Need advice regarding pricing of flights -- my husband and I need to be in Miami for the last weekend in July -- flying on a Friday early afternoon from any of the NYC airports to Miami nonstop direct and flying back sunday afternoon -- unfortunately, not a lot of flexibility in days/times of flights.

Looks like right now the best I can do is about $455 for both of us... any thoughts on whether prices will drop if we wait a bit longer to buy the tickets?

I've flown from NY to Miami a lot, and the usual rate is around $200 pp. Anything less than that is fairly cheap. The best rates I get are on American, (usually from LGA) although other airlines do offer deals from time to time. You can also check Continental from EWR.

The best thing I've done was sign up on American's website for their fare notices. Now anytime there's a special on the NY-Miami run, I get an email about it. Considering you're looking into July, which is low season, the prices should drop, probably around April or May. The lowest I think I ever saw was $168. Also, the cheapest airfares are usually posted after midnight on Tuesdays, if that helps!

nbs.....Right now,if you could do LaGuardia to and from FtLauderdale, and return Sunday morning, there is a fare on American for $154 and some change for each ticket..Good Luck!...S

Check Spirit Airlines and Jetblue. They both fly out of NYC airspace into either FLL or MIA. $455 seems high.

Can you fly out of Atlantic City? I've seen $59 one way ACY to FLL which is about $120 round trip before taxes.

Thanks everyone! Love the great advice!

Unfortunately, AC is a bit too far away for us to fly out from since we need to go to work in NYC on Friday morning.

And, Ft Lauderdale is a great option -- but my concern is being able to make a 7pm dinner that we have to attend on Friday night....

sorry to be so difficult -- unfortunately, there just isn't a lot of flexibility and we may end up having to pay (literally) for that...

sounds like i should sign up for the american emails on fare notices and wait it out a bit longer to see if there is any movement...

thanks!

Spirit flies LGA to FLL for around $120 roundtrip. They have a 12:30 PM arrive FLL 3:30 PM flight.

Try Jetblue or maybe Song (Delta). Not sure where Song is flying into. Jetblue was just offering $69 each way. Not sure of restrictions. I booked them last minute for Dec and payed about $80 one way.

Okay some people seem to forget the following:

1. FLL is a half hour with no traffic from MIA
2. They have to work that morning so a 12:30pm flight isn't going to work.
3. Unless they're renting a car, getting to MIA from FLL is a pain in the butt unless you pay $50 for a taxi.
(Cheaper to rent a car in this case!)

FLL is 9 times out of 10 cheaper than MIA, with more flight options, however if they are sticking with Miami, they can find rates under $175 which is still cheaper than what they found. The cheapest FLL gets is around $135.

Thanks, missjanna

I think you've summed it up -- Miami it is... and so at this point, i'll keep searching for flights that are under the $220 mark (since that is what I currently see coming up using expedia, travelocity and on the american site directly)...

Don't know if this helps, but I went to Miami last July (left on a Thursday night, returned on a Sunday) and paid about $185. Another option would be to check Delta, which also flies into Miami.