Good flight price from DC area?

[KangaFan]

Hi!

We're planning a trip at the end of Jan and have driven for all but one of our previous trips. We're thinking of flying this time but don't really know when to book tickets. Anyone know what flights have been running? What price point or lower would you say it was time to book?

Thanks!

 

[brios86]

I always pay around $200 round trip from IAD. I've paid as low as $180 and as much as $220. I've flown in December, October, September, July and August.

 

[vicki_c]

From BWI (probably too far for you), we aim for RT flights <$200. We fly Southwest or AirTran. That has mostly been in November, January and once in June.

I have paid as little as $150 RT and as much as $300 RT in the past few years. Wish I could find a $150 RT right now for my trip in October, but they are closer to $300.

Experts here seem to suggest flights are lowest about 3 months out, but I normally could never wait that long. Try the fare predictor on bing.com - it gives a prediction on whether you should buy now or wait. Also don't buy on the weekend, but mid-week (I think Tuesday is the recommended day).

 

[PlutoPony]

Dulles is down to maybe 3 non-stops per day to Orlando, all on United. So prices out of there have gone up unfortunately. You have a few more choices out of National and BWI but I did not find them to be much better in price - but that could have been because I was looking at a holiday weekend.

Vicki - I just got < $300 in a group rate for October and was wondering whether to book or wait. It's $40 more than we paid last year. Am guessing a 20% increase from last year from this area is fairly normal?

 

[brios86]

I notice that. We used to fly JetBlue. We are going united in September and paying $220.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Currently planning a long weekend trip in September and finding flights out of IAD around $200 (non stop on United).

DCA is running slightly higher but with more airlines offering non stop service...I'm checking out options and comparing it with the person I'll be traveling with (coming from Houston) to see if we can arrive at the same time...but I should be able to get away with roundtrip for less than $300.

 

[Missyrose]

I've sadly switched from IAD to DCA because JetBlue moved all its nonstop flights to Orlando. I've bought tickets for both my upcoming trips the day JetBlue extended its schedule.

October (6-12): $195 RT each for two people

January (26-Feb. 2): $250 RT each for two people

I have Yapta set up for the JetBlue flights and United flights for my January dates and they're both at around $250 RT right now.

Edited to add: The lowest I've seen the United flights go is $211 RT. FYI.

 

[vicki_c]

Dulles is down to maybe 3 non-stops per day to Orlando, all on United. So prices out of there have gone up unfortunately. You have a few more choices out of National and BWI but I did not find them to be much better in price - but that could have been because I was looking at a holiday weekend.

Vicki - I just got < $300 in a group rate for October and was wondering whether to book or wait. It's $40 more than we paid last year. Am guessing a 20% increase from last year from this area is fairly normal?

Yes, sadly, it seems to be. I'm going to keep watching for something cheaper for our possible October trip (we have a bounce back offer booked), but we may just cancel. It was only a long weekend, and I can't justify $1200 for the 4 of us. The Bing fare predictor says prices will go down for my dates (10/25 - 10/28), so I'm not giving up yet. I have no greater insight than that. Those are also weekend dates, so if you can fly mid-week, you might get some better prices.

 

[PlutoPony]

Yes, sadly, it seems to be. I'm going to keep watching for something cheaper for our possible October trip (we have a bounce back offer booked), but we may just cancel. It was only a long weekend, and I can't justify $1200 for the 4 of us. The Bing fare predictor says prices will go down for my dates (10/25 - 10/28), so I'm not giving up yet. I have no greater insight than that. Those are also weekend dates, so if you can fly mid-week, you might get some better prices.

We've going earlier in October and have no choice in when we go at all, it's gotta be a specific Friday - Monday unfortunately. Bing shows prices going down for my time as well. But given the number of tickets I need essentially take out multiple fare buckets, I'm not sure Bing is a big help for me..... It's even tougher to time buying group tickets than individual I think!

 

[rwdavis2]

We booked Jet Blue DCA to MCO for November (about 6 weeks ago) and got $180 per person, total. Although Southwest had not released dates yet, similar non stops from BWI were over $300 per person. Decided to book JB without waiting for SW to open up. Southwest out of BWI these days is getting pretty expensive.