Delta Song Feb 06

[bostonlass]

Anyone know when Delta Song might put out their prices for February vacation? Is there a set time, like 6 months prior, or something that they normally use?

 

[debster812]

Delta, like many of the 'legacy' carriers allows you to book 331 days in advance of your flight. Flights for Feb of 2006 will be bookable late March-Early April of this year.

I have my dates circled on my calendar for when I can purchase tickets for next year.

 

[bostonlass]

Thanks! Now....is that 333 days before your return date or your arrival date?

 

[pumpkinboy]

New fares on Delta (including Song) and most of the other "Legacy carriers" come out 331 in advance. So we bought our April '05 tix (school vacation week) in May of '04. Not that the prices were much lower than they are currently for those flights; we just managed to get three of our six fares covered by SkyMiles. At a time when fares go for ~$600 per person r-t (for the best flight times) getting half of our party there for SkyMiles was well worth it.

Actually, after JetBlue's fares came out, I was kicking myself bcs their fares were so much lower than what we paid on Song. If I had waited for JetBlue's fares to come out and bought then, we could have flown for the same amount of money, and kept all our SkyMiles for another trip. Still, since my family prefers Song (slightly) to JetBlue, we're OK with what we got.

 

[debster812]

Thanks! Now....is that 333 days before your return date or your arrival date?

Well....it's both. 331 days prior to the flight. We will be booking our flights on Song as 2 one-way tickets since we will be flying during a peak vacation week here in the Northeast. WE did the same thing last year. Got up in the middle of the night on the 331st day for the outbound flight. Did the same thing 9 days later to book the return.

 

[bostonlass]

Thanks so much! I'd better bulk up on coffee 'cause I"ll be up then too!

 

[debster812]

Thanks so much! I'd better bulk up on coffee 'cause I"ll be up then too!

See, I'm very lucky. My DH gets up for work at 3am so he is actually the one that does this for us............

 

[bostonlass]

New fares on Delta (including Song) and most of the other "Legacy carriers" come out 331 in advance. So we bought our April '05 tix (school vacation week) in May of '04. Not that the prices were much lower than they are currently for those flights; we just managed to get three of our six fares covered by SkyMiles. At a time when fares go for ~$600 per person r-t (for the best flight times) getting half of our party there for SkyMiles was well worth it.

Actually, after JetBlue's fares came out, I was kicking myself bcs their fares were so much lower than what we paid on Song. If I had waited for JetBlue's fares to come out and bought then, we could have flown for the same amount of money, and kept all our SkyMiles for another trip. Still, since my family prefers Song (slightly) to JetBlue, we're OK with what we got.

Do you know when Jet Blue's fares come out? I missed the date last year so although I did book with them for April I ended up getting about $300 round trip instead of their real low fare that they sometimes have.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Well....it's both. 331 days prior to the flight. We will be booking our flights on Song as 2 one-way tickets since we will be flying during a peak vacation week here in the Northeast. WE did the same thing last year. Got up in the middle of the night on the 331st day for the outbound flight. Did the same thing 9 days later to book the return.

A question, Debster: did you save anything for booking at 331 days, or have the fares been pretty much the same since you booked?
As I mentioned, fares for our flights in April have been pretty much the same since they came out. They came out at $300 each way, went down to $287 briefly (so not worth the change fee), then back to $300; they were all gone by end-January. I am hoping we will actually save something when we book February '06, or maybe get some more SkyMiles direct flights.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Do you know when Jet Blue's fares come out? I missed the date last year so although I did book with them for April I ended up getting about $300 round trip instead of their real low fare that they sometimes have.

I wish I could predict when they were coming out! They can be a big money saver for a great direct flight. Tho with Magical Express coming, I think Song becomes even more attractive from my perspective.

