Airfare woes

[linnylu]

Shoot- between yesterday when I first looked at airfare to Orlando and today when I went to book, the fare has gone from $269 to $335 per ticket. This is United and a direct flight on the day after Easter. So, do I wait hoping that it will go down again, or buy now because it will only go up. This is only for 1 way! We are going to fly southwest home using credit card points. I finally get dh to say it's okay if I take 2 of our kids to Disney while he stays home with our older son and then this happens.

 

[digitalsiren]

Booking on a Tuesday is often the best time because in the morning the airlines release their fares and then they have a little pricing competition. Then the prices go up throughout the week and are usually highest on the weekends (when most people have time for shopping and/or buying). This doesn't guarantee that it will be lower again next week, but there is a chance.

 

[LJSquishy]

Mondays and Tuesdays are the lowest priced days. Check again next week and then you can decide whether to pull the trigger or wait it out a few more weeks.

 

[Marionnette]

Shoot- between yesterday when I first looked at airfare to Orlando and today when I went to book, the fare has gone from $269 to $335 per ticket. This is United and a direct flight on the day after Easter. So, do I wait hoping that it will go down again, or buy now because it will only go up. This is only for 1 way! We are going to fly southwest home using credit card points. I finally get dh to say it's okay if I take 2 of our kids to Disney while he stays home with our older son and then this happens.

There are no crystal balls out there. You kind of have to take your chances on whether the price will go up or down.

You can try a fare predictor website like Bing Travel. You enter your dates and airports. The search engine finds all available flights (on most airlines) that fit your criteria. Then the fare predictor show whether the price is expected to rise or fall. It will be more reliable than asking any of us.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

Ouch, that is high! But then again being during most spring breaks/day after Easter doesn't help.

I agree with everyone else, check again early next week. I too have noticed the prices go up during the week.

 

[Magic2000]

When we finally decided we would fly to Disney, the fares were a little higher than I wanted to pay, but I didn't want to drive 10 hours with a 20 month old. So I bought the tickets.

Of course, within a few weeks, the price went down. Thankfully though, we're flying Southwest, so my mom and I each had a $165 credit for a future flight. She's already used hers (she's going back to Disney the week after Christmas with my brother and his family), and I'll be using mine next summer for a trip to Disneyland!

 

[mcgrawfan]

I watched airfare bounce around like the stock market for our last trip. Keep watch on it and try again on Monday. That is when I always found it less. If you have an iPhone or another smart phone get the Kayak app. It will save your search and you can go back an check frequently and easily and see what it is doing.

 

[OLT2004]

Email United and tell them your story...Just like you told the DIS board.
They may send you a $$$ Off Voucher.
It worked for me for our last vacation to Las Vegas.

It's worth 15 minutes of your time...
You have nothing to loose...
Good Luck

 

[tasha99]

I am so jealous of your fares. Christmas this year--$1400 per ticket. One more extra cost of living in Alaska is expensive airfare, and uber-expensive holiday airfare. Just a bit of perspective. Do check on Tuesdays, though. I've heard that's the cheapest day as well.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I am so jealous of your fares. Christmas this year--$1400 per ticket. One more extra cost of living in Alaska is expensive airfare, and uber-expensive holiday airfare. Just a bit of perspective. Do check on Tuesdays, though. I've heard that's the cheapest day as well.

We're going to Disney Dec 10-17 and paid about $600. I'm sure actual holiday dates would be a lot more though.

 

[tasha99]

We're going to Disney Dec 10-17 and paid about $600. I'm sure actual holiday dates would be a lot more though.

That sounds like fun! They really stick it to you if you have to fly around school Christmas vacation. It was twice as much the rest of the month for me, but I work in a school and can't shift my dates.