mclaurie

Look on kayak.com Search all ny airports. Cheapest nonstop I see is $33 on America West. Changes up for different days/weeks in April.

mclaurie

Sorry, that $333

jkgourmet

or $99 each way from Islip to Phoenix on Southwest. Currently a special on their click and save program, but the regular fares aren't as high as AmWest. But it's sill Islip, I admit. . .
http://southwest.com/hotfares/060316_isp.html