Best Time To Book Flights?

[Sid74]

Hi,

We usually book a flydrive, but for our next trip we want to book flight only. We are looking at going next November for 3 weeks. I think I have read that I can't book the flights until 11 months out. Is that correct?

I want to book direct flights from Manchester to Orlando Airport. Can I book both legs at the same time? Or do I need to wait until the return flight is available? Should I book at the 11 month mark, or will I get a better price if I wait?

Sorry for all of the questions, but this is a new one on me, and I want to get it right.

Thanks.

 

[Sandy1892]

Hi we book usually with Virgin 2 flights a day from Manchester as we travel every year I collect the Airmiles,last year we had enough to upgrade to Premium economy using the miles. We are flying out October and booked End January when Virgin had a sale, there is probably another sale April. If you try to book as the flights come 11 months before they are expensive wait another 6-8 weeks the prices are better. If you can fly Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday again usually cheaper. November is usually cheaper than end October due to half term holidays I would check online prices every few weeks. Sorry don't know much about other airlines from Manchester, have fun if you go early November you can get to experience Food and Wine and Christmas decorations.

 

[flortlebap]

If you're booking with a scheduled airline like VA, then it's 330 days from your return leg

The charters like Thomson and Monarch tend to release much earlier though, so it depends who you're flying with - I managed to get Thomson prices 15 months out so the wait for VA flights took forever.

If you are booking with VA then don't do it on release day as the prices were half after a few days. It's best to use sky scanner and check regularly for the best price and book when within budget. We've booked as late as 6 weeks before in the past but paid a premium, so your best bet is to hold out for low prices or a sale.

 

[wayneg]

There has been a recent study show the best time to book summer flights to the US is around 21 weeks before departure.

I started looking from 11 months out for this summer, eventually booked in January, just checked how far out that was and it works out at 25 weeks from departure.
So for me I would agree with the recent study of around 21 weeks but there are no hard and fast rules, look every day 2, 3 or 4 times a day from being released until you book, there could be an error or sale at any point you don't want to miss.
Also check prices in $'s on US sites rather than just UK prices. This year I have booked 4 flights in $'s, just 1 in £'s.

 

[Sid74]

Thank you Sandy1892, flortlebap and Wayne. That was just the information I was hoping for.

 

[Magic Megadegs]

WayneG do you still try Orbitz etc or the airline websites to pay in dollars?

 

[wayneg]

WayneG do you still try Orbitz etc or the airline websites to pay in dollars?

For 2 Virgin flights I used Orbitz, saved £200pp (£600 total) compared to booking direct with VA.
Also used them for a Thomas Cook flight (Condor codeshare) which saved about £50pp (£150 total)
For our JetBlue flight I booked direct with the airline, never found their prices cheaper elsewhere.
Monarch was the only one I booked in £'s direct on their own site.

 

[Sid74]

Wayneg if you book via a third party, can you still book your seats, or do you have to get them to do it for you?

 

[wayneg]

Wayneg if you book via a third party, can you still book your seats, or do you have to get them to do it for you?

Orbitz lets you choose seats thru the booking process. It even let me choose VA at no charge even though VA charge £25pp each way. I doubt VA will honour the seat choice but when I log into Orbitz the seats are still on there.

 

[Sid74]

Thanks wayneg. Using a site like Orbitz, is it possible to book different classes on different legs of the journey? Can I book economy out, and premium return, for instance?

 

[wayneg]

Thanks wayneg. Using a site like Orbitz, is it possible to book different classes on different legs of the journey? Can I book economy out, and premium return, for instance?

You would have to look at each site to see what they offer, don't think you can with Orbitz, not something I do so not sure. Only time I do it is if using some airmiles.

 

[Sid74]

Thanks again wayneg. I'm just trying to get an idea of what is possible.

 

[Molyneuxd]

This year we booked 31 weeks before flying, 2012 we booked 9 weeks out, that price I never found cheaper and checking this years they have risen a bit already so hopefully got these flights at a good time.

I think its a case of finding the price you are happy to pay as you can spend endless hours searching to save a pound.

 

[Sid74]

Thanks Molyneuxd. I just don't want to end up paying over the odds by booking at the wrong time.

 

[wayneg]

I think its a case of finding the price you are happy to pay as you can spend endless hours searching to save a pound.

I partly agree, it is a very time consuming process but everyone has different ideas of prices they are happy with.
For example relatives wanted flights for this August, they were happy paying upto £1,000pp for direct flights rather than paying less for indirect. They almost booked a Thomas Cook package for 2 adults and 1 child for £3,700 which included a hotel worth around £700. I said to wait, which they did.
They ended up paying £2,200 for same flights as the package and a far better hotel for £700 total £2,900. Saving £800 and a better hotel.
So by all means book when you are happy with the price but you need to do some research and not pay OTT.

 

[Sid74]

But how do you know that the price will drop wayneg? I'm worried that I will leave it, and the flight prices will just go up. How can you be sure that it is okay to leave the flights, and buy at a later date?

 

[wayneg]

But how do you know that the price will drop wayneg? I'm worried that I will leave it, and the flight prices will just go up. How can you be sure that it is okay to leave the flights, and buy at a later date?

You can't know for sure. You gain the knowledge with experience. If you are not sure I suggest posting and asking on the forums what others think of your price before booking. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more if they are exact dates you want, exact airports, good times etc.
This July I paid £630pp for flights, I was hopeful for sub £500 indirect but everything was perfect with the ones I found so happy to pay more, the same flights were £830pp on VA website, a price I was not willing to pay but happy with the price I got paying in $'s.

 

[Sid74]

Thanks again for all of your help wayneg. I am a major planner, the idea of waiting until 11 months before travel, to be able to book, is difficult, lol. So the idea of not buying the flights the day they come out, and waiting for another few weeks, goes completely against my nature, lol.

 

[wayneg]

I am totally the opposite, I always think, and usually know a better deal will appear if I wait.

 

[Molyneuxd]

I agree Wayne I always compare to the previous trip wherever we go this time was 2 extra nights and about £150pp more.

Shopped around and endless hours searching we wanted 10 nights this time was an offer on in Jan we never took up and ended up increasing by £200pp so knocked it on the head.

I refuse to pay that when I've seen it less only days / weeks before.

Few months passed and found 9 nights for a reasonable price...

Flight & Hotel has come out about £865pp and a bit of quidco to come back should make it slightly less.

Just checked our April 2012 trip... 7 nights Flight & Hotel £597pp (that was booking 9-10 weeks out.)