Anyone else book airfare 11 mo out?

[Tattylou]

We have to fly spring break bc DH is a teacher. There is no option to leave before spring break - we have to wait til Sat of the break to go. In the Boston area, this is always April vacation. I have always booked at the 11 mo mark and gotten the cheapest flight. They just seem to go up from there. Anyone else do it this way? I'm afraid to wait for JetBlue in case their prices come out high and by then I know the other airlines will be going up too. I'm not airline loyal- whoever's cheapest, but not Spirit. My 11mo mark for flight out is next weekend for spring break 2018. Just looking for others opinions.

 

[kendall]

Former teacher here - when you are limited in your travel dates and you know it is a high travel time, best to book when you have a price point you can live with, and that will probably be when the tickets become available as price will generally go up as capacity availability goes down. I have a bit more flexibility in travel now, so I keep a price point in mind depending on the amount of flexibility I have in my dates - when I see my price point, I now buy and don't look back. When my travel is restricted for some reason, or I know it is high travel season, I book earlier than later. So I would book and give yourself peace of mind!

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I book my tickets as soon as possible, because that way I am comfortable knowing I have flights to my destination.

Having said that, I do try to get an idea of prices before I hit purchase. I think the key for me is knowing how much I'm willing to spend. If the ticket costs around that price, then I am more than comfortable booking it at that point. If not, I will wait and check the prices DAILY to see how much they fluctuate.

(Oh, and clear your browser's cache between searches. It can impact the price of the ticket.)

 

[bumbershoot]

when you are limited in your travel dates and you know it is a high travel time, best to book when you have a price point you can live with

It's a good point.


But I think the furthest out I've ever booked was 5 months and prices dropped after that, but I was using United and couldn't do anything about it. Made me bananas. So if you're booking with an airline that has fees for changes, don't check back. Or if you're using Southwest or Alaska where you get fee-free price drop credit, only check back IF you can use that credit.

 

[sam_gordon]

The furthest out I've booked is 10 1/2 months. The prices had dropped from the 11 month mark. I did continue checking and that was the lowest the prices were for that flight. However, there is no rule on when the lowest price will be. It will depend on too many factors. So, know how much you're willing to pay and base your decision whether to buy or not on that, not on how far out you are. As bumershoot said, if you're on a legacy airline that you can't get credit if the price drops... DON'T. CHECK. AGAIN.

 

[momtwoboys]

I wish Jetblue or southwest had air to book that far ahead! I am also again booking for april school vacation week. We book as soon as we can!

 

[Vasiliki76]

Same boat from boston. Have been looking at pricing daily until we can book. What do you think is a good price for spring break? $500-$600 RT PP? We had friends last year who waiting for Jet Blue to come out and it was more expensive than if they had booked at the 11 month mark.

 

[sam_gordon]

Same boat from boston. Have been looking at pricing daily until we can book. What do you think is a good price for spring break? $500-$600 RT PP? We had friends last year who waiting for Jet Blue to come out and it was more expensive than if they had booked at the 11 month mark.

Look at prices in November (before Thanksgiving), January (after New Year's), or February. Those should be the lowest prices of the year and give you a baseline.

 

[Lothlórien]

I only fly SWA and their fares are not out quite that early. I do book as soon as it becomes available, however.

 

[Tattylou]

Same boat from boston. Have been looking at pricing daily until we can book. What do you think is a good price for spring break? $500-$600 RT PP? We had friends last year who waiting for Jet Blue to come out and it was more expensive than if they had booked at the 11 month mark.

I consider 400 really good for spring break. Typically, end up closer to 500. Almost always those prices = layover If going to FL. I've never waited for JetBlue bc I'm afraid that what happened to your friends will happen to me too. This year I paid 500 per tix with a layover to fly to Tampa, bought at 11 mo and prices just went up over the months. My friend, who was going with us, waited for JetBlue and paid 800 for direct flights.
Next April we are going to California. Last time we did CA for spring break was 2015 and I got 380 direct flight at 11 mo. I can fly into LAX or SAN, but prefer SAN (although from what I see now LAX will be cheaper and have more flight options).
So, from what everyone is saying and from my own past experience, it sounds like waiting for JetBlue may be a costly mistake. There's 4 of us too so it adds up fast.

 

[Tattylou]

I wish Jetblue or southwest had air to book that far ahead! I am also again booking for april school vacation week. We book as soon as we can!

Do you wait for JetBlue or does "book as soon as I can" mean 11 mo?

 

[Vasiliki76]

I consider 400 really good for spring break. Typically, end up closer to 500. Almost always those prices = layover If going to FL. I've never waited for JetBlue bc I'm afraid that what happened to your friends will happen to me too. This year I paid 500 per tix with a layover to fly to Tampa, bought at 11 mo and prices just went up over the months. My friend, who was going with us, waited for JetBlue and paid 800 for direct flights.
Next April we are going to California. Last time we did CA for spring break was 2015 and I got 380 direct flight at 11 mo. I can fly into LAX or SAN, but prefer SAN (although from what I see now LAX will be cheaper and have more flight options).
So, from what everyone is saying and from my own past experience, it sounds like waiting for JetBlue may be a costly mistake. There's 4 of us too so it adds up fast.

Thanks so much! That helps a lot. We have 4 as well and I don't want that price any higher than it needs to be!

 

[momtwoboys]

Do you wait for JetBlue or does "book as soon as I can" mean 11 mo?

sorry, meant I book jetblue as soon as they come out or southwest if time frame is similar to release. no other airline flies direct from bdl to mco for us so we wait but then yes book as soon as released. wish it was 11months out July is usually when we can.