Do any airlines fly direct to Key West?
 

We can leave from PHL, ACY, or EWR. Can't seem to find any nonstops. Am I overlooking an airline?

Nope. Furthest from EYW with a commercial non-stop is ATL.

No your not overlooking. You have to change plans in Miami.

The only airport outside of Florida that has direct flights is Atlanta, with flights on Delta.

A quick way to find out which airlines--and from what cities--fly into an airport is to use wikipedia. It tells you gates, airlines, and what cities.

Okay, thanks. And MikeT, I never realized you could look up airport codes on wiki -- very helpful!

So why is it called "international"? I guess it services Caribbean countries too? Not that it makes any difference because I'm fling from NJ...now I'm just being nosy!

If you are flying from Newark, how are you getting to the airport and where are you coming from?

Pjk

Sorry Peter, I'm not sure I understand your question. I mean, I'd just drive and park. It's as easy as getting to PHL or ACY.

Actually MIA is the last place I would choose to connect. Try Orlando, Tampa, Pensacola or JAX.

Honestly, if I can't fly direct from the northeast, I'll just fly into Miami or FLL (cheapest one wins!) and drive into the Keys. The rental car winds up being cheaper than the difference in airfare -- so if I have to connect and I'm not saving any time or energy, I might as well stick with the fly-and-drive. Thanks! :)

Fly into Ft Lauderdale. Its much easier to get around compared to Miami.

"Fly into Ft Lauderdale. Its much easier to get around compared to Miami."

Except you have to drive through Miami to get to the Keys. The road from MIA to the interstate from FLL is the only difference.

What I mean is the actual airport. Fort Lauderdale airport is easier to get around. I have flown into both several times and many, many times I get to KW quicker from Ft Lauderdale.

Personally, I'd fly Delta from PHL, ACY, or EWR and take the ATL to Key West direct flight.

Forgot to add, my dad just drove from Key West back to South Carolina on Sunday and it took him six hours to get out of the keys because traffic was so bad.

If she has that choice, I agree with GoTravel.

Here's why I ask how you plan on getting to the airport and where you are coming from.

Parking at Newark has become too expensive, even the long term parking, so I take the Olympic shuttle from Plainsboro to Newark for $28.00 one way and $23.00 back. $51.00 is the cheapest way for me to get to and from the airport. I park free at the hotel where they pick me up.

The earliest they will pick up is 5:40 a.m. so when I book a flight I look for something the leaves Newark at approx. 8:00 and lately I have been using Continental. Leaving at 8:00 I get into either Miami, Tampa, or Ft Lauderdale at approx 11:00. I don't care where I change flights; I'll just sit in the terminal, but I want about an hour layover at least in case of delys. So when I book I look for a Continental Connection out of Florida for 12:00 - 1:00. This gets me into Key West by 1:00 - 2:00 and I can be on the beach by 2:30, latest. It's like having an additional day.

I just did this for approx $400.00 round trip when you include all of the various taxes, and with the shuttle cost I can get to and from key West for about $450.00.

Try logging onto something like ORBITZ and doing Newark and Key West for your dates and see what you get. IMO a base of about $350.00 is very good, but you have to look at the returning flight to be sure the $350.00 plus taxes is good both ways. Sometimes the return flight adds cost to the trip.

Pjk

If you are thinking of flying and driving, which many people do, there is always the Q of when to leave Key West to catch the returning flight from parts unknown in Fla.

There is no A to the Q because you don't know how long the drive will take since it is based on the traffic. The alternative is to fly/drive down and fly/fly back.

Pjk

I've found connecting through MIA quicker than driving. But I fly AA from National and there's only about an hour connecting time for the flights I've taken. We drove from/to FLL once when we stayed a night there to meet friends flying in from Cal. You really won't need a car in Key West, it's such a hassle to park in the old town, a car is almost useless.

Wow...I thought this would be one of those threads that everybody ignored because it's kind of boring :) So thanks for all the help!

Nothing is set in stone, but we're thinking of flying to MIA on a Thuesday (early), then renting a car and driving to Key West. I've been to Miami before so I am familiar with the roads and the airport -- just haven't been to the Keys! We're coming back on a weekday too, so hopefully traffic won't be a nightmare. Was thinking of staying in South Beach the night before, to make the trip to the airport in the a.m. easier. (Or Fort Lauderdale, if we wind up flying into FLL instead.)

Luckily there would be four of us on the trip, so rental car costs (and parking at the airport) would be split evenly. I actually used to live in Plainsboro, Peter...but not near there anymore! Oh well.

The Delta connection sounds fairly convenient, however it adds $200 to each ticket, whereas the rental car only adds $60 per person for the whole week. Plus it would only save an hour or so, after the layover.

This is a budget getaway, so it seems like the fly-drive combo will be the way to go!

Duh...just realized if we stay in mainland Florida the night before a Monday flight, that would have us driving back on a Sunday. Guess we should shoot for Friday through Tuesday instead, huh? :P