a concern regarding airfares

[debbiebones]

I know I'm peppering you with questions but I do appreciate all the feedback I'm getting. I just want to be able to make an informed decision. And while we've talked to a rep, I like to get one-on-one answers from those who've done it as well.

Is there ever a concern about airfare prices or availability when you're booking your reservation 11 months in advance? Does it become a problem that...you're all set with your reserved week and then you go to book the flight and either there are none available or they're way too expensive?

I'm just looking for any glitches or negatives that might hamper my decision-making and hopefully, there won't be too many.
Thanks again,

Deb

 

[Pa@okw95]

Most airlines you can book air travel about 11 months out, some you have to wait another month. The problem with that is they have your money for 11 months, also, they do switch your flights around, and some go bankrupt. This is why I don't fly among other reasons. My daughter is coming down with my granddaughter in July and she said she has checked prices and they are about what she expected for non-stop or direct.

 

[anniet]

When I booked my Reservation I began looking every couple of weeks for a good airfare. About 4 months out I began looking more frequently and ended up with a round trip airfare for the dates I wanted for about $200, which is a really good deal, but more than I've been paying in the past. However, I think that's just the way the industry is right now with security fees added in and had nothing to do with WHEN I booked.

I think you'll always be able to find a reasonable fare if you keep searching.

Travelocity also has farewatcher where you can set up that you would like to be notified via e-mail when an airfare gets to a certain price.

I wouldn't be overly concerned about airfare when deciding to purchase DVC.

 

[kem330]

You can register with a site such as travelocity's fare watcher or get a good travel agent- either way if you keep track of the prices, you ought to be able to get a good fare- familiarize yourself with the typical price range from your home airport so you know what a good deal is- and don't expect to get rock bottom prices at the holidays.

 

[DebbieB]

I usually don't worry about airfare until 3 to 6 months before, mainly because of health reasons (want to be sure we're going). I have a trip planned for May 11 to 13 that I don't have airfare yet, mainly because we may have to change the dates.

One reason I don't worry too much is that there are alot of flight choices from Pittsburgh (USAir, Air Tran, Delta), I know I'll find something. Last December we had to go a day early because I couldn't get FF tickets for a Saturday. We stayed at BWI for 1 night and then moved to BWV for 6 nights as planned. There would have been less expensive alternatives for that night (originally I had CBR) but decided it would be easier to stay at BWI plus we never stayed there before.

 

[PamOKW]

You can almost always get flights. Just decide when you are comfortable making that next commitment to your trip and book. You can do the airfare on the same time schedule as you've always done...not necessarily when you book the room. Sometimes booking far in advance can give you great savings. I once got terrific airfare for a Christmas trip by purchasing in the early spring.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

My options are NYC or Hartford, CT, I booked my trip for the day after Thanksgiving this year and have already booked my flight. American Airlines - $179.00 non-stop Laguardia to Orlando. If it goes down, you get travel vouchers, if it goes up, great!!! I got the flights I wanted and the seats I wanted. If you are traveling around a holiday, I would book as soon as you can. If your traveling non-peak and during the week, I would wait until you see a price you like. the only drawback to getting your airfare so far out is if y ou have to cancel your plans, you eat $100.00 per ticket! OUCH!

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by want2buydvc
If it goes down, you get travel vouchers,!

What airline are you using. I was told I would have to pay the $75 change fee to get the new fare and so for the $10 per ticket it wasn't worth the hassle and chance of a problem?

Thanks in advance

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I have always done this, this is why I book directly through the airlines, I fly american at least 2-3 times a year, when we travel to the Caribbean, we book our flights to get our seats, usually about 800 per ticket, but then we know when we get closer to our flight it usually drops to 400-500, because its international, we get the credit right back to our Credit Card. When we fly to Florida, they give you travel vouchers to be used toward a future flight. In October I went to a wedding in the Bahamas, flew Delta, the ticket price went down 80.00, they gave me a voucher for the difference. I just assumed this was the norm. But if you book through Expedia, Orbitz, or any of the online agencies, I am not sure how that works.

 

[karebear1]

I believe if you fly SouthWest, they also refund money. My daughter and her friends are flying home for Valentines Day and their ticket prices went down- we booked them online and SouthWest refunded money. I'm not sure what Southwest's policy is for changing tickets though- again my daughter has a flight for V-day and changed it and there was no fee involved- but they hadn't actually gotten on the plane. My other daughter has booked online thru Southwest and has been charged a fee for changing flights, but she was already at her destination and she was changing her day to come home. I believe the fee was pretty nominal though. The only time I would really worry about airfares being booked is around the Holidays- it will be booked and expensive (execept maybe the for the actual Holiday DAY like Christmas day.)

 

[lrodk]

Does it become a problem that...you're all set with your reserved week and then you go to book the flight and either there are none available or they're way too expensive?

I'm faced with this very same dilemma right now. I normally book a fare at around $220pp round trip out of Newark about 9 months out. I was researching fares this past week for our October trip and discovered that the cheapest direct non-stop fare(Continental & Delta had only one flight each for my dates) was more than double that(it probably doesn't help that our departure and return dates are on Sunday & Saturday respectively). My instincts tell me that the airlines are probably cautious about over-booking flights this far out, hence the higher rates on these single direct flights. My hope is that they'll add more flights in the comings months, which means I'll have to check back with them pretty frequently. Should fares remain high I've committed to driving down as a back-up plan, thus saving my family $2000 in air/car rental fees. We'll see what happens.

 

[Terry S]

Northwest gives the price difference in vouchers as well, they are good for a year. I usually book my airline as soon as possible and then check for price reductions and get the vouchers. Sometimes I have had $200 in vouchers per ticket.

 

[kem330]

United issues travel vouchers as well, good for 1 year. It only applies if the fare as gone down on your particular flight. Otherwise you if there is a cheaper fare on different flights, you would have to rebook and in UA's ssituation it is $100.00 to reissue.

 

[jimmytammy]

We have been in the same boat. We booked ressies 11 mos ou and bought airline tickets 6 mos out. You can get some great prices plus choose your own seats online. My best advice, book with a reputable airline, that way less chance of bankruptcy, etc. We booked with Midway out of RDU and they went bankrupt but we were able to rebook thru Delta.

 

[ncligs]

We always fly down to Florida and have been DVC members for 4 years.We have never had a problem getting reasonable airfare, and we usually always make our DVC ressies 11 months out.
We use major airlines(Continental and US AIR) for FF miles, we are 1 hr from both airports(Cleveland and Pittsburgh). Whenever I see flights between $150-$225 that are direct with good times, I book them on the net at the Airlines website.
I also get the Travelocity's e-mail alerts for our airports and destinations.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm in southwestern CT, and if I can get a flight to Orlando for about $200.00 roundtrip, I grab it. I usually find that if I start to keep an eye on things every couple of weeks about 6 months out, I do pretty well.

We just flew on JetBlue out of JFK. I'm not sure if they go out from any airport near you, but if they do, I'd highly recommend you check them out. Great price ($89 each way) and a great airline.Comfortable leather seats which seemed a little roomier than average, a snack and drink choice during the flight, individual Direct TV satellite screens for each seat.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

hey Disney Doll, Im a couple towns north of you, Newtown!! JetBlue is great, my mother is law is flying up from Orlando for 140.00 round trip!! You can't beat them!

 

[RobDoc]

The DVC Board isn't reaslly the place for a discussion about airfares or specific airline reservations.

Since we've strayed from the original question, please feel free to continue any discussion about airline reservations on the Transportation Board.

Thanks!