Did I Wait Too Long?

[SandyinMonterey]

Going to WDW in April. Haven't gotten airfare yet. Was hoping (and praying) for better prices. Have I waited too long? What's the latest you've gotten your airfare?

 

[disneymom3]

I have had good luck by purchasing my airfare between Christmas and New Years.

 

[kateheartsdisney]

I usually have the best luck booking VERY close to our travel dates. Two trips last year - 1 we booked about 1.5 months out and one 2 weeks out! The 2 week one I searched for MONTHS and refused to pay out the nose for flights so we didn't even know if we would go! (We were staying with family so hotel etc was not a problem!)

Just make sure you are checking multiple sites every day because it can change just like that!

 

[bjscheel]

I have done alright at 5-6 weeks out.

 

[bumbershoot]

We just bought airfare for January about 1.5 weeks ago.

 

[Mousemom234]

Due to a vehicle breakdown, we ended up having to book a flight a few trips back with just 2 weeks to go. We'd been planning to drive, but the car decided it wanted to vacation at home

It wasn't a busy time - not a school break or holiday, so flights weren't in high demand. We actually got rates that were cheaper by over $100 than when I'd originally priced it 8 months prior.
Of course, the rental car tried hard to make up the difference That was not cheap

 

[wendybeth75]

Airfare watchdog is good about watching fares and emails you with changes. I also have the app. Southwest sales are always on Tuesdays.

 

[Darcy03231]

I've found the best prices now are starting anytime from 8 weeks to 2 weeks before the trip.

The exceptions to that are if you're traveling over a holiday (Christmas, Easter, etc.) or school vacation weeks. Then I've found booking airfare the day it comes out is usually the best price.

Since you're going in April, if its over Easter week (the week before or the week after) or its a school vacation week, don't expect any great deals.

 

[automaticsoap]

You'll be fine. I usually buy mine 2-3 months ahead, unless it's around a major holiday or international.

 

[Pooh2]

We booked flight for our Thanksgiving trip just one week before and paid top dollar. The pair of tickets went down by $550 the week before.. Jetblue gave us a credit for future travel. If I'd had more noticed, I definitely would not wait that long too book though! Especially if it's a school vacation week.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I check many sites many times throughout the day. I must say I just "don't get" sites like Orbitz and Travelocity because I never see a price difference. We're considering Southwest, well I am, not my husband. He wants a guarantee that we sit together ( 8 yr old daughter). Thankfully I have budgeted if we need to pay more in airfare but I'm always wanting that great deal. Thanks everyone. Sounds encouraging. I'm biting my nails over this.

 

[bumbershoot]

I check many sites many times throughout the day. I must say I just "don't get" sites like Orbitz and Travelocity because I never see a price difference. We're considering Southwest, well I am, not my husband. He wants a guarantee that we sit together ( 8 yr old daughter). Thankfully I have budgeted if we need to pay more in airfare but I'm always wanting that great deal. Thanks everyone. Sounds encouraging. I'm biting my nails over this.

Those online TA sites generally do NOT have a better price than the airline does. They just make it harder to make changes if something comes up.

There is NO airline anywhere that will give you a 100% guarantee that you will sit together. IMO SW is the MOST likely to get seats together, because you walk onto the plane and choose your seats. There's no THINKING you've reserved your seats, only to find out they've changed your flight or changed the physical plane, which caused your seats to get scattered to the winds. That nonsense (having my carefully chosen seat changed) is what caused me to start flying SW ages ago, actually.


SW, Jet Blue, and Alaska (and I think Air Tran) are the ones who will give you a credit without charging a fee, if your fare happens to go down. Of course, that only does you good if you will be traveling inside a year of booking (SW and Alaska) or fare change (JB, I think).

 

[maddiebee]

Kayak has a little graph on the side that will show you how prices have been trending and will recommend that you either wait or buy now with a confidence percentage based on how the prices have been fluctuating.

 

[Disney845]

Kayak has a little graph on the side that will show you how prices have been trending and will recommend that you either wait or buy now with a confidence percentage based on how the prices have been fluctuating.

I like the Kayak website and regularly use it to check pricing. However, I do not put any faith in the Price Trend graph. It has not helped me out any. Of course YMMV.

I recently booked a flight for an early January trip. I began price watching about 3 months out. I saw the flight prices rise by over $100 and then remain very steady for weeks, going down maybe $20 or so then back up. The Price Trend graph always seemed to have 79% confidence no matter if it was telling me to buy or wait.

I was obsessive about my searching however, and on a random weekday morning about 2 weeks ago I saw the price drop almost $180. I snatched the tickets immediately (booking direct with the airline). They had gone back up the full $180 I saved by that afternoon.

I think the key is to just be diligent and check daily at various times of the day.

I also think it helps if you draw an imaginary monetary line you are hoping to meet and then do not over think it. For example, I knew I was taking this trip regardless of the price of the airline tickets. I had already booked the non-refundable hotel and bought other non-refundable tickets for the trip while I was hemming and hawing over my airfare. In my mind I was hoping for around $250/pp. I was mostly seeing pricing of around $400/pp. When I saw the price drop to $217/pp I jumped on it immediately, not even giving it a thought that they "may" go even lower because I was hoping to pay $250 anyway.