Flight prices for 2/5 seem high! Should I wait to book?

[treloarf]

Trying to book a flight for Sat. 2/5 - it seems that the prices are high - will they be offering a special soon or is that when people start going south for the winter????

Was wondering if I should wait to book?

 

[Ms. Belle]

I've been looking at flights too and they are really high. It is school vacation time in CT. I'm not sure about these rest of the country, I'd be curious.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

February is prime time for Florida air travel. The demand is high from travelers and this supports higher fares. And the expectation is that there will be an up-surge in air travel after the first of the year, continuing for the rest of 2005...

It depends how much you really want to go... You may want to try flying mid-week to mid-week rather than departing on a Saturday. That might positively affect your air fare.

 

[Sammy]

I'm in the same boat....looking for airfare Feb 26 through Mar 6. I'm kicking myself for not booking JetBlue out of BOS back in the summer when it was $79 ea way, but our plans were not firm then. Now, their cheapest flight is $116 to MCO and then $156 back to BOS. Ouch! We did manage to catch a fare sale this past Feb., but it didn't show up until January.

I'm giving it until the end of this month because that's when most of the current specials are booking through. At that point, special or not, I'll probably book with one of the airlines that gives credits when the fares go down (Jetblue, SWA, etc), and hope that the fares eventually go down. We can use the credits for a future flight. I just don't want to take a chance in not being able to find <i>anything</i> at all.....we are going on a cruise and I can't miss the boat!

Good luck!
Sammy

 

[Chicago526]

Check if your dates of travel fall on or near President's Day, a lot of people take advantage of school being closed to take weekend trips, and FL is a popular choice. If your dates are on P-Day, then I wouldn't wait too long, the flights will fill up and the airlines won't have incentive to drop their fares. You'll wind up paying even more or not going at all because the flights are sold out.

 

[jcemom]

Try ITA Software. They're showing USAir as low as $140 RT leaving on February 6 right now if you're flexible at all, $180 leaving on the 5th though it's with Delta. That's the best I've seen recently. I don't know what your return date is though, so I couldn't check your exact dates.

 

[treloarf]

We really wanted to leave on Sunday 2/13, but can leave on 2/12. We want to visit my MIL after our cruise & she lives in Sarasota. But it seems Airtran is now also high for those travel times.

Do you think flights will come down?

 

[jcemom]

Hmmm...yes, it looks like they went back up again. If I were you I would keep checking, as often as possible. There have been quite a few one-day sales in the past week. If you see something you can live with...take it ASAP.

 

[treloarf]

Thanks for your help - what is really weird for USAir is when I check the seat availability (via Orbitz) the plane is EMPTY.

I'm going to keep checking for a week or 2.Have the sales been thru AirTran - I hate to betray poor USAir & my neighbors who work for them.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by treloarf
Thanks for your help - what is really weird for USAir is when I check the seat availability (via Orbitz) the plane is EMPTY.

I'm going to keep checking for a week or 2.Have the sales been thru AirTran - I hate to betray poor USAir & my neighbors who work for them.

It's no wonder the seats are empty with the prices they're charging... Yes, the sales have all been through AirTran. Yesterday's fare was the lowest I've seen from USAir in months and it was a Sunday departure that wouldn't have worked for you.

 

[treloarf]

I found a flight into Tampa for Fri & return on Sunday for $215 & their direct. I really wanted to fly into Orlando on Sat. before our cruise but the air is so high - I guess I'll just drive an extra hour and 1/2 to save the bucks.

I still may wait for a week to see if anything looks better. I'm almost positive that the flights were less expensive for Jan/Feb timeframe last year.

 

[metivier]

Check Independence Air as they have a decent sale going on right now -- it's for travel through February 15.

 

[Cmbar]

Just wanted to remind you that Superbowl Sunday is Feb 6th in Jacksonville. I know that is two hours north of Orlando, but it may be the bail out airport since there are TONS more flights that fly into Orlando than Jacksonville. THat would most likely be the day of travel for most people flying in just for the superbowl. I am expecting Sat the 5th to be crowded and therefore I also expect it not to come down in price.

Good luck!