Getting to Disney World isn’t exactly a breeze, regardless of whether you’re flying or driving.
Flying Southwest
With flight prices getting higher and recent crowd and wait time issues at the Orlando International Airport, it’s not always an easy process flying to Disney World right now. So which airline should you choose in order to have the BEST chance of a smooth trip? We asked DFB readers to share their favorite airlines for flying to Orlando — here’s what you said!
Although flying to Disney World can be pricey and a bit of a hassle, it’s also the preferred form of travel for many guests. If you do choose to fly, you’ll have to make a tough decision: Which airline do you choose? With over 30 airlines operating at the Orlando International Airport, that question is not always as simple as it sounds. Luckily, the DFB readers are here to help.
We reached out on Facebook (give us a follow if you want to share your opinions!) to find out what our readers consider to be the BEST airlines to take to Disney World. Their thoughts might help you out next time you’re planning a Disney World visit!
Get ready to fly!
While our readers mentioned many airlines, two in particular stood out as favorites for different reasons, and a third factor emerged as an important consideration to make next time you’re booking your flights. Let’s get into it!
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines was overwhelmingly mentioned as the favorite airline for DFB readers for a variety of reasons. One reader said, “I prefer Southwest! Free checked bag, family boarding, and wonderful staff. Not to mention, they are one of the few airlines that offer non-stop flights from our preferred airport to [Orlando International Airport].”
Southwest Airlines
Two free checked bags was a commonly mentioned perk for Southwest because more bags means more room for souvenirs! Another reader commented, “We fly Southwest. I’ve always had great service from them. Two free bags is a plus with all the souvenirs we are usually bringing back with us,” and Wendy O. said, “We only fly Southwest. Free checked bags, more souvenirs!”
Southwest Plane
Another reader also had a tip for DFB readers! They commented, “We only fly Southwest. Vacation tip: Put your medium bag inside your larger bag and pack your medium bag. Always take a luggage scale [and] you now have your souvenir bag.”
Southwest Plane
And depending on where you live, Southwest may also offer the cheapest flights. a reader said, “Southwest is usually much cheaper when flying out of NOLA, thus we usually fly Southwest. [The] bonus is the amount of luggage allowed.”
Southwest Airplane
If you’re looking to save money on those bag fees, Southwest is the airline for you! And who doesn’t end up leaving with a suitcase full of souvenirs?
Why your next Southwest flight could be DIFFERENT!
Spirit Airlines
Coming in hot behind Southwest Airlines is Spirit Airlines! That’s right, the budget airline was a popular option for DFB readers looking for cheap, direct flights. One reader said, “Tons of people complain about it, but we’ve never had an issue on Spirit. I don’t care that they charge for snacks/drinks, I bring my own. I gladly pay a minimal price for a roomy front seat, and be on my way.”
©Spirit Airlines
Another reader added, “Both times I’ve flown [to Orlando] was with Spirit. It was surprisingly just fine. Direct flight from a small airport outside Pittsburgh with free parking. No complaints.”
Spirit Airlines
Some readers only select Spirit because of the lower prices. One said, “Spirit worked for us. Honestly, it’s whoever is cheapest.” And a reader noted that there is no correct answer, but “for my family it is Spirit. The airport from which we travel is 10 minutes from my home, has free parking, and quick check-in and TSA check. Works for me.”
©Spirit Airlines
But remember to compare the prices for your individual flights! Some Southwest flights to Orlando were about equal to (or even cheaper than) Spirit flights, depending on the airport locations.
Affordability and Convenience
While Southwest and Spirit stood out as the ultimate favorite airlines, another common response was that there’s actually no correct answer. It can depend on your budget, your local airline hub, whether you have airline miles saved, and if you want direct flights.
A reader said their airline choice “depends on where you are flying to/from and who has hubs and direct flights,” while another reader said they choose “whichever one is cheapest or I have reward miles for.”
