Airfare Advice...book now or later?

[katefromny]

Our trip isn't until next April (getting a little ahead of myself, I guess..), but I'm wondering if I should start looking for cheap flights at the 11 month window or should I wait until next year, maybe Feb or March and hope for a good discount? This is especially tricky, because I am trying to coordinate a family of 5 leaving from Buffalo to meet up with a family of 4 in Philadelphia and all fly on to Orlando together. Thanks in advance, once again, for any help!

 

[Pooh's Pal]

Katefrommy, I to am looking into flights for next April. Delta has them for 331 days out. Southwest does 6 months on line, as for US Air. I haven't checked them yet. But with School vacations up here in Mass. the 3rd week in April...I think I can't beat the 280.00 round trip..The prices for that time may not go down much.
I may book soon..

 

[Beverly Lynn]

majors book 340 days out. and thats for both travel dates(outbound and return) but you will have to pay whatever the price is now and then when hte fare goes down yu can get the refund voucher for the difference. you can actually wait a while........

 

[SandraC]

We went to WDW last month, April 2001 and we are going again next April 2002.

I booked 6 months ahead of time (October 2000). We got a good fare and I love the fact that it was booked and done! Sure, I guess I might have saved about $40-$50.00 if I waited until last minute, but I would not have gotten what I wanted. We also pre-booked our seats at a fee about 4 months ahead. I am happy to book in advance.

 

[Candace]

You know if you book, and prices later go *down*, you can call the airline and they will refund the difference to be used within 12 months on another flight. The credit vouchers are transferable, usually, also.

 

[Doctor P]

Depending on the airline, they may make you rebook the trip and charge you a change fee so be careful with thinking that you can just get the difference refunded. I know that Southwest would have required me to rebook my trip, pay for it, and then submit for the credit! (if you go back into the archives on this board you can find the series of posts I made about this about 6 months ago, and other people confirmed that this had also been their experience). I was very nervous about waiting to buy my air tickets for our trip this past February, but I bit the bullet and waited and it really paid off (even traveling during Presidents' Week). We booked our tickets in the middle of October for our February trip and got great airfares ($200 R/T from Chicago). It just depends on how much patience you have and how much uncertainty and risk you can bear.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

major carriers don't make you rebook the flight like SW does. thats the difference. they just "reprice" your exisiting itinerary and then if you qualify for the difference they issue you the voucher. Wouldn't it be nice if they all did things in unison?

 

[DawnCt]

There is a good article in this week's US News and World Report, regarding travel. Apparently Delta wants to "make nice" after the labor dispute so this may be a good time to book and buy. Northwest Airlines may also be a good choice for the same reason. If the price sounds reasonable, book it. April school vacation is always a busy time. Generally speaking I find that many people don't think about their spring vacations until after labor day and school resumes so I would book before August.

 

[katefromny]

general consensus is to "book it now", and so I guess it's time to start looking for flights! Thanks so much!

katefromny

 

[Loan]

I booked last August for next week. 202.00 r/t Peoria to O'hare to Orlando. I may have been able to get them a bit cheaper, but I thought that was a good price and piece of mind is worth lots to me! Book now!