Wife and I had our first child 3 weeks ago and are going to Cancun with the baby last week of December.

Right now EWR-CUN is outrageous at $1,328 per person round trip (baby will sit on our laps)

But that fare is a B fare and if I am not mistaken doesnt that mean since I am Gold that we would automatically be moved up to first for both flights.

If thats true, I am wondering if I should book it now, or if it means economy, I guess the fares gotta drop at some point I am thinking as its insanely high, but if it means first class, maybe it makes sense for us to do it now.

Appreciate any thoughts everyone.

Yep, automatic up to F for you, but unless your wife is gold or silver, you'll have to do the companion upgrade. Not sure how the lap child works though...

So is it not automatic for my wife? Cause I cant be in first and leave her and the baby behind in economy. Dont think she would appreciate that

Nope, you'd have to go through the companion upgrade process, not exactly sure how it works, but I think you can't upgrade her until the day of departure.

Correct.
Wife will need companion upgrade on day of departure.

December, especially after the 15th or so is considered high season for many places including resort areas, south/central america, Mexico and Caribbean. Even though the price is high, if capacity does not increase, the price may not come down by much.
You could look at some cheaper options: Jetblue? not sure if Spirit flies from FLL? there are also some low-fare mexican airlines (Mexicana/Volaris).

B fare is technically not an automatic upgrade, only if there is availability. Your wife, if no status, will waitlist at the airport as a Gold companion (would not bet on her getting the upgrade)

Obviously you CANNOT sit in the front but you could let her and the baby sit in the front and you get yourself a nice exit row seat. That is the right thing to do if you want to start your vacation on the right foot. Better yet, you sit with the baby in the back and let her relax and have a couple of drinks in the front of the plane.

That would win you some points!

What are your travel dates? I found $853.00pp ai on US With 24DEC-31DEC
(itinerary #1 below) I have taken into consideration no redeyes and reasonable connection times, on *A carriers.


Searching the 26DEC-31DEC, there is a fluke fare (connecting in El Salvador) for $431.00 per person (itinerary #2 below). I dont know if its bookable, or do-able, but it came up in Kayak.


More realistically, for 26DEC-31DEC, $1037 is the cheapest with reasonable connections, and no redeyes, on *A carriers..


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITINERARY 1

Depart December 24

US Airways � Flight 1835
Take-off Sat 10:20a EWR Newark, NJ
Landing Sat 12:14p CLT Charlotte, NC

US Airways � Flight 887
Take-off Sat 1:20p CLT Charlotte, NC
Landing Sat 3:30p CUN Cancun, QR, Mexico


Return December 31

US Airways � Flight 812
Take-off Sat 9:30a CUN Cancun, QR, Mexico
Landing Sat 2:00p PHL Philadelphia, PA

Connection 2h 10m
US Airways � Flight 4552
Take-off Sat 4:10p PHL Philadelphia, PA
Landing Sat 5:14p EWR Newark, NJ

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITINERARY 2

Depart December 26

Taca Intl Air � Flight 571
Take-off Mon 9:40a JFK New York, NY
Landing Mon 1:30p SAL San Salvador, El Salvador
Coach | Airbus A321-100/200 (Narrow-body Jet) | 4h 50m

LACSA � Flight 636
Take-off Mon 2:45p SAL San Salvador, El Salvador
Landing Mon 4:15p CUN Cancun, QR, Mexico


Return December 31

LACSA � Flight 637
Take-off Sat 5:00p CUN Cancun, QR, Mexico
Landing Sat 6:35p SAL San Salvador, El Salvador

Taca Intl Air � Flight 566
Take-off Sat 7:52p SAL San Salvador, El Salvador
Landing Sun 1:22a JFK New York, NY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITINERARY 3

Depart December 26

United � Flight 1687 (Operated by Continental)
Take-off Mon 7:00a EWR Newark, NJ
Landing Mon 8:49a ORD Chicago, IL

United � Flight 825 3h 37m
Take-off Mon 10:10a ORD Chicago, IL
Landing Mon 1:47p CUN Cancun, QR, Mexico

Return December 31

United � Flight 792 3h 42m
Take-off Sat 1:25p CUN Cancun, QR, Mexico
Landing Sat 5:07p ORD Chicago, IL

United � Flight 884 2h 14m
Take-off Sat 7:00p ORD Chicago, IL
Landing Sat 10:14p EWR Newark, NJ

Thanks for the help! Dates are Dec 24-31 or the 7pm flight out of ewr on the 23rd we can make. Want to try to go direct with the baby as connecting could be a handful I imagine

The nonstps EWR-CUN Dec 23-31 are still ludacris and the flights are empty. When the heck are these going to down if at all?

I'm going to go out on a whim and say they aren't. While the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, its probably safe to say the Christmas/New Years week is probably the busiest travel time of the year.

You've been posting for over a month now, I've offered alternate options to you which were cheaper, and you chose to ignore them.

What more do you want? A miracle fare sale during the busiest travel time of the year? Things are only going to get worse -- not better.

Either book now, or don't complain when fares go up again.


As of now, if you connect, using US Air, looks like you can save $300......Connect on CO/UA and save $100. Otherwise pay your 1100 and be done with it.

I disagree -- babies of that age are pretty darn easy to travel with. A tip: if Mom is breastfeeding, this trip will go much easier if she keeps it up until at least the end of the trip. Not worrying about finding safe foods, water, etc. makes traveling with a young baby pretty worry-free.

IIRC: lap children on international flights usually have to pay 10% of the adult fare plus tax (they do not get to fly free as with domestic flights - every intl pax has to have a ticket even if no actual seat so that govt fees/taxes can be charged). So, if you take the B-fare upgrade, be sure the child is on your wifes ticket and not yours.....

Fares dropped over 50% overnight!!!!

Good things come to those who wait!!

Cool! GL w/booking your tix!^