Bargain Buddies!! When do YOU book your flights? Is there a best time?

[bostonberry]

Using Kayak.com to compare costs/options. Are there any better days of the week? Or something else to know? We're flying from Boston to Orlando in May or June 2013.

THANKS!!

 

[ready123go]

Using Kayak.com to compare costs/options. Are there any better days of the week? Or something else to know? We're flying from Boston to Orlando in May or June 2013.

THANKS!!

FWIW-

We are in Detroit and we are usually booking to Florida (Ft. Lauderdale or Orlando).

With Delta I book ASAP. Their rates just keep climbing, unless there is a sale.

With Air Tran, I booked Thanksgiving in June, they had a sale in July. I later applied the price adjustment to a Feb trip.

 

[bostonberry]

Ok. Thought booking flights sooner rather than later made sense. Seldom do I see any true sales on flights. Yeah, I get e-mails but *maybe* $20 off a flight? Thinking I'll just book our flights once I finalize details.

 

[bas71873]

FWIW-

We are in Detroit and we are usually booking to Florida (Ft. Lauderdale or Orlando).

With Delta I book ASAP. Their rates just keep climbing, unless there is a sale.

With Air Tran, I booked Thanksgiving in June, they had a sale in July. I later applied the price adjustment to a Feb trip.

How did u do that? The price adjustment? I'm watching our flights and curious if there is anything we can do if we book and then the price drops. We will either fly AirTran or JetBlue.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Does southwest or airtran fly near you? If so, they always have offers coming out. Just watch and when you see a price you like jump on it. You can always get a credit if it goes down. Over time you will learn what the lowest rate is to your preferred destination and will just wait for that rate to buy.

 

[lvillotta1]

Thanks to a poster on this site, SW was having 40% off fares in sept. Scored the 3 of us R/T from Omaha directly to MCO for $633. The deals are definitely out there,but we only fly SW.

 

[BabyCrazyKCmommy]

Where did you find those 40% off SW for Sept that is when we are planning on going too, would love to find discounts like that.

 

[faindrops27]

Yes, I would love to know that as well. As, when I look at southwest their flights are not even open for september?

 

[ready123go]

Ok. Thought booking flights sooner rather than later made sense. Seldom do I see any true sales on flights. Yeah, I get e-mails but *maybe* $20 off a flight? Thinking I'll just book our flights once I finalize details.

I agree. I used to watch the airline sales like a hawk, but often the 'bargain' flights are at weird times or days. So, after a couple of years' watching I just decided that Delta gets my business for long trips with luggage and Airtran gets my business for short weekends, without much luggage.

Oh, again FWIW, I also got the Delta Amex because it comes with extra miles and first bag free for up to 8 or 10 people. Now I use it at Costco (they don't take Disney Visa - boo!). If you use a particular airline, they might have a card that works for you.

GL!
ready

 

[ready123go]

How did u do that? The price adjustment? I'm watching our flights and curious if there is anything we can do if we book and then the price drops. We will either fly AirTran or JetBlue.

It seems to me I called their 800 number (1-800-AIR-TRAN (1-800-247-8726) or 678-254-7999).

AirTran is now owned by Southwest Air, and they will give you credit (not cash back, just account credit). You have to use it within one year of original booking date - for me it was June. Pretty certain I found out about this from the DISboards! I have no idea about JetBlue.

Here is what I did - first the outbound dropped, I called and got a credit on the outbound. A few days later the outbound went up, but the return flight dropped and I called about a credit on the return.

My total credit was like $160 or so (2 people). Then, when they had the sale in September that a pp mentioned, I bought a return flight for $75 per person. We had no idea if we were going to go down, but I had the credit, had to use it, and figured might as well nab the fare since my credit covered the whole amount.

I did something like this last year, too. Between airfare credit and Disney Visa points, we got a 'free' weekend trip to WDW. Just a couple of $$ for parking (at home airport), grocery delivery and tips for bell services, etc.

 

[ready123go]

Where did you find those 40% off SW for Sept that is when we are planning on going too, would love to find discounts like that.

I was a sale in September not a sale on September.

Sign up for their mailing list!

 

[bas71873]

Thanks ready123go!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Where did you find those 40% off SW for Sept that is when we are planning on going too, would love to find discounts like that.

Yes, I would love to know that as well. As, when I look at southwest their flights are not even open for september?

Sign up on their website. Also disboards transportation forum has a SWA thread. Lastly, I highly recommend their credit card. Rack up points and use them during a fare sale. About 3000 points will get you one way during a sale...at least it does for my preferred destinations.

 

[letsgoreds]

I agree. I used to watch the airline sales like a hawk, but often the 'bargain' flights are at weird times or days. So, after a couple of years' watching I just decided that Delta gets my business for long trips with luggage and Airtran gets my business for short weekends, without much luggage.

Oh, again FWIW, I also got the Delta Amex because it comes with extra miles and first bag free for up to 8 or 10 people. Now I use it at Costco (they don't take Disney Visa - boo!). If you use a particular airline, they might have a card that works for you.

GL!
ready

This is where I stand too...although Airtran hasn't been as cheap as it used to be...Delta has been getting more of my business...and love the free checked bag/ability to use partial points to pay down a flight. I hadn't been using it for Costco...that is smart. Not earning anything using my debit card ; )

I watch flights for a week or so, as far out as I can, and usually buy mid-week. Flights don't fluctuate that much for Delta.

 

[MinnieForMe]

You might also want to check the flights with Southwest out of Manchester, NH and Providence, Rhode Island. We generally find the best deals out of Providence. Southwest has had the best prices on Tuesdays. I usually purchase about 4 months out so Christmas week for April for a deal. I've never booked June so sign up for ding alert with them and emails.

 

[Darcy03231]

I live in southern NH and usually fly Southwest. Lately I've found the prices don't start to drop until about 7-8 weeks out. I booked our air for our August 2012 trip the end of June 2012. For our upcoming cruise I booked our air down in August 2012 but didn't book our flight back until last week (we leave 1/5/13).

 

[eileenrbl]

I usually first check available flights through Kayak and then contact the airlines directly on their websites. Many times they are cheaper that way.