Airline Advice

[momofkids]

We usually fly United from Newark to Orlando. Right now prices for our November dates are fluctuating between $267 and $281 per person. United is currently the cheapest airline. Should I expect prices to drop or just book now? This is way more than we paid last year. Might they drop when SW opens their November flights on Thursday? No nearby airports seem to have any better rates either.

 

[seashoreCM]

Except for really popular dates it is better to wait for fares to go on sale rather than buy at their everyday low prices.

Also when hordes of passengers procrastinate more on buying tickets, airlines may invent or dredge up incentives to buy early. Like match the price for previous buyers if the fare is ultimately dropped at a later date.

 

[goofy4tink]

I will disagree with waiting. Can fares go down? Sure. Can you be sure they will? No. It's much more likely that they will go up. So, know what you're ok with paying. When you see a fare that is close to that amount, book it.
I have had only one fare go down a good amount. That was a cross country flight in Jetblue a few years ago. At that time, I could get a credit for the difference. Can't do that anymore....at least not without paying a change fee.
With SW there is no change fee...so if your fare does go down, you can get a credit.
I just wouldn't count in fares going down....much more likelihood of them going up!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Except for really popular dates it is better to wait for fares to go on sale rather than buy at their everyday low prices.

Also when hordes of passengers procrastinate more on buying tickets, airlines may invent or dredge up incentives to buy early. Like match the price for previous buyers if the fare is ultimately dropped at a later date.

What everyday low prices? Fares often don't go on sale. I have no idea what you mean by a "match for previous buyers;" United charges $200 per ticket change fee for a domestic flight.

Buy when you see a decent price. If you're willing to fly Southwest and they are releasing November fares in a few days, wait and see if they are lower. You can pay for a fare lock on UA for up to 7 days if you think their fare may increase when Southwest releases their fares.

 

[sam_gordon]

Except for really popular dates it is better to wait for fares to go on sale rather than buy at their everyday low prices.

This would be great advice if you KNEW there was going to be a sale (and when it would be). You know there will be appliance sales (among other things) Memorial Day. But what if your refrigerator dies (ie: costs too much to fix) in March? Should you "wait"?

Also when hordes of passengers procrastinate more on buying tickets, airlines may invent or dredge up incentives to buy early. Like match the price for previous buyers if the fare is ultimately dropped at a later date.

And this has worked WHEN in the past regarding airline tickets? Sure, it sounds good, but is it realistic?

 

[beccasmom]

We paid over $300 last July on SWA, but just under $200 for a November trip. It is risky to predict anything about airline fares IMHO, but we have more often then not found some pretty decent fares on SWA for our November trips. We purchased our November fare (for last year's trip) on 6/4. I remember a fare sale with fares around $69 one way (obviously not from/to everywhere and some higher than others) that was announced in June last year. Make sure you are on SWA's email list and jump when you see a good fare. Good luck.