Future Bride Freaked Out By Flights To DR

kemiandhecareth · 08-15-2008, 03:31 PM

Hi everyone,

Well my FI and I were just starting to narrow our choice down to PPR in DR, and then we began looking into flights just to test it out and see how it would be. We found that most flights from Cali would involve at least one layover in which you had to sleep there (the layovers were like 8 hours). No, this changed for different days, but if some of our guests left on this particular day, it would be a nightmare for them.

We were checking kayak.com and expedia.com, so we were just wondering if there was some way to get flights that were not so crazily long, and I also wanted to know how you all found the flight experience to DR to be. If you're not from Cali please feel free to let me know how your flight experience was also, because our guests will be coming from all over the country, but mainly from Cali, Pennsylvania, New Orleans, and Texas.

Thanks everyone!

~ Kemi

limon_b · 08-15-2008, 03:38 PM

Check flights on a Wednesday...we had one guest who found a flight that did not require an over night stay somewhere. BUT...if i remember correctly it makes for a long day and you get into Punta Cana close to 10pm.
I am in Denver. We are flying to Miami, staying at my step-sister's and flying out the next day.
Thankfully most of our guest live on the East Coast and could find same day flights.

kemiandhecareth · 08-15-2008, 03:49 PM

Thanx Monica! Yah, we just realized that if it's on different days, then you can get better flights. I guess for the peeps that can only stay for two nights that they have to just bear with it. Sad... I was condering the idea of flying somewhere south and then flying out from there, but I dont' want to have to put up with checking bags twice. I think that might just get too crazy for me.

Well, we still have over a year (we're planning for next Sept), so we'll see what happens I guess. My FI and I were just not very thrilled about making our west coast guests (my side, lol) go thru a travel nightmare. But I don't want to just cancel out the DR, because I'm really falling in love with it...

We'll see what happens. Thanks for the response!

~ Kemi

happygilmore · 08-17-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kemiandhecareth

Hi everyone,

Well my FI and I were just starting to narrow our choice down to PPR in DR, and then we began looking into flights just to test it out and see how it would be. We found that most flights from Cali would involve at least one layover in which you had to sleep there (the layovers were like 8 hours). No, this changed for different days, but if some of our guests left on this particular day, it would be a nightmare for them.

We were checking kayak.com and expedia.com, so we were just wondering if there was some way to get flights that were not so crazily long, and I also wanted to know how you all found the flight experience to DR to be. If you're not from Cali please feel free to let me know how your flight experience was also, because our guests will be coming from all over the country, but mainly from Cali, Pennsylvania, New Orleans, and Texas.

Thanks everyone!

~ Kemi

My sister lives near Philly and instead of flying out of the Philly airport she is flying out of Newark. She has a family of 4 and the savings was about $200+ per person to fly out of Newark instead of Philly. It does involved a 2 hour drive but totally worth it for her. Also, dending on where they live in PA Baltimore might be a much cheaper option as well.

Also, I am trhing to find a friend who lives in Oregon a decent flight for next May and right now the cheapest I have been is $700ish and the flights are long, doesn't seem to be a way around it!

Scott C · 08-18-2008, 11:58 AM

We flew from Houston and the flight left at 6 ish AM. No overnight layover for us. We ended up getting to the resort around 4 that afternoon so it is a somewhat long day traveling. I think we spent about 2-3 hours in the Miami airport going. Coming back was a different animal but was airport related and not the planes fault.

DanielleNDerek · 08-18-2008, 12:56 PM

How far ahead were you looking for flights? I know when flights first came out to the DR, there were no direct flights from Philly and then two months later they started to pop up. Did you check USA 3000, they were the first to have direct flights from Philly to DR.

foxytv · 08-19-2008, 07:12 AM

We had one guest flying from Denver, but everyone else was on the East Coast. It's really just all about checking the different flight options ... and the airlines that aren't your big carriers. Not sure if they fly from Cali ... but check flights by USA3000 or Spirit once you get to your layover destination. We had family get great deals and great itineraries on those airlines. We flew direct on US Airways with no issues as well. However, we chose the DR as opposed to somewhere more West Coast based on flight times and prices for our East Coast family...

kemiandhecareth · 08-19-2008, 12:41 PM

Thanks everyone! Yah, we will keep looking and see what we can find. I really appreciate all the responses, and I will see what we can find regarding those airlines you mentioned. I've never heard of them before, so I'll check if they fly out of Cali too. Much love to all!

Kemi

teresayax · 08-20-2008, 06:35 AM

Most of my guests are traveling from the east coast as well as my FI and I. We were able to get decent priced tickets with an hour lay-over in Miami with American. A few of our guests did get straight through flights from Newark with Continental. I would look into those two airlines. Good Luck!!

cali09bride · 08-20-2008, 11:14 AM

From one Cal bride to another, I know what you mean! I met someone who just came back from the DR and she said it took a total of 11 hours to get there! I was like WT? So, I figured if you fly out the night before and take a 10-11pm flight, you get to the DR around 1-2pm the following day. This way you don't lose a full day getting to the DR and you get to sleep some on the way there! Yeah right, who can sleep with all the excitement! I did find some lay overs that were about 1-1 1/2 hours long, doing it this way, while others were about 3! Let me just say, I feel your pain!