 

[debster812]

A question, Debster: did you save anything for booking at 331 days, or have the fares been pretty much the same since you booked?
As I mentioned, fares for our flights in April have been pretty much the same since they came out. They came out at $300 each way, went down to $287 briefly (so not worth the change fee), then back to $300; they were all gone by end-January. I am hoping we will actually save something when we book February '06, or maybe get some more SkyMiles direct flights.

pumpkinboy--our RT tickets for February vacation week, BOS to RSW (Ft Myers) were $249 for direct non-stop. By the time both legs of the trip were available, the RT was up over $600!!!!! It came down a little bit for about a week, but held pretty steady between $450-$600. Both planes were full. I would love to fly JetBlue, but just can't risk missing the good prices on Song, and not getting 'great' prices on Jetblue because none of us know when they will release dates.

This year should be a bit easier--we are flying BOS-MCO, and then RSW-BOS (5 days at Disney, 6 days in Ft Myers)

 

[KilleriMac17]

we booked song on dec 24th for april 22-30th, at that time for 2 people round trip came to $470 total, now, the prices bobble between $830-$1070.
and everytime we priced jetblue for this trip,or our trip in oct, jet blue is always twice as much as song, and the times are not as good.

 

[DANAW]

I think you have a better chance of getting a good airfare if you book really early, but with the financial trouble Delta is in, I am afraid to book them a year in advance! I know I wouldnt lose my $$, but we are picky about flight times & having non stop flights, and I wouldnt want to be switched if Delta went under.

 

[Jillpie]

Thanks so much! I'd better bulk up on coffee 'cause I"ll be up then too!

We booked our April flights 331 days out and believe me, if you are not on that phone at exactly the stroke of midnight, you won't get the low fares. Also, if you get a rep. that is not in this time zone, hang up quickly and try again. They won't have our fares on their computer yet and minutes are precious to get the lowest fares. I finally got a rep. to talk to, and by 12:20 am, the lowest fares were gone. So heed my warning, stay on hold at least by 11:55 pm, 331 days prior to your desired flight. School vacations are nuts!!! Good luck.

 

[seashoreCM]

Sometime you can book on line the afternoon of the 332'nd day out. Try in the evening too.

There is no special February vacation fare. On the 331'st or 332'nd or 330'th day out generally all you see are the everyday low prices (U class on Delta/Song) if any are left. At random times thereafter there may be fare war fares (T class) although usually the dates where the U fares were exhausted won't show any T fares.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I think you have a better chance of getting a good airfare if you book really early, but with the financial trouble Delta is in, I am afraid to book them a year in advance! QUOTE]

USAIR still hanging on years later, United has filed bankruptcy, American was walking in the door to file bankruptcy before pilots gave flesh. Barring an economic meltdown which would affect all carriers, Delta seems a pretty good bet. Or is there something the general public doesn't know?

 

[DANAW]

I wouldnt call any airline in serious financial difficulty a good bet...we booked Southwest. Jet Blue is also in good shape.

 

[debster812]

I wouldnt call any airline in serious financial difficulty a good bet...we booked Southwest. Jet Blue is also in good shape.

And that's great for you. I know if I am flying offpeak times, my choices are in this order:

JetBlue
SWA
Song.

But for flying out of the Northeast during February School vacation week, I will ALWAYS book with Delta (as long as they are flying) to get to FL, since I can get a flight I am happy with pricewise, for times that work for us, and do not have to play the 6-9 month waiting game for JetBlue and SWA.

I think once these financial issues are worked out, you will see a sort of 'survival of the fittest' and the companys that have survived their Chapter 11 or 13 will be stronger and better run.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[muntzfab4]

From what I have read on these boards (and someone can correct me if I am wrong), booking 331 days in advance works well if you are redeeming frequent flyer miles. It helps to ensure the flight you want during peak travel times. I booked in August for April spring break and got an awesome price on Song from NYC to MCO. But this year I will be up to midnight, 331 day in advance, to book next year's trip because I have enough FF miles for 2 free tickets!

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm thinking of trying to get down to WDW for Feb vacation in '06 with just dd. So, we fly Song out of Boston. I always book as early as humanly possible, at the 331 mark. Could any of you that have been there/done that let me know ballpark figures for what you paid for airfare? And with booking with Song, should I be getting up at midnight to get a decent fare on day 331? This is a first for me and I don't want to (nor can I afford to) pay $400 per person for airfare!!!