airfare help

[maxiesmom]

How far out do you give up and just book what airfare is available? I have been checking for months for airfare for our trip in October. I managed to find airfare to Orlando that was a good price and good time, so I have that booked. But coming back, that is a whole 'nother story!

Southwest either has flights that leave before 9 am or arrive home after Midnight. And the majority of them have 2 stops. United has decent flights, but are over $200. My home airport is Grand Rapids, so I've looked at Flint and Detroit. There is nothing better.

At what point is looking for a lower price a lost cause and I should just book what is offered?

 

[sam_gordon]

How far out do you give up and just book what airfare is available? I have been checking for months for airfare for our trip in October. I managed to find airfare to Orlando that was a good price and good time, so I have that booked. But coming back, that is a whole 'nother story!

Southwest either has flights that leave before 9 am or arrive home after Midnight. And the majority of them have 2 stops. United has decent flights, but are over $200. My home airport is Grand Rapids, so I've looked at Flint and Detroit. There is nothing better.

At what point is looking for a lower price a lost cause and I should just book what is offered?

The day before you leave? Once again, there is no set rule for anticipating what airfares will do. Each person's comfort level will determine when they "have" to book.

 

[rwdavis2]

There is no definite answer to this other than book it when you can live with the cost. It's like trying to predict lottery numbers.

 

[kristenrice]

I bit the bullet and bought our October flight back to GRR when it was $157 (one-way) with 2 stops. Fortunately (and I use that term loosely), the flight that departed an hour later (still with 2 stops and still getting home at midnight) dropped down to the $157 price so I changed it. Now, the flight to Orlando (with a 3-hour layover!) is $203 and the flight back is $238 (with 2 stops and a total travel time of over 6 hours!)...$440 round trip! Overall, we paid right around $350 R/T with EBCI both ways. I *HATE* what SWA has done to Michigan...NO non-stop flights from ANY airport in the state and most of the ones with a stop (or TWO!) are still 6-8 hours of total travel time...and don't get me started on the prices.

Just for giggles, I checked the price on Allegiant which is supposedly a really "cheap" option out of GRR...the BASE price (no seat choice, no bags, no nothing) was still $310 R/T! The only benefit is that the times were more reasonable and the flights are non-stop.

 

[momto4obkids]

I sacrificed times a bit on our flights 11-23 to 12-2. We fly out of Grand Rapids too. The flights are terrible.

I ended up with a 6:25am departure and landing at 12:30 with one stop But, the other flights to choose from are 2-3 stops and arrival times are way later than we wanted to do. We got 3 tickets with points, 2 tickets for $115, 4 tickets for $154, 2 tickets for $174 for our flight down.

Flight back we actually got a nonstop! I was shocked! December 2nd has one nonstop leaving at 9:35am so I grabbed it. I bought 4 with points and the other 7 cost $115 each. All the other flights that day with 1-2 stops where more than the nonstop I booked.

I know they have a sale in June i think, The anniversary sale? Maybe wait till then since it's close and see if that produces cheaper fares.

 

[kristenrice]

I know they have a sale in June i think, The anniversary sale? Maybe wait till then since it's close and see if that produces cheaper fares.

Have you ever noticed that when SWA advertises a sale, and everyone here comes and talks about how their prices went down, the fares out of GRR have actually gone UP?! It's so frustrating...I know it's not the case, but I feel like GRR routes are where SWA recoups their costs for the sale prices that they offer to their other cities.

 

[momto4obkids]

Have you ever noticed that when SWA advertises a sale, and everyone here comes and talks about how their prices went down, the fares out of GRR have actually gone UP?! It's so frustrating...I know it's not the case, but I feel like GRR routes are where SWA recoups their costs for the sale prices that they offer to their other cities.

LOL, Yes! I go check our fares and I'm like, what sale?? It's super frustrating.

 

[maxiesmom]

Unfortunately the people I'm traveling with won't do the early departures. The one flight that leaves at 10:30 am is $263 one way. No thanks! I'm debating on a United flight that is $203. It dropped at one point to $153 but by the time another of my group got the ok, the price went back up.

 

[alliecat523]

I never book flights that far in advance so I would say you have more time to find a deal. Of course that depends on how long you're comfortable waiting.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would wait - that is still 5 months away. I would say August would be when I would start trying to nail it down.

 

[SSRFred]

The only time I book flights that far in advance is if they are a price I am comfortable with. I fly Delta mostly and lately have been booking most of my flights to MCO 4 - 6 weeks in advance, but you have to be comfortable waiting that long.