©Alaska Airlines
One reader said they fly “whoever is [the] cheapest nonstop,” and that they “find them all to be the same.” So the actual airline may not matter so much as the prices you can find when you’re looking to travel!
©Frontier Airline
Similarly, another commented, “Best is a relative term and will vary by city of origin and time of year. All airlines are constrained by the same rules and restrictions with regard to safety and when they can fly safely. Delays and cancellations will vary by city and time of year as well as other unknowns that can’t be predicted.”
©GETTY IMAGES
You can still have a favorite airline but it’s good to remember that all airlines run into issues, and your “favorite” may be based on certain factors that work specifically for YOU. It might be worth looking into your closest airport to find out which airline offers the best deals and the most direct flights!
Before You Fly…
As you get ready to head out on your vacation, don’t forget to check out some of our best tips for making your trip as smooth and comfortable as possible. We’ve tested out lots of travel hacks and found some very handy products that make flying to Disney World quite a bit easier.
Orlando International Airport
For example, we always bring a portable luggage scale so that we can weigh our bags before arriving at the airport. Does anyone else hold their breath while their luggage is being weighed when checking in? The top end of the weight limit is sometimes a little too close for comfort.
©Amazon
To make your airport visits a little less stressful, bring along one of these bad boys and weigh your bags before you check in to your flight.
We all know how difficult it is to find an outlet in an airport — the struggle to keep your phone charged while traveling is REAL, folks. That’s why you might want to consider bringing along this extension cord. So you’ll only need ONE outlet to charge all of your devices while you wait to board your flight!
Our Favorite Extension Cord for Disney World
You can get this charger station on Amazon and say goodbye to those low battery notifications during your flight. These are already great to use at Disney World hotels!
We’ve got plenty more tips and tricks if you’re looking to make your trip a bit more smooth, so be sure to check out our full post on travel hacks here! And don’t forget to keep following DFB for more Disney news, tips, and updates.
You’re SLEEPING on these travel hacks!
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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
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None of those airlines offer first class seating… so not even an option for my family.
I like Southwest except for the open seat issue. My wife, daughter and I would like to know we have seats together. It’s no fun setting between two strangers. For that reason we don’t fly southwest.
Southwest really knocks it out of the park with the free bags. And, honestly, their boarding method seems way less chaotic then the other airlines.
Your article mentioned the convenience of a DIRECT flight. This should be a NON-STOP flight as a direct flight makes one, or more, stops along the way to your destination. It’s almost like a connection but you don’t change planes.
Southwest is good, but a “hard NO” to Spirit. I’ve had numerous friends and work colleagues show up for their flights just to be told that the flight had been cancelled last minute – not for weather, crew or plane issues. Since you have to book things a WDW far in advance, the last thing you want is to get unnecessarily stranded at the airport by an airline that clearly doesn’t care about getting you to your destination on time.
We fly JetBlue because we are TrueBlue members. TrueBlue is probably the best rewards program I’ve ever had, particularly good if you have the JetBlue Mastercard. I haven’t paid cash for a flight in almost 10 years.
So, yes, it’s all a matter of what works for you.
Please, please stay away from Spirit, they have the worst customer service and their boarding pass system on their app has issues constantly. My kids flew into MCO from Atlantic Cuty a few weeks ago and Spirit’s boarding pass issue caused them to miss their flight back home and incurred over $1000 in unexpected Uber fees and lost wages because their new flight was 2 days after the missed one and to an airport 100 miles away from their departing airport. And all they offered was a $50 travel voucher that has to be used within 90 days for their ongoing system issues that they knew about for over a week #NeverflySpiritAgain
Die-hard United fan – i can fly non-stop from my home airport, and while not the cheapest (aka budget), i like their multi-tier seating option and have always had very friendly staff, both on the ground and in the skies.
For us it’s Delta. Only direct from SLC. Four hour vs seven hour on southwest with its connections at about the same cost. With the AMX Delta card have not had to pay for a Disney trip in three years