Airfare for Dec 09..

[anbouk]

I would like to know when would you think the best time would be to book airfare for our first trip home ...for Dec 09? Of course we are trying to get the best fare. Right now is showing real high at about $500 RT, we usually fly for approx $200 RT. per person. Would love to hear your experiences about travelling around the holidays. This would be our first ever trip to WDW around Christmas-time. Thanks!

 

[thepops]

I'd suggest going on to yapta.com or kayak.com and seeing what they show. You can also have it set up to e-mail you when the price on your flight drops to a specified price. Right now they show a bunch on United flights from DC-Orlando in Dec for $220. Not too bad but holding steady, so I haven't jumped yet. (not exactly waht you were asking, but hopefully helpful)

 

[bwvBound]

We purchased our Dec'09 air last month ($240 pp rt from San Diego). As suggested above, I use Kayak to monitor fares. This is an especially great tool if you already have a target fare in mind ... buy it as soon as you see it!

 

[WeLoveAriel0505]

My only advice would be similar to what I do............have a fare in mind that I will be content with (for me it's under $300 from chicago) and when I see it, pounce on it and book it. especially if you're traveling at a busy time of year..........(near Christmas).

 

[ldo]

We need to travel 12/23/09. USAir was $120 one way (plus taxes), then a few weeks ago, everyone went up to $200+ each way. So, after debating back and forth, I just bit the bullet today and bought 5 one ways from DC-Tampa for $85 each. We will rent a car and drive to Disney and drop car at DTD hotel. We are holding out for the returns, for which we have more flexibility--including renting a car and driving back.
I think $500 from NYC-MCO is crazy--I would wait.

 

[jblrn2b]

Jetblue hasn't come out with their rates yet. Keep checking them if they go where you are going. I just got a $74 flight for Sept but can only book out as far as October. Best thing to do is to check in the middle of the night - I swear. After midnight. I work nights so its a little easier for me. I just looked at the flight I booked at 0200 this am and it has gone up already.

 

[Stickfigure]

I bought mine last month direct from Continental.... I was able to get a morning departure and an evening return from Newark for $230 p/p... I am very happy with that.....

Try Sunday nights, it seems they change the fares often depending on time of day and day of week.....

 

[arthur06]

I know its not for December, but my wife and I got $129 round trip out of Minneapolis for April 24th-29th. I was happy!

 

[Anal Annie]

I swear by the fare alerts on http://www.kayak.com ! I love Kayak! You can customize so many parameters...you can get it very specific. I am lucky that I live in a major metropolitan area about 1 hr. from 3 international airports - so I can compare all 3, although we only ever use BWI or Dulles and never National. I watch fares enough that I know a decent fare when I see it so I just watch & wait and grab it when it looks good. I set the alerts up to email me daily and I just keep renewing the alerts. I keep them after I book too - just in case the fares drop after I book. For example, Air Tran will give you a credit that is good for up to 1 year if you see your particular flights drop after you book. I called and got $112.50 credit for our flights last summer and I was able to save it and use it for our flights this summer. Some of the discount carriers don't release their schedules until 4-6 months out tho so you just have to watch & wait. I also find that once these carriers (SW, Air Tran, Jet Blue) release their schedules some of the big major airlines will drop their fares to compete...These carriers often release their best rates on their first day too.

So booking way, way out isn't always best unless you see something you can't pass up. I've recently (within the last 2-3 weeks) seen fares for spring break this year drop a lot...so it pays to watch).

 

[quentina]

I would like to know when would you think the best time would be to book airfare for our first trip home ...for Dec 09? Of course we are trying to get the best fare. Right now is showing real high at about $500 RT, we usually fly for approx $200 RT. per person. Would love to hear your experiences about travelling around the holidays. This would be our first ever trip to WDW around Christmas-time. Thanks!

Wait for Jetblue to go on sale...check out Airtran and SW out of Philadelphia. We can usually get a $59.00 rate.

 

[lisah0711]

Subscribing as I have the same dilemma . . . five people flying in from three locations back and forth on 12/18 to 12/26 . . . it's a nail biter!

 

[mousefan1972]

Subscribing as I have the same dilemma . . . five people flying in from three locations back and forth on 12/18 to 12/26 . . . it's a nail biter!

We flew last year 12/17-12/26 Boston to Orlando, and are going the same dates this year. I bought our tickets August 1st (long story as to why I remember the exact date) on JetBlue. We paid about $269 each R/T (nonstop both ways, good times) and I was happy with the fare. Well, both segments dropped considerably in the fall. The flight to Orlando went as low as $74 and the return flight dropped to $104. I was able to get credit, but still would rather have waited and not paid the extra in the first place. This year, if I see $180 or less R/T I'm going to buy, otherwise I'm waiting.

 

[jpolak]

Waiting for Southwest to open up their fares. I figure I have a few months though.

 

[Moparlar]

Waiting for Southwest to open up their fares. I figure I have a few months though.

I am doing the same usually happens around June

Larry