4 months to go-should i buy airfare now or wait? HELP

[Disneyfun1]

We leave in 4 months to wdw and have not got our airfare yet. the prices have been really high from phoenix.

They have gone down a bit now, but the airline we want is still very high.

Delta still wants over $400. I have 2 $125 vouchers to use, but need 5 tix.

America west went down to $251, total is 1350.

the down side is if we flew home the next day on tuesday, its only $188, which i would buy for sure right now, but then we need the rooms for another night, about 260 more, and we leave at 7 am, so we would have to be ready to go by 4 am on the return flight to get to the airport and have to have it all packed up as well.

Should we wait longer, or just buy the AWA flights now, and which one? I really want delta to use the vouchers and add more miles.

help me!!

 

[thelionqueen]

I don't know what to tell you, I am in the same boat. I was going to buy our airfare in Nov. our total for 4 from Denver would have been $1150. It went up 12/1 to $1405.00. Today it is now $1550.0 I am just sick over it.

I am going to stick it out and wait for better fares. I should have bought in Nov. but didn't, I hope I don't kick myself to death!

 

[loveysbydesign]

We've never bought airfare before, do you have to pay in full at the time of purchase?

 

[quentina]

I have had good luck using QIXO. It searches all airlines for the best price. I then go direct to the airline and make the purchase, this avoids there fee. Give it a try, it has always gotten me better rates than expedia etc.

AN example is I am going to Disney Land in Feb. Searched Us Air, delta etc...outrageous. Went here and they had an American flight for 199$ direct from Philadelphia. I call AMerican and find out it is a US air flight ($500 at US air).

Hope this helps a bit.

Kim

 

[dpayne1969]

i am in the same boat here.I can book Delta non stop RT for $1167 for 4 people.I am debating to buy now or wait for cheap rates from Southwest.
We fly from Oklahoma and rates are not that great flying from OKC to MCO.
I log in everyday and check rates and sit sit sit.It stinks!!!
DEnise

 

[DKH01701]

Airline tickets can be tricky. The best thing you can do is know what the "usual" rate is for your flight plan. While this can be difficult to know for the first time, some research can give you somewhat of an idea.

Once you know approximately what you should be paying, use a web site such as Expedia.com to find all the available flights and prices. Then go directly to the web sites of the airlines and compare the direct purchase prices. I have found you can usually get the tix from the airline for at least the same price or a few bucks less.

For the future, once you know the approximate price you should be paying, start watching airfares as soon as you know your travel plans. As soon as you can book a flight at a price close to what you know your average cost is, do it. You'll find very rarely, the price going down closer to travel time.

Always sign up for frequent flyer programs, whichever airline you use. They cost nothing and your accumulated points usually never expire. Also, they will add you to an e-mail list notifying you of special travel deals, which may or may not work for you, but it can't hurt to be on that list.

Check out prices from different airports if you have more than one nearby. I happen to be close to Boston, but could travel from Providence, or Manchester for the right price. I've always flown out of Boston though, usually out of convenience, but mainly because the Boston-Orlando corridor is pretty inexpensive.

Lastly, the more flexible you are, the better the price you can get. Travelling on weekdays, mid-days, etc. always helps. Personally, I like to leave for vacations early, and come home as late as possible. I'm willing to pay the $20-30 per person difference, but it is an area where you can save substantial money if you are in a large travelling party or are on a tight budget.

Lastly, make it fun. Have everyone involved try and find the best price. You never know what kind of travel deal you may stumble upon.

 

[thelionqueen]

Hi all, it seems we are all in the same boat, it is terrible to check every minute and wait it out.

I posted earlier that the cost of our airfare has gone up 2X since I originally was going to book in Nov. Well, right after I posted before, I checked again. The airfare went down the 2nd rate hike (not 1st $1150.00 but to $1400.00).

This price was almost $200 less than when I checked it 10 minutes before. Needless to say, I booked it and I am so relieved! I took the biggest breath after I was done with the "complete purchase" button!

There are so many variables out there, and obviously, even a 5-10% price hike can substantially raise our airfare rates. Our airfare last year, same airline, same flights even, was $1000.00. So a 40% hike really stinks!

I am going to try with all my might, not to check rates again and be happy with what I got.

As a side note, I am SO TOTALLY RELIEVED that I have our tickets that the extra cost I paid seems almost minor. My advice now, since we have our tickets, is to jump at the 1st price you feel is affordable and get it over with.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEWW! I wish you all the best.
BTW, to the Previous Poster, if you book your airfare, on any website or with any agent, the total cost is charged at the time of booking. There is no way to get around this. The airline will hold a reservation for a few days, but that is all. Good luck!

 

[safetymom]

Many airlines will not hold your reservations anymore. You need to book and pay at the same time now.

 

[maxiesmom]

Why not get a cheaper hotel and fly home Tuesday?

 

[WaltD4Me]

I know how you feel! I am 4 months out too and just don't know what to do about airfare either. The flights I want are at $268 R/T and have been since I started looking a couple months ago. I know that $268 isn't terrible, but it is almost $100 and $130 more than I paid my last two trips. Alot of discount sites haven't come out with spring rates yet, so I was kinda waiting for that and then if the price still doesn't go down I will probably just book it and be done with it. Luckily I got a really good hotel rate to offset the airfare, so that makes me feel a little better.

 

[CarolA]

Food for thought.

The newspaper here in Atlanta ran an article yesterday. Basically, they said that the airlines did not discount as deeply as in prior years over the Thanksgiving and Christmas season and still sold tickets which would appear to be giving them courage to "raise" prices. The paper claimed the average increase was about $40 per ticket.

 

[thelionqueen]

We are getting mixed messages here with our local media regarding travel.
Some say that rates are going to continue to climb because of the price of fuel and the rising economy. Some say to look for discounts from other airlines trying to nab Southwest's business.

I don't know, but I have to confess, I've checked airfare every day (sometimes 2X per day) since I purchased ours. Has not gone up or down. I promised myself I wouldn't look at all.....do I need help???

 

[Dznypal]

last year when I booked Midwest from Milwaukee to MCO they held my tickets for 3 days--

the first 24 hours was a courtsy hold but since I needed a letter from my mom oking a name change on a tickets she had all I had to do was call each day until I got the letter and then I rushed to get my tickets!!