general flight price ?

[cropper]

How far in advance do you buy your tickets for airfare?
Do you buy and keep watching and if so do you see it go down/up until your trip?
Do you not buy and wish you had when you started looking?

Our trip is in May and I can't decide what to do
There are 6 of us and seems the price goes up on person #4 when I play with the websites.
Do i buy 3 and wait on the other 3??
(I feel their algorithms know I keep searching and therefore won't lower my flights)

If it makes any difference...
One way I am looking at is American
Other direction is Southwest or United

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If it were us, we would have bought by now. We'd probably book the first 3 at the lower price, and the next 3 at the next higher price, to make sure we have them (assuming the date, time, price is what we're looking for). Then monitor occasionally to see if the prices have gone down at all. Sometimes it depends on the airline - some don't ever come back down, some do.

 

[sponica]

I set a mental max price, if the airfare is less than that price, I buy it when I look at prices.

 

[cropper]

If it were us, we would have bought by now.

Daughter just got married on the 19th so I told myself I couldn't think Disney until the wedding was over

 

[Sheryl2059]

Earlier. I tend to see that prices go up unless its really close and they need to fill seats. But then you take the risk of not being able to choose a seat. But if you are basic economy that is not an option anyway.

 

[msmayor]

I've never purchased more than four months or so before my trip. My experience has been that timeframe is the 'sweet spot' for pricing.

 

[_19disnA]

Lots of variables impact airline pricing. If you travel from an airport serviced by many carriers, you will likely find more competition for those flights. Popular travel destinations (i.e. Disney) will typically see demand the year round, so it is less likely discounts will be offered. During peak travel times, airlines can fill seats without offering specials, so when you travel makes a difference. Once the lowest price seats are sold on a given flight, the fare will jump to the next higher category. You will also find the 'best' flights (i.e. non-stops or desirable times of the day to travel) also tend to sell first.

We typically book our flight as soon as we know our vacation plans. Each airline sets their own pricing, so I don't see any advantage is trying to 'time' when/if you think they might offer some sort of discount.

 

[sam_gordon]

How far in advance do you buy your tickets for airfare?
Do you buy and keep watching and if so do you see it go down/up until your trip?
Do you not buy and wish you had when you started looking?

I have bought 11 months out and I've bought 3-4 months months out. It all depends on pricing.

After purchasing, I generally do keep watching prices, BUT, A) Delta (my airline of choice) doesn't have any change fees (neither does Southwest) and B) I won't be super upset if I found out I paid more than what I should have.

Our trip is in May and I can't decide what to do
There are 6 of us and seems the price goes up on person #4 when I play with the websites.
Do i buy 3 and wait on the other 3??
(I feel their algorithms know I keep searching and therefore won't lower my flights)

I would not wait to purchase part of the group. If I wanted to go through the effort, I'd purchase the three in the lower fare bucket, then, basically immediately the other three. I'd then call the airline and get the reservations "linked". What I'd actually do is suck it up and purchase all six on the same reservation, even knowing it will cost more money.
I'd be too concerned that if there are flight changes our group being split up based on reservations. That's me though. Others don't have a problem with it.

If it makes any difference...
One way I am looking at is American
Other direction is Southwest or United

Why not look at all airlines both directions?

Use Google flights (www.google.com/flights). You can search for nearby airports (both directions) and it will track prices for you. Just know the "cheap" prices shown may be "basic economy" (not on SW), and understand what the limitations are for BE (generally no seat assignment, no overhead checked bag).

 

[cropper]

I have checked round trip and they are more than using different airlines each direction.
The sites that watch for prices do seem to be misleading because of the basic economy. And, the cheap flights are never what I am looking for
I was just curious what others experience.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have checked round trip and they are more than using different airlines each direction.
The sites that watch for prices do seem to be misleading because of the basic economy. And, the cheap flights are never what I am looking for
I was just curious what others experience.

You don't have to book a round trip flight, even with the same airline.

 

[FeliciaB23]

When using Google flight tracking, you can specify if you want 1 free carry on; that usually eliminates basic pricing and gives the normal pricing. I’ve been tracking my flight for months - booked my trip down but not the way back yet. I have 81 days to go and am still waiting to book my return flight. Plan to book it within the next month but have found rates go down closer to the date (30-40 days seems to be the sweet spot for NJ to MCO)

 

[JBRB828]

I just booked economy EWR to MCO the other day with UA. I followed with Google flight tracker. I bought RT for 5 people for $1249 +tax To me it was a good price. I always book early and get the seats I want.

 

[elvispursley]

Not sure if this is a thing or not, but my mom told me the Tue after Thanksgiving is called travel Tuesday and flights are supposed to be discounted? Of so, maybe wait until then since your trip is a ways off. Personally, I have to fly my son home from college for Christmas and I’m not waiting til then to book his flight. I already feel “late” in booking his flight home and since we live in Hawaii—airfare her for the holidays is always sky high. But I digress…

 

[cropper]

sorry, I misread your post. "Why not look at all airlines both directions?"
I have looked at all airlines in both directions.
Those are the 2 I am most interested in because of the times

 

[EACarlson]

When using Google flight tracking, you can specify if you want 1 free carry on; that usually eliminates basic pricing and gives the normal pricing. I’ve been tracking my flight for months - booked my trip down but not the way back yet. I have 81 days to go and am still waiting to book my return flight. Plan to book it within the next month but have found rates go down closer to the date (30-40 days seems to be the sweet spot for NJ to MCO)

That only eliminates United. American and Delta include a carry-on in their basic economy offering. You really just have to verify if trying to use Google Flights. Personally I only use Google Flights to see who flies the route I want to take, then go to the airline sites directly to get pricing and book.

To the OP, it really depends on the route your taking and when it is. You say May, but Memorial day weekend is completely different than the first weekend. Prices are only going to go up to MCO for Memorial Day with Universal opening their new park. Historical prices also can't be used. Every major airline has had their labor costs go up 30% in the last couple of years.

 

[cropper]

To the OP You say May, but Memorial day weekend is completely different than the first weekend. Prices are only going to go up to MCO for Memorial Day with Universal opening their new park.

Great point! I am not a Universal follower so I wasn’t aware of that!
It is the week before Memorial Day, leaving on Sunday before the actual Monday of Memorial Day. 17-25

 

[EACarlson]

Great point! I am not a Universal follower so I wasn’t aware of that!
It is the week before Memorial Day, leaving on Sunday before the actual Monday of Memorial Day. 17-25

And I believe Epic Universe opens on 5-22.