General Airline Tips please!

[Boardwalk III]

Hi all,

We are flying down to Orlando from Boston the day after Thanksgiving and staying til Sat Dec 6th. Usually I find a Delta non-stop for about $200. On Sat night Orbitz was listing Delta Express flights on those dates for $205 - by Monday they had gone up to $350! I happen to know from a travel agent that the flights have plenty of room - what gives?

So I am in a holding pattern - my question is, is it possible these same flights will go back down in price if I keep checking? Otherwise I'll just wait til some of the discount airlines (SW out of Providence or the new Delta Song) publish thier fares.

Any insight from any of you would be great - thanks!

 

[Aisling]

Since you have time, maybe you should wait and see what happens when Song starts selling tickets on March 31. I know I wold not pay $350 for a ticket unless it was an emergency.

 

[CarolMN]

There is still a lot of time before your departure date. I'd wait (especially since you know SWA will have good prices later).

Good luck!

 

[apagano]

The fares will go up and down at least a dozen times between now and November. I would wait until the next reasonable fare comes along, then grab it.

I'm planning a trip for mid-May of this year and still haven't purchased the airfare. The next big sale should come up any day now.

 

[Mark P.]

I luckily caught a fare of $171 (non-stop on Spirit Air out of Atlantic City),for for mid-may, and went ahead and purchased them. Since then (it's been a couple of months now), the prices have gone up to $210!

 

[lilsonicfan]

Online fares through Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity are volatile (to say the least) - I was looking for flights out of SEA and my friends booked for $250 US, then the next day when i went to book, it went up by $75! I panicked until one day i saw it had gone down again. A friend who is a travel agent said that the airlines sell blocks of seats to these companies and the price will fluctuate wildly; a certain price may only be offered for one transaction a day or something like that.

So I agree with apagano. And if you like Orbitz or whatever, check EVERY day

 

[Ted and Holly]

Orbitz prices fluctuate by the minute. They will go back down, you WILL see that fare or better by November! My advice is to check orbitz several times a day (sneak a peek whenever you can) and if you see a fare you can live with, JUMP on it! I have lost good rates by taking the time to call Ted at work to double check before booking, and within that 5 mintues, the rate was gone!

Holly

 

[Boardwalk III]

Thanks Everyone - just the information I needed!