Affordable Flights to Fort Myers or Punta Gorda from St. Louis
Flying to Fort Myers or Punta Gorda has never been more budget-friendly when you book an affordable flight with Allegiant out of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport
Planning a vacation to Florida’s premium Gulf Coast? Allegiant offers direct flights year-round to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV), providing seamless connections to Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Flying with Allegiant also ensures travelers get the best flight and airfare for their money.
Good to Know
Airport: Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
Average Flight Time: 2 hours 20 Minutes
Book a Trip: allegiantair.com
Punta Gorda Airport sits just 23 miles away from downtown Fort Myers, offering an affordable and accessible way for vacationers to experience all that southwest Florida has to offer. In addition to St. Louis, Punta Gorda Airport connects passengers to dozens of other U.S. cities, including Chicago (MDW), Washington, D.C. (IAD), Minneapolis (MSP) Savannah (SAV), Grand Rapids (GRR), Syracuse (SYR), Los Angeles (LAX), and more.
For savvy spending travelers trying to save a buck, MidAmerica St. Louis airport offers a few tips and tricks to help you save money on vacation.
When to Book
On average, it’s most cost efficient to buy a domestic plane ticket about 42 days before your travel date. Most travel experts will agree you should book your flight one to three months in advance. If you’re traveling near a holiday or at a time of year where there is increased demand for flights, however, this rule may not apply. Traveling during spring and winter breaks and near Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day can mean pricier tickets with an increased demand. Luckily, Allegiant publishes its flight schedule six to nine months in advance, providing ample time for travelers to keep an eye on prices until they’re ready to buy. If you can avoid doing so, it’s best not to wait until the last minute to buy your ticket. Usually, last-minute flights are more expensive, with prices increasing at the 21-, 14-, and 7-day points before the flight.
Busy Times and Busy Seasons
When flying from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, June and July tend to the cheapest months compared to the rest of summer. If you are able, try to book your flight either on a Monday or Thursday when flying out of BLV. It’s generally cheaper to fly during the week, but Mondays and Thursday tend to have the cheapest flights when compared to the rest of the week. If you can’t travel during the summer, April and October usually are known for cheap flights as well.
Round-trip Flights vs One-Way Flights
If you have travel dates set, one of the best and simplest ways to ensure cheaper flight prices when traveling to Fort Myers or Punta Gorda is to book a round-trip flight. Airlines typically offer discounts when both legs of the trip are booked at the same time vs. booking two one-way flights. Allegiant offers exclusive flight deals to Punta Gorda that are only available when booking round-trip flights, which saves you time and effort in the ticket buying process.
Save Money and Fly
Flight time from BLV to Punta Gorda Airport typically runs about two hours and twenty minutes, meaning you’re saving time and money when you choose to fly instead of drive. A typical road trip to Fort Myers or Punta Gorda can take upwards of 18 hours. When you drive, you’re spending money on gas, food, car maintenance, possible overnight lodgings, and more. Plus, it can take upwards to two days to make the drive down to Florida, meaning you have less time to enjoy your vacation. Flying from BLV to Punta Gorda Airport can save you money and help you get the most out of your precious vacation time.
Which Airports You Fly To and From Matters
Even if you book a roundtrip flight, not all airports are created equal. Flights departing from different airports to Fort Myers or Punta Gorda can vary widely in price and travel time. Some airports will charge more, and the flights will have layovers, meaning longer travel times. Fortunately, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport offers nonstop flights to Punta Gorda Airport at competitive prices for your convenience.
Avoid Airport Traffic
Punta Gorda Airport sits just 30 minutes away from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), making Punta Gorda Airport a great option for those looking to find cheap flight alternatives to flying into Southwest Florida and exploring Fort Myers Beach, Naples, Estero, Sanibel Island, Cape Coral or Marco Island. Southwest Florida Intl – which features airlines that include American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines – is located within Fort Myers and is often busier. Flying directly from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport to Punta Gorda Airport, then making your way to Fort Myers or Naples, can help the thrifty traveler save a few dollars.
Use Coupons and Save
Attractions and dining can start to add up quickly when traveling. One good tip to try and keep costs down is to use coupons when you travel. Sites like Groupon, Travelzoo and Visit Fort Myers can help you save money on attractions, lodgings, restaurants and more. Some attractions, like the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, may also offer student, senior or discounted prices for attending earlier in the day.
Check in Online for Free
One thing to keep in mind – Allegiant does charge a small fee for printing a boarding pass at the airport. An easy way to save some time and money is to check in for your Fort Myers flight online. Allegiant offers free check-in through its mobile app and online services. Check-in opens online 24 hours before the flight and is available until 45 minutes before departure. This option allows you to receive your seat information and access your boarding pass all online for free. Travelers can also choose their seat assignments in advance or have Allegiant assign seats to them at check in. The option to upgrade to Allegiant Extra, the airline’s premier cabin class, offering increased leg room, a complimentary beverage, snack and other perks, is offered on most Allegiant flights, for a nominal fee.
Compare Car Rentals
Like airports, not all car rentals are created equal. Shopping smart for rental cars can help thrifty travelers save on transportation costs. One best practice when renting a car is to compare prices across different car rental services to get the best value. Like last minute flights, booking a rental car closer to the rental date can result in an increase in price. Renting a car in advance can help save money in the long run.
