Booking Flights??

[daboyzmom]

Does anyone have experience booking flight? When is the best time to book flights? I have been watching certain flight for a couple of weeks now and they haven't changed much. Until today. Do you think it has anything to do with the upcoming disney 7/5 deal coming out and do you think they might go back down again or continue up?? Any info appreciated!!!

 

[StitchGirl]

I kind of think of booking flights as sort of a game-- get the flight you want at the right time that will be most inexpensive. That given, I'm not sure I'm all that good at it

I do know that I seem to get better flight rates on my own, rather then trying to go through a travel agent (even though it is supposed to be opposite-- but a travel agent adds extra fees to the fare the airline charges)

If you find a rate at a TA, or at a site like travelocity or expedia, check the airline's site, because you will probably be able to get it $5 cheaper.

Now, as to gambling on whether rates will go down, my "guess" will be that they are about to go up if fuel prices are about to go up, since it will be more expensive to fly the plane!

 

[daboyzmom]

Stitchgirl

I see that we will be in Disney at the same time We are at AKL. We are from NJ . Flying out of Nj or NY. Are you form the area??

 

[Katiebug]

Check out sidestep.com.

Fares usually drop the lowest within 45 days of departure.

It is a game. Check every day. Book right away when you do see a good price b/c they sell out fast & are only available for a limited time period.

Be aware that once you book you are usually locked in - so if prices go even lower still you are stuck w/ the higher rate.

 

[Timbo]

i'm not going to the end of October and I booked with Air Tran out of Philly. I was able to book for $75.00 each way. It's always a gamble but I can live with $150.00 round trip.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Originally posted by daboyzmom
Does anyone have experience booking flight? When is the best time to book flights? I have been watching certain flight for a couple of weeks now and they haven't changed much. Until today. Do you think it has anything to do with the upcoming disney 7/5 deal coming out and do you think they might go back down again or continue up?? Any info appreciated!!!

I am a very inexperienced flyer. (DH flys 6-8 times a year for work but since he doesn't have to worry about the cost of the airfare we never pay attention). I surely don't know how to play the "airfare games".

Anyway, last year was the first time I'd flown in 10 years. We (me, DH & DD) got roundtrip non-stop tickets from Indy to Orlando on ATA for $720. I thought that was OK. I bought my tickets in May as soon as we had our October trip booked.

For this year's trip I figured I'd buy my tickets in May or June. I'd been watching the airfare for the same flight we took last year and it was running about $680 for the 3 of us. Well, I hadn't checked it in several weeks and when I did last week it had jumped to $960! I called ATA and their fares are based on availability ... so the flights I was looking at were getting full and the price was going up.

We decided to fly out one day earlier, leaving Friday am instead of Saturday am. We bought our tickets and saved about $300 but now we have to spend another night at the Poly. Oh man, what torture. I feel better spending that money to get something rather than spending it on 'nuttin' ... my flight isn't going to be any different if I pay $680 or $960.

Debbie

 

[Minky]

I am a bit of a seasoned flyer so I can share my tips with you guys and hope it helps, its always worked for me...

There IS a cheapest day to fly, that is Wed!
Its cheaper and generally a slow travel day

NEVER buy tickets on the weekend and here is why:
Airlines start a bidding war on THURSDAYS, so there prices will go up through the weekend, but by Sunday another airline jumps in WAY cheaper to snag the business and THEN the other airlines try to beat them...this happens by Sunday night to Monday generally then this process is repeated on Thursday

It does pay to just constantly keep checking the websites...I make a game out of it, and Sundays about 1am are usually a great time to snag a deal

Hope this helps someone!
Minky

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Here's the kicker though. Gas prices are projected to go up, WDW is expected to fill up, and less people are expected to drive. All that said the tickets might get cheaper at some point but the seats you want might also all be gone. You may end up with a connection in some out of the way place. I booked my flights 100 days out and they were both almost full. I paid $228 each round trip direct from Dallas.