Flying in Dec should you buy tickets now or wait?

[Selket]

I booked a trip for December and we need to fly down from the Washington, DC area. Should I book airfare this far out or wait until a bit closer to get the best airfare?

 

[Keacc]

We booked our December air fares back in February for $223 round trip. Today those same flights will cost you over $500. I always buy early. As the flight fills up, the prices go up.

 

[Jestocost]

Depends on when in December, IMO. If you are traveling over the actual Christmas holiday period or close to it, I would agree with the PP that you would be advised to consider purchasing your tickets ASAP. The number of seats available today is significantly lower than it was a few years ago and those flights will be packed, so the airlines won't be under pressure to lower rates to fill seats.

If you are traveling in the first two weeks of the month, on the other hand, you may be able to pick up some better fares as the dates get closer. No guarantees on that, however, so your tolerance for playing the game and/or your capacity to pay higher fares if prices go up come into play.

My bottom line generally is that if you find fares that fit your budget and your schedule, buy them.

 

[kevgraub]

I booked a trip for December and we need to fly down from the Washington, DC area. Should I book airfare this far out or wait until a bit closer to get the best airfare?

That is a lot like asking whether now is a good time to get in the stock market. It might go up in the next few months, it might go down in the next few months. It really is impossible to say.

Although it is sometimes true that as a flight fills up, the prices go up; it is similarly true that if a flight sits fairly empty as the departure date approaches, they will lower the fares to fill the plane. The lower fares might be on a limited number of seats, so if you see a price drop, don't wait around too long or it may go right back up.

I think the only really good advice I have ever gotten on airfare bookings is that once I see a price that I am comfortable with and think is fair, book it.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

If you use Southwest, you can always buy now and then get a credit if the fare goes lower. We bought our tickets in April and the price dropped in May. We rebooked our trip and saved about $75! Southwest issued us a credit and we have one year to use it on our next trip. It's not helpful if don't plan on flying anywhere in the next year, but it works for us.

 

[henderkm]

Not sure if the same holds true for D.C., but I was looking at fares on Southwest Airlines for December 18 to Orlando. When I first looked, one way was $162. I looked a few days later and the same flight was $229. We finally made up our minds that we wanted to fly and when I checked 3 days later, the flight I wanted to take was sold out. My other option was to book a flight with 1 1/2 hour layover in New Orleans putting me in Florida three hours later.

I guess it depends on what time of the month you're travelling and whether you have your heart set on a certain flight like we did.