Airline Tickets-Best Time to Buy

[FLCyndi]

Looking for airline tickets out of ND/SD for the week after Xmas. Allegiant is running the lowest right now and we have used them before with no issues. I am wondering if I wait longer has anybody gotten any better deals later in the year?

 

[dashofsunshine]

I generally book domestic airfare 1.5 - 2 months out. But the honest truth is, it's a bit of a crap shoot. It all depends on destination, time of year, etc. Your price isn't going to vary THAT much unless you wait until really close to time - a month or less - and then you'll pay significantly MORE (usually). When you see a fare you are comfortable with, book it.

 

[Accident]

I haven't flown in the last 2 years but the magic number used to be exactly 7 weeks before you travel. That was the day that the normal fare jumped to the lower try to fill the plane fair. Every day the seats would get more and more expensive depending on how empty the plan was..

Now would I do this for a disney vacation? not sure I'd risk it. Would be nice to know anyone that is a travels often if they know how far out the tickets really drop in price. although I could probably test this theory looking at prices for flights in the future I don't plan to take but want to see which has lower rates as of today.

 

[richmo]

Especially with dealing with holiday periods, which the week after Christmas certainly is, you have to grab fares when you're comfortable with them. Waiting for a better one can be a very dangerous game.

 

[FLCyndi]

Not a Disney vacation, but we will be staying in Orlando.

 

[Accident]

There used to be a magic 7 week number where that day before you went airline tickets would drop to their lowest depending on how empty the plane was and keep creeping back up to full price. What I do is sit on the websites and use dates x weeks in advance until I find what flights dropped in price today. Then I'll use that as a guide of when to watch them like a hawk closer to my travels. Of course I usually travel solo so not a big deal to get just 1 seat. If I was bringing a family, I"m not sure I'd risk the vacation plans waiting..

Keep in mind different days have different prices with monday-thursday generally being lower than friday-sunday (although sunday night is usually really good). You have to play with the website. A travel agent might be able to help you more

 

[MillauFr]

There is no such thing as a magic week to buy tickets. Just buy when you are comfortable with the price and don't worry about it.

 

[Monykalyn]

Also- CLEAR your browsers cookies!! If you frequently check sites for same trip it tracks that. A flight I was looking at (have been checking once a week for a few weeks) jumped $200 in price. Cleared the browsers cookies and it's back down to the price I was looking at.

 

[MillauFr]

Also- CLEAR your browsers cookies!! If you frequently check sites for same trip it tracks that. A flight I was looking at (have been checking once a week for a few weeks) jumped $200 in price. Cleared the browsers cookies and it's back down to the price I was looking at.

So if two people are buying tickets at the same time the airline will charge more to the person who has been frequently checking prices and lower to the person who has not checked prices at all???? I do not believe that is true.

 

[richmo]

Not sure on the cookie issue, but it could be true.

One thing that is true, at least with some airlines...If the flight you want has a rate that looks higher than other flights that day, try looking as just 1 passenger. If you see a lower rate, it may mean that there are some seats at the lower rate, but not enough for your whole party. Some airlines, instead of automatically booking some of you at the lower rate and some at the higher, will just book you at the higher rate. You may have to split your itinerary, but you may save some $.