Airfare... Ugghhh! Why did I listen???

[3PRINCESSMOM]

After planning ump-teen family trips, I have gotten the hang of monitoring airfare pretty well. I watch for a while. Develop a sense for the trends happening at the time. Usually I can then figure out the right time to "trounce." It has been working for the better part of 12 years. Well with gas prices being what they had been at the end of summer and throughout early fall, I started to panic. Then my dad, who is retired and listens to news all day long, tells me airfare is going nowhere but up.

I trounced too early!!! Worse yet, I trounced with a carrier I never use... Delta. Now my preferred carriers' rates are down cheaper than what I paid, plus no bag fees, plus better on-time record. Btw, my flight has already been rescheduled to 30+ minutes later... SO MAD!!!!

I am SO upset at myself for not trusting my instincts!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

You can obtain the Delta American Express free for one year and receive one free checked bags for up to nine people in your party. That would help with the baggage fees.

Also, once I book my flight I never look at the prices again (SW is not at our airport or any other airline that gives refunds). I have no desire to upset myself over something I can do nothing about.

While I know it is upsetting, you need to just move past this issue as it is done and over with.

Have a great trip!

 

[Greysword]

Watch your reservation frequently, as Delta is one of the more active in time/equipment changes, which will cause your seat assignments to reconfigure.

You can make schedule changes to your flight for $150, but if your itinerary cumulatively changes by an hour or more (10 minutes here, 20 minutes there, etc), then you can ask to change your flights for no cost

If a Delta schedule or routing change has delayed your departure or arrival by more than one hour, you may be eligible to select an alternate flight at no additional charge. Note that the below conditions may apply:

Your origin, destination and travel date must remain the same
Alternate flights must be available, and you can only modify once as subsequent changes may result in additional fees
Voluntary changes to other flights not impacted by a Delta schedule change may result in additional fees

This is one reason frequent Delta fliers like them.

However, Delta is a solid airline. With in-flight wifi, good customer service, and a solid network you won't be stranded.

We are flying Delta, as well.

 

[magicaldisney]

Also flying Delta. We fly them or SW. I like that they offer non stop flights for us. Just try to don't dwell on the price drops. I am also one of those who NEVER looks at fares once I book.

 

[pooch]

The right answer is "don't look" but, like a sore tooth, I'd just keep poking at it to torture myself!!! I have been very fortunate with airline fares here in CT. Currently have a trip booked for later this month at $79 down and $73 back (actually paying with RR points which makes it even better!!!) Even with only 3 weeks to go , I still check every day!

I know it hurts, but take it as a lesson not to let others sway what you know from experience to be right. And saying "I told you so!!!!" helps!!

 

[lvdis]

In the past, I've been allowed to change to a different flight, even a different departure airport, if the flight times changed. I think they even said I was allowed a refund if I didn't like the other flight options. This may have been with Airtran though, I can't remember for sure. It might be worth checking into though.

 

[brucerob62]

airlines are like the stock market..up and down daily..i sign up at kayak.com and it alerts me when prices change..a rule of thumb..i fly frequently..never book a fly 6 months out..wait for 90 days out i know its a risk..but it almost always is cheaper..but dont wait within 45 days of flights..it will go up..most all the time..and never wait till 30 days..so 45-90 days out is best bet..watch it daily if you dont want to sign up for kayak.com.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

a rule of thumb..i fly frequently..never book a fly 6 months out..wait for 90 days out i know its a risk..but it almost always is cheaper

I must have exceptional luck as my experiences have been vastly different.

For our January 2012 trip, airfare was purchased in August 2011.

For our August 2012 trip, airfare was purchased in January 2012.

For our December 2012 trip, airfare was purchased in July 2012.

In every case except for one way for the December trip (our sole Airtran flight), prices only went up, not down. In some cases the increase was as much as 100%. And I do check daily (sometimes multiple times) so it was monitored on a consistent basis.

In the case of our Airtran flight, we did find the fare decreased without warning for a two-hour period by $20 from our initial purchase price. We were able to call and get a credit for the difference which will pay for baggage fees.

While many swear by the 90-day rule, that philosophy would definitely not have been beneficial for our 2012 vacations. Maybe its the airports we fly from? In our case, that would be Syracuse for the first two trip and Buffalo for the upcoming one.

 

[Donna M]

I think when you fly has a huge impact on whether your fares will go down or not. We travel during school vacations, buy the tickets earlier than 6 months out and have never seen the price drop-ever!

 

[Rpsemont]

I trounced too early!!! Worse yet, I trounced with a carrier I never use... Delta. Now my preferred carriers' rates are down cheaper than what I paid, plus no bag fees, plus better on-time record. Btw, my flight has already been rescheduled to 30+ minutes later... SO MAD!!!!

I am SO upset at myself for not trusting my instincts!

Been there - done that - hope you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone


THere was once I bought Delta Song because they were less than "my preferred carrier". Later SWA matched their rate, but, of course, I couldn't change. I remained upbeat - after all they had the little movie screens in every seat!. That was until we sat at the gate for over an hour waiting for them to get a generator to start the plane - and when they told us they finally had one, they saidd we had to wait longer becuase they needed two - one for each engine
Never Again!

Currently have a trip booked for later this month at $79 down and $73 back (actually paying with RR points which makes it even better!!!) Even with only 3 weeks to go , I still check every day!

pooch, is this BDL-MCO???? Great job! I haven't been able to get that low although I do have $86 EW for next Feb. I have $90 for dec, but missed changing flights on the day I saw it for $84.
Just curious, when did you snag that great fare?

TIA
Anne

 

[3PRINCESSMOM]

If I shared the fares I got, I would garner no sympathy, cuz even Delta fare is really pretty good. We are a family of 6 and my niece will be with us, so even minimal savings per ticket would have added up when multiplied by 7!

Honestly, I think my pride is hurt the most. I knew better and still listened... SHAMEFUL!

Best advice is to stop looking! Thanks to all! (DIS therapy works so well).

 

[pooch]

pooch, is this BDL-MCO???? Great job! I haven't been able to get that low although I do have $86 EW for next Feb. I have $90 for dec, but missed changing flights on the day I saw it for $84.
Just curious, when did you snag that great fare?

TIA
Anne

Yes, BDL-MCO. Booked in June at $99 EW, Got an adjustment in Oct (I think) to $91 EW. Dropped to $79 during the current sale so maybe 10 days ago and then the flight back went to $73 for 1 day (last Friday). My flights were listed at $90 and $84 but that included tax/fees. When I "pay" with points, tax/fees are only $2.50 EW so $152 worth of points (9120) and $5.00 on my CC.