Airfare Sales

[bjgrazi]

Is there a certain time when the airfare sales come out? We're looking into 12/1 - 12/6 right now the fares seem really high. I'm wondering if this is it or will they go down?

 

[beccasmom]

Think about signing up for a service that will watch flight fares for you like FareCompare or Kayak. Also, I have found it really helpful to sign up for email alerts (and download DING! from SWA) from the airlines that fly from your area and to think about competing airports. If Southwest flies from your area, it is a pretty safe bet that competing airlines on that route will have the same or a lower fare. Keep in mind that many travel search engines do not include Southwest or AirTran. Also, note that most of the carriers charge for first and/or second pieces of luggage (I believe SWA now charges only for the 3rd checked bag).

You have to move fast when you see a reasonable fare; they don't last long and seats go quickly as well. I also find these sites to be very helpful.

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/

http://air.cheapticketlinks.org/

http://www.mobissimo.com/search_airfare.php

http://www.yapta.com/

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The first question that comes to my mind is how much is "high" in consideration of your departure airport?

 

[n2mm]

They are very reasonable out of Wash/Dulles currently, so that is strange that you are finding higher ones. We booked Dec. 4-12 on Jetblue and paying $74 each way before taxes. Total is $169. I consider that a good fare. Not dirt cheap, but with Jetblue you don't pay for luggage or seat assignments, so you have to add that into the mix when you choose an airline that does charge for those things.

 

[bjgrazi]

They are very reasonable out of Wash/Dulles currently, so that is strange that you are finding higher ones. We booked Dec. 4-12 on Jetblue and paying $74 each way before taxes. Total is $169. I consider that a good fare. Not dirt cheap, but with Jetblue you don't pay for luggage or seat assignments, so you have to add that into the mix when you choose an airline that does charge for those things.

Right now websites are posting $239 rt, but when we put in times we want to fly it's much higher. I'd really like to get it under $200. Last January we flew for $170 a person.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Right now websites are posting $239 rt, but when we put in times we want to fly it's much higher. I'd really like to get it under $200. Last January we flew for $170 a person.

$239 is a great price IMO. Depending on if you mean January 2008 or January 2009, different things have occured. In terms of flight times, it varies city to city, but usually early and late flights are the cheapest, so if you're looking for a midday flight, you are most likely going to pay more for it.

The biggest that comes to mind is the number of flights have been drastically cut back by air carriers, additionally most are recovering from last years fuel spike and some are locked into fuel hedge programs that are making them buy fuel at prices above current market.

 

[bjgrazi]

$239 is a great price IMO. Depending on if you mean January 2008 or January 2009, different things have occured. In terms of flight times, it varies city to city, but usually early and late flights are the cheapest, so if you're looking for a midday flight, you are most likely going to pay more for it.

The biggest that comes to mind is the number of flights have been drastically cut back by air carriers, additionally most are recovering from last years fuel spike and some are locked into fuel hedge programs that are making them buy fuel at prices above current market.

Our flights would cost 299 or more because we want the early flight down and late flight home. It's not a good price, especially when we just flew to Denver for under 225 a person. You're right it is your opinion and I have to disagree.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Our flights would cost 299 or more because we want the early flight down and late flight home. It's not a good price, especially when we just flew to Denver for under 225 a person. You're right it is your opinion and I have to disagree.

Even $299 is not too bad IMO. Last September our tickets were $330 each for the times we wanted to go (this year they were amazing a about $60 cheaper in May). It sounds like your like me in the fact that you don't like to sacrafice flight times in relation to cost. I'd rather pay more, and fly the times and airline that I like then get stuck with what is often less desirable times.

 

[wdwgypsy]

some air fares are cheaper Tues-Thursday. And some just depend on the number of "cheap seats" available.

If you are booking multiple tickets do your search for one or 2 at a time. It may be that you have more people than cheap seats so many systems default all tickets to the higher price.
It may be possible to get one or two at a lower price and then have to pay the higher price for the other ones.

