Does Jetblue become available at certain dates, like Delta does 331 days in advance?

[Jillpie]

I know Jetblue isn't available 331 days in advance, but I really want to use them next year for April, 2008. So those of you that have taken out of Boston, how did you know the lowest fares became available? That is one thing I love about booking Delta, you know when you can do it with certainty. So, what about Jetblue?

 

[kaytieeldr]

There’s a big difference between fares becoming available, and lowest fares becoming available.

JetBlue releases their fares much closer to the actual flight dates than the legacy airlines, but further in advance than Southwest. There’s no particular schedule, as far as I know, and nobody really studies JetBlue like they do Southwest.

JetBlue’s fares were recently (a week and a half ago or so) extended to include all of September and October. Prior to that, you could only book flights through September 4.

Is that the lowest fares? I fervently hope not – but who knows? It’s a fare I’m comfortable with, competitive with other flights out of Boston during the time I want to fly – so I bought my tickets.

How did I find out about the extension? Right here on the DIS Transportation board!

 

[MinnieFan]

If you do book a flight on Jet Blue, you should keep checking the fares. They will give you a credit if the fare goes down after you book. We have had this happen every time that we have flown on Jet Blue.

 

[Jillpie]

ok, thanks! So you think maybe 7 months out the fares are available then? so for next April, I would be looking about Octoberish? And then, do you check morning and night? Thats why I like Delta so much, ya know exactly when you can book...but I would love those Jetblue tv's!!!

 

[bicker]

Seven months out is a little far out, I think. Like others have said, JetBlue hasn't been studied as much, so the exact timing, if there is any pattern to it, hasn't become common knowledge yet.

 

[michboro]

It is probably closer to 6 months out. Last year I booked Nov. in May.

 

[ToyStory]

We booked the on 12/30 for out trip leaving for Disney on 8/17. You just need to keep watching. We got the lowest fare available but they still might have a sale which could be lower. We booked at $99.00 each (which is the cheapest for us) and the fare is now $119 the flight to MCO and $139.00 on the flight home.

 

[Jillpie]

If you do book a flight on Jet Blue, you should keep checking the fares. They will give you a credit if the fare goes down after you book. We have had this happen every time that we have flown on Jet Blue.

When you say credit, do you mean cash as in money back, or credit toward your next flight?

 

[goofy4tink]

When you say credit, do you mean cash as in money back, or credit toward your next flight?

Credit you would use on future flights.
I just bit the bullet and booked my flights in August. They weren't great fares but I'm flying on Sundays so that doesn't make for cheap fares. And I got the exact times I wanted. Perhaps I'll get lucky and the fares will go down..I'm going again in Dec and can use a credit!! Just used the remaining credit for the Aug trip!!!

 

[Jillpie]

ok, thanks

 

[beachblanket]

There’s no particular schedule, as far as I know, and nobody really studies JetBlue like they do Southwest.

I must be the exception!!

Jetblue does have a standing booking window, and it is month, not day based, running 8 months out. Consequently they are currently allowing bookings through all of October 2007; come midnight Saturday, all of November should open up.

As far as their promotional pricing, there is no pattern as to when it appears and even on what routes. Frankly, JetBlue always amuses me because of some of quirks in their pricing. As example, they are the only airline I know that consistently prices Friday flights below Saturday!!

 

[RainbowsMist]

For our trip from BOS to MCO I booked with Delta at the 331 day window last year and it turned out to be the cheapest fare right up 'til the day we left.

I honestly don't see how you can make plans for a vacation without knowing exactly when your flight is? I've often wonder how those people that wait until the 11th hour can make such definite plans without knowing for sure they have their flight? Especially for accommodations. What happens if you book to arrive on a Friday but after waiting so long and the flight comes out only to find out no flights for that day or they are REALLY pricey?

With our luck we wouldn't be able to adjust our accommodations.

Personally I just like knowing well in advance my exact plans. Less stress on my part.

 

[beachblanket]

For our trip from BOS to MCO I booked with Delta at the 331 day window last year and it turned out to be the cheapest fare right up 'til the day we left.

I honestly don't see how you can make plans for a vacation without knowing exactly when your flight is? I've often wonder how those people that wait until the 11th hour can make such definite plans without knowing for sure they have their flight? Especially for accommodations. What happens if you book to arrive on a Friday but after waiting so long and the flight comes out only to find out no flights for that day or they are REALLY pricey?

With our luck we wouldn't be able to adjust our accommodations.

Personally I just like knowing well in advance my exact plans. Less stress on my part.

You are bringing up an interesting issue here, that of "should I go with a legacy airline at 330/331 days, or hold out for a discounter at the 8 month or less range?"

Unfortunately, there's no easy, straightforward answer to that question.

As example, I'm currently watching fares for a 2/08 trip. The "legacy carriers" window for our dates opens up this weekend. The lowest fares I'm seeing from those lines a few days in advance of the window opening are actually not bad, in the $230-$240 range - but those are for non direct flights at very early or late hours. Anything non-stop during prime time during that period is much more expensive.

Now, I too would love to settle this now and have my plans finalized far in advance.

However, the discount carriers -- who I can't book until July at the earliest -- are currently showing rates (for fall 2007, not next winter) that are generally a little more than the lowest legacy ones -- but those are for nonstop flights during decent hours. Of course, If I do wait to try and book those this summer, there's no guarantee the prices they'll be offering for flights next February won't be higher.

So, do I take the less attractive but clearly affordable bird in hand...

....or do I wait to try and get a better product, albeit one that could possibly end up being more expensive?

A classic airfare quandry!!!!

 

[Jillpie]

For our trip from BOS to MCO I booked with Delta at the 331 day window last year and it turned out to be the cheapest fare right up 'til the day we left.

I honestly don't see how you can make plans for a vacation without knowing exactly when your flight is? I've often wonder how those people that wait until the 11th hour can make such definite plans without knowing for sure they have their flight? Especially for accommodations. What happens if you book to arrive on a Friday but after waiting so long and the flight comes out only to find out no flights for that day or they are REALLY pricey?

With our luck we wouldn't be able to adjust our accommodations.

Personally I just like knowing well in advance my exact plans. Less stress on my part.

I couldn't agree more with you! I am just like you, I like to book my flight that far in advance, and then I can breathe. But, I sure do miss the Song flights and those great tv's! Not sure if I want to risk the nice low Delta fares I've always gotten, for the tv's on Jetblue though. Hmmm...what to do. I have a feeling I'll go with Delta again, especially since this is busy April school vacation time. I wish Jetblue would post the flights like Delta does!!