MSP-PFN
 

I'm trying to get my family to panama city, fl, for a week July 31 Aug 7. We can be flexible a day or so on each end if necessary. Current airfares are close to 500 a ticket. Does it make sense to wait or buy now?
Thanks!

I see this is your first post, welcome.

Whenever you ask a question about airfare it's always best to tell us from where you are coming. We can't help you look up something cheaper without that info.

thanks for your kind response. I had that info in the subject heading. MSP--I'm coming from Minneapolis Saint Paul.
Thanks again

DUH!! I feel like a bad Fodorite for not recognizing that airport code. :(

I did a quick search on orbitz and it's a little cheaper if you are willing to fly into Mobile and drive to Panama City. By looking at Mapquest it looks like there's a road going along the beach, it might be a nice drive.

If you prefer not to do that, I would probably wait a couple more weeks and see if a sale pops up. It's always hard to know when that will happen so we get questions of "when to buy" often on this board. Good luck.

I just saw something else. If you leave on 7/30 and return 8/6 it's $300 to Mobile on Delta. Just FYI.

Another idea:

Pensacola is closer to Panama City and it's only $18 more.

United, leaving 8/1, returning 8/8 is $318.

thanks so much. I will try panama city again. Tried it before and didn't see that deal. Final destination is Grayton beach, about 3 hours from mobile.

According to mapquest Grayton Beach is about 70 miles from Pensacola while Panama City is 47 miles. If it will save you $200 per ticket it might be worth driving an extra 23 miles. I can see how Mobile will be a bit far.

I found the Pensacola deal on Orbitz but you can also get in on united.com.

Elvis, in re-reading your last post I'm not sure we are on the same page. The $318 deal I found is for flying into Pensacola, not Panama City.

Is PFN it the same airport than PTY ? I thought Panama City code was PTY !

ooops my mistake

I did not see ,fl florida

thanks for all the help! Any sense whether I should wait or not?

Well, once again the "when to buy" question is always a tuffy. If you decide to go the Pensacola route then I would buy now since it probably won't get much better than $318. If you are still looking at PC then it's hard to say which way prices will go. Good luck.