Use all the travel searches. Yapta, Kayak, Expedia, Travelocity, etc. And all the airlines in your area. I made a yahoo e-mail just for this reason. For some reason some prices can vary by as much as 50 dollars a ticket for the same flight.

I just got an e-mail Air Tran is starting service out of Atlantic City this month that might be an option for you

 

[wdwgypsy]

Air Tran has a sale on right now that has $54 OW tickets to Orlando from Atlantic City. I haven't flown with them yet so all I know is the price.

OK now that I have embarassed myself with my lack of knowledge of New Jersey geography I will try to redeem myself by adding the Jet Blue is showing flights for $79 ow out of the NYC Airports and $89 for Newark.

I have flown them and I like them so far. Direct TV helps keep kids occupied.

 

[Missytara]

I just booked my flight from Airtran - I am going the weekend of T-giving for the entire week. I have been watching the fares for about three weeks because I am traveling with companions that are college students and wanted to pay the lowest fare possible. I would check the airfare mid-week and by the time I caught up with them, we would check and the flight would be almost double the cost.

I am noticing that the fares are higher Friday through Monday, and lower Tuesday thru Thursday. It must be that people are booking last minute on a Friday or book over the weekend and they are catching the higher fares. Possibly fewer people check mid-week and they catch the lower fare. It is worth watching out for.

 

[brianheather]

When generally do they post sales for Sept. travel? We flew JetBlue out of Newark NJ last year. When I booked it was somewhere around 99.00 eachway,
then it kept going down in price. They were nice enough to give me a credit for my next flight (with the price adjustment) But I don't want to go threw that hassle again. So when should I look for some sales.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We got 120.00 AI r/t on CO from EWR for the 1st week in NOV. You have to pounce when you see a good rate.

 

[brianheather]

I check everyday... still nothing worth pouncing on lol

 

[Missytara]

I lucked out on mine; I am flying out of BWI to MCO on November 28th (the Saturday of Thanksgiving) and returning December 5th. I just got on before 7:00 am this morning and the airfare was even lower - than yesterday, so I finally booked it at $172.00 round trip - non-stop both ways. Even with the $30.00 baggage fee, I think that is extremely reasonable for traveling one-way on a holiday weekend.

I had noticed earlier that the fares seem to drop Tuesday through Thursday, and then go up Friday through Monday; most likely a trend when people would most likely book their flights. I had been going on at lunchtime; I took a chance and checked before 7:00 am and it was even lower.

 

[mmackeymouse]

I myself am pretty bummed on the airfare front.

For the LONGEST time, like two months or so, flights out of our airport (Indy) to Orlando was $58 each way through AirTran. What a steal, right?

Unfortunately, it was not booked out far enough to include our dates. We prayed that those fares would stay steady until our dates were released.

Last weekend, they raised fares. It was $109. A couple of days later, it was $92. Now, it is $89. I am worried that the $58 ship has sailed. I hope not; I hope at some point in the future, the rates will return to where they were, but with the oil prices.......I dunno.

We'll see within a few weeks I guess.

 

[shopn24seven]

I think SW has the best rates, at least from PHL.
120 RT + 2 free bags.

 

[rangerxenos]

I'm hoping that once SW releases the rest of the year, prices might go down some. Right now we're getting $240 or so from Bradley in CT with Delta, and that's not including bag fees.

 

[bjgrazi]

I think SW has the best rates, at least from PHL.
120 RT + 2 free bags.

SW doesn't fly direct from anywhere near us, so they're out of the question.

I think we're going to go with jet blue out of Westchester airport. It an almost 2 hour drive, but the price is worth it.

 

[the.leonhardts]

I saved about $100 a ticket for our 4 day trip in October by changing my Weds/Sun reservation to a Thurs/Mon reservation. Sunday was just a bear for return flights. . . The best I've found at all 3 DC airports is $179 round trip. Not bad, but it's been a bit better for trips this time of year in the past.

J