Airfare experts--need your advice!!!!

[Mad4Dizne]

Our airfare for our next trip just dropped substantially...from 294.60 to 176.90...however, last time we bought early/the rates eventually went to around $120. With the projection of increases in the future...What to you think???? Buy now???? and what about the "fuel surcharge??" I've been hearing about--with that be for everyone--regardless of when ticket was purchased??? Thanks--I'd appreciate any thoughts!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!

 

[Colinsmom]

When are you planning to go?

 

[lclark0621]

You gotta buy when you think you have the best deal.

I would think the way the fuel prices are going, airfare is only going to go up!

We bought our tickets for our April trip (round trip from TX) back in Jan for $260 a piece. They were at $220, but DH waitied to long (still annoyed at that one...LOL!).

As of 4 weeks ago the price for my dates was $460 a peice & climbing!

 

[hncg57c]

I agree with lclark, that you should buy when you think it is a good price.

My family just bought the tickets for $74 each way on Song from Boston. When we started looking for airfare, it was $79 each way. Then the week before we bought them, it went up to $89 each way. Seeing this made us decide that we should buy the tickets the next time it went back to $79 or less.

It's hard to say when is a good time to buy.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you buy now and the prices drop, most of the airlines will give you a credit good for one year at that airline on the difference in price and not charge any fees.

 

[gary4jenn]

If you buy now and the prices drop, most of the airlines will give you a credit good for one year at that airline on the difference in price and not charge any fees.



I do know that Northwest Airlines charged me $25 PER ticket surcharge for the difference in price when our airfare went down after we purchased our tickets. So when the price dropped $70 ticket, $25 of that was not refunded as it was the fee to issue a refund credit.

The credit voucher is not transferrable (so the org. ticket holder can only use it) and it has to be used in 1 year of the issuance date.

This must be new since I have done this before. So the difference in price has to be more than $25 for me to call the airline to get the credit.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

Appreciate all the help. This is for January/Feb travel. I know historically we found good fares about 3-6months prior to taveling,however the whole gas price thing has me worried.

Thanks again!!!!!
Flo

 

[Colinsmom]

Jan-Feb 2006??? I'd definitely wait. I find the best fares around 2-3 months out when airlines are working harder to fill seats on the flights that you want.

 

[curlyjbs]

If you buy now and the prices drop, most of the airlines will give you a credit good for one year at that airline on the difference in price and not charge any fees.

It has been my experience that most airlines charge $25 - $100 per change.

If you see a fare you can live with then snatch it up. Chances are it WILL NOT be there tomorrow.

Good Luck!
~curly

 

[Mad4Dizne]

They are already up $10.... we paid $79 each way...I can live with that...and I'll look into refund/vouchers if the prices go down. Thank-you all for all your help!!!!! My DH thinks prices will be ever increasing this year and next....we'll see.....

Thanks again!!!!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

$79 each way is still a great fare from the Northeast. I think you did well to jump on it.

I've learned that Southwest is very generous with their refund/credit policy. They don't charge anything for ticket changes and your fare goes down, they will credit you for the difference. If your old tickets were refundable, you can choose to have the money refunded to a credit card or held for a future flight. If your tickets were non-refundable, you receive the difference as a credit.

I wish that USAir would follow suit. They charge $25 per ticket ($50 RT) for any itinerary change, even if the new itinerary will cost more money. It's one reason why I think that Southwest is burying them here in PHL. (That, and a very bad USAir reputation for lost/delayed luggage!).

 

[lovesdumbo]

They are already up $10.... we paid $79 each way...I can live with that...and I'll look into refund/vouchers if the prices go down. Thank-you all for all your help!!!!! My DH thinks prices will be ever increasing this year and next....we'll see.....

Thanks again!!!!

If you're like me you'll LOVE the piece of mind of having your tickets in your hand. Last year I bought my tickets in June for our Oct trip. I thought I was doing well paying around $200 RT but then the flights dropped and at the time Song didn't charge to change your tickets so I got $94 in vouchers for each of us. So I had to purchase our tickets for this Oct before the vouchers expired on July 2nd. I looked at flights about a month ago and they were $69 each way but didn't buy. Then the flights went up to $124 each way. I kept checking and as soon as they dropped to $69 again I purchased my tickets. I got 6 RT flights for under $450 with my vouchers and I LOVE having the tickets in hand. I got the exact flight times I wanted and have my hotel reservation and the whole trip just feels so much more real now.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

We booked thru Southwest and paid $49 each way for early June. I always fly southwest for they usually have the best deals.. It's nice b/c we have small children and we always are one of the first families on the plane. Some people don't like it b/c there is no assigned seating, but if you get to the airport early you usually have no problem.