Flight Ressies. When?

[rayelias]

Since we're making ressies for our DVC stay at 11 months out, at what point do you normally make your flight reservations?

I'm planning our first trips "home", and I'm not normally a "planner" for vacations. Before DVC, most of our Disney trips were made 30 days out. I've learned that our favorite airline (Southwest) will only book roughly 6 months in advance.

Has getting flight reservations been an issue for anyone? Any suggestions?

Also - when do you typically make ground transportation reservations? (we usually hire a towncar)

THANKS VERY MUCH! We can't wait to visit our new home! OKW here we come!

 

[DebbieB]

I only book flights close to the departure date, waiting for a good deal. I don't have flights for our May trip yet. I keep watching the websites and am usually lucky enough to grab a sale. For our December 4 trip last month, I bought them on 10/1.

 

[debloco]

For most airlines, you can book 330 days out from your return date. This is important if you would like to use frequent flyer miles to get your tickets, especially if you want to fly during peak travel times. The airlines seem to have cut back on the number of seats available with miles, so calling (right after midnight) 330 days out is often the only way to snag seats for holiday/spring break/popular destination travel. From what you have said, the policy at Southwest is different, only being able to book 6 months out. If you are paying for your tickets, you could buy right away at the best price you can find now (for peace of mind), or you can set up a "watch" on Orbitz with your dates and destination to see if you can get a better fare closer to your travel dates. Riskier, but who knows? You could save a bundle if there's a fare war! Or you could end up paying more than what you could have bought tickets for now if prices keep going up. Or maybe the flight times you wanted are no longer available at a price you're willing to pay. Either way, it's not the most fun game to play when the airlines set and change the prices and you never get to see the rules they use to play by!

CLC Tiger Pom Mom

 

[bbowers]

If I care about the travel times (we fly from a small airport, so sometimes don't have many options), then I make my reservations out as soon as I've locked in my dates. It was a bummer this time because of the cuts following Delta's new pricing, but I REALLY wanted that evening flight and there's only the one, so I'm not too upset.

If I don't care about the times too much, then I wait, looking for a deal.

I'm already spec'ing out our Alaska cruise and Hawaii vacation flights, having a few travel sites send me notices of prices. I'm saving those emails so I can see what normal pricing is during the year, and that way I'll know when a good price comes out and I can hop on it without worrying it will be substantially cheaper next week. We've never been to either place, so I had no idea what sort of prices to look for.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

RAYELIAS

We use southwest all the time, I suggest you keep checking their website, they have specials all the time, from new england to fla we get alot of $49.00 oneway specs. I have booked at 6 months, checked repeatly for sales and have actually cancelled and rebooked tickets when they go on sale, with southwest if you are 14 days prior to travel you don't pay a penaty. also i've found customer service very polite and helpful in talking me thru how to do this.
good luck - happy travels
deb