Flights

[Trying to Plan]

I am wondering what the optimum time to book flights out from your trip is?

Here is a shortened reason for the question. My family and I were booked for a Dis Cruise on the Dream. Due to husbands work at sea, we had to cancel as his 'work' boat wouldn't not be home when the Dream sailed. We decided to scrape the cruise (with heavy hearts) and attempt to do a land vacation. But again, due to his working at sea, we need to book around his landing and sailing which doesn't work well with the 'book everything 6 months out" premise.

We still hope to go in May but when I now look at May flights, the cost is EXTERME compared to a few months ago. We considered driving to the US or just flying out of Halifax.

So in short, since we can't book far out, do you think we can get, or have any experience getting, 'cheap' flights maybe 2-3 months out from a trip? We don't travel often by plane and frankly, I haven't had a vacation I needed a plane for (only fly for work) so I don't know what to expect......

As always, thanks for all the help the DIS provides.......

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you have the option to drive to a USA airport then you should really consider doing that. I rarely book anything early....early for me is about 3 months in advance. That said we are already booked for August 2011. Actually, we have made all our vacay plans for this entire year but only WDW is booked.

Back on topic....we usually fly from Buffalo and book around the 2 month mark. A good general rule, if you are not a fare watcher, is to book as soon as you see a fare that you are happy with. I like to pay around $69 each way but it appears that those prices may be over with. I will be aiming for $79 each way this year. Another advantage to using a US airport is that there are many more options for flight times.

 

[4disneybound]

I'm also planning to fly in May (out of Buffalo rather than Toronto) but have not yet booked flights. I've been watching the fares, but there seems to be little in the the way of non-stop flights, or cheap flights for my dates (May 14 -21) right now. I'm a little nervous about it...what if I don't get a flight? what if I have to pay a higher price to book at the last minute? how can I make the rest of my plans until the flight is confirmed? At the same time I'm hoping to find a half decent deal and save some money. Should I just suck it up and book, or do you think better/cheaper flights from Buffalo to Orlando are still to come? Why are there so few direct flights? What to do,what to do!

 

[KB'sMom]

We booked flights for our January trip at the end of November. Managed return flights at just over $400/peron.

 

[Tinkershelly]

I always fly out of Halifax and have used US based carriers exclusively for the last 10 years or so. I usually book flights about 2-3 months out for the best deals. Check out this thread for more strategies for getting the best prices from Atlantic Canada http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2419870
Many people who post on this thread are quite creative about this and you might be able to get a better deal with a drive/fly combo through an airport in New England.

I'm on the lookout for late September myself.

 

[gilsan]

Check out Kayak.com they have a great search for flights that include a lot of US carriers that I normally wouldn't think to check.

I personally have found that booking flights a round 3 months gets a good price or 1 month-1 week prior to trip can also get a good price if you can stomach waiting

 

[4disneybound]

Ok Southwest flights out of Buffalo for my dates in May are down to $119 each way. For 4 of us that is just under $1000.
Do you think it will likely go lower than this, or should I book now before I lose the price? Decisions, decisions!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Ok Southwest flights out of Buffalo for my dates in May are down to $119 each way. For 4 of us that is just under $1000.
Do you think it will likely go lower than this, or should I book now before I lose the price? Decisions, decisions!

Look at it this way....are you comfortable paying $119? If yes, then book it. If no then you have to play the waiting game. There again, are you comfortable waiting?

It's hard to know what the best price is because at some point the prices will rise and the days of $59 fares will be gone...which I think they are now. I feel that I got a great price if it's $79-$89. Gosh, I remember back in July 2007 SW was selling BUF-MCO for $34. That was a freakishly low fare but so exciting to see.