Heads up - book good airfare when you find it!!

[JESW]

Wow! I can't believe how quickly rates can change!

When Jet Blue released it's fares for April I jumped and booked for our spring break. I had to fudge the dates a bit - we usually fly sat - sun, but going sun - mon (kids miss one day of school) we "saved" $960. ($164.00/pp - going down.....$194.00/pp - coming back - Total $1508.40)

I know that some say to wait as the dates are so far out and the rates *should* go down. Nothing is guaranteed. I booked our airfare 8/2, today is the 5th and I checked the rates this morning - for the same exact flights the cost has gone up $960.00 - in just 3 days!!! ($299.00 pp/each way - total $2468.40) What's up with that???

I know that vacation times are usally more expensive (we paid a fortune in 2005 as we had to be down there for the cruise on a certain day) but I didn't know the cost would fluctuate so much and so quickly!

Jill

 

[bicker]

Airfares going down over time may become an artifact of the past. It indicates poor forecasting on the part of the airline. I suspect that many airlines are now focusing on this waste, and seeking to eliminate it.

 

[*Belle*]

I have to agree, buy as soon as you see a rate you can be happy with. I thought of waiting for Jet Blue for spring break (really love those TV'S).
In talking with the family, we decided to bring our own movies and entertainment and book with Delta for $257.00 round trip per person.
We are so glad we did, as the price with great times and non stop has not dropped in price.

 

[faindrops27]

Well I booked swa, 2 months ago. I was terrified, prices would not drop. So, for 2 rt tickets from Islip Long island to Mco. 375. I thought that was more than decent! Less than 200 a piece. Well, then sw gave another price drop, I have rebooked twice. The price, i have now. Is 202, r/t for me, and my son!! I have never flown for so low. I am truly besides myself!! My thinking is book early, but keep watching. You never know, if prices will drop, and if they dont. You got a good deal anyway.

 

[pppiglet]

I don't know that I got a great price, but my May 2007 flights have gone up $60 a piece so far since I booked them last month.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

We already booked our flight for January for just that reason! We found a roundtrip nonstop flight for $202 per person---Thats just a $24 difference than what we paid for our last flight and that flight had a 2 hour layover!!

And the last time around I hunted for cheap flights! I mean I signed up for every alert known to man and when we found the $178 pp we jumped on it!

This time around I found a great flight fairly quickly and DH was practically screaming "buy it" at me so we did!

Even though we don't leave for over 5 months!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I thought $397 rt from LAX to MCO was too high for next May. Most on the transportation board said to wait until a few months before May. Well, fares have sky-rocketed! Oh well, live and learn. If I can get $400 rt I'll be happy at this point!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Watching Jet Blue fares and they are still 299 each way from JFK to MCO for Easter. I doubt they could go any higher - $600+ for a trip to FLa? If it goes higher - we're driving! I hope SW comes out with them soon b/c I REALLY don't want to fly Delta again.

 

[zulaya]

I think it's very hit or miss nowadays. I was lucky enough to see the Delta sale yesterday and bought at $168 RT before it jumped later in the afternoon to $303.

I think the poster who mentioned forecasting is right on. I bet the airlines are trying to walk the fine line with making money but no losing customers. Sun Country has been the same price for months, literally, to the dollar. If Delta hadn't dropped for a few hours, I would be probably be sitting here for a while longer for my December trip, hoping and wondering what would happen.

 

[Donald is #1]

Wow! I can't believe how quickly rates can change!

When Jet Blue released it's fares for April I jumped and booked for our spring break. I had to fudge the dates a bit - we usually fly sat - sun, but going sun - mon (kids miss one day of school) we "saved" $960. ($164.00/pp - going down.....$194.00/pp - coming back - Total $1508.40)

I know that some say to wait as the dates are so far out and the rates *should* go down. Nothing is guaranteed. I booked our airfare 8/2, today is the 5th and I checked the rates this morning - for the same exact flights the cost has gone up $960.00 - in just 3 days!!! ($299.00 pp/each way - total $2468.40) What's up with that???

I know that vacation times are usally more expensive (we paid a fortune in 2005 as we had to be down there for the cruise on a certain day) but I didn't know the cost would fluctuate so much and so quickly!

Jill

JESW,
You definitely timed it right! Jet Blue had a 3 day sale this week and you booked your tickets during the sale. Excellent timing & have a great trip!

 

[laughinplace199]

Wow! I can't believe how quickly rates can change!

When Jet Blue released it's fares for April I jumped and booked for our spring break. I had to fudge the dates a bit - we usually fly sat - sun, but going sun - mon (kids miss one day of school) we "saved" $960. ($164.00/pp - going down.....$194.00/pp - coming back - Total $1508.40)
Jill

I know what you mean. The dates we wanted for April were $617 pp! We changed our dates to Mon-Mon instead of Sat-Sat and got $327 pp. I'm so happy we booked when we did because I just checked JetBlue's website and my $327 flight is now $617.

 

[DisMN]

zulaya, you're kidding, Delta prices are back up again? I don't dare go look now that I got in on the $168 rate too.......am always afraid to find it LESS somewhere. LOL

How fast the prices change sometimes, eh? Wow.

 

[bettyann29]

I totally agree when you see a flight at a good price, grab it.. I was going to go on solo trip to WDW over labor day weekend so when I saw the dates I wanted at $171 rt I grabbed it.. DF decided a few days later he wanted to go with me, so I went back and tried to get that same price.. I had to pay $274 for his ticket!! He's sitting in the seat right next to me!! What a difference a few days makes..

 

[Ava31]

I've been watching DFW to MCO from 12/27 - 1/3 every day, multiple times a day and it's insane how erratic the airfare is. The same flight can cost $280 one day and then the next day it will be up to $370. I'm still rolling the dice, though. Hopefully, my gambling will pay off eventually!

 

[bicker]

Airfare isn't really as erratic as it seems sometimes: Typically, airlines have set inventories for individual discount fare classes (B, C, G, H, K, L, M, N, Q, S, V, W for American Airlines, for example). The low low fare you see may only be for a couple of slots on the flight. After those fares are purchased, the next-lowest fare typically is what you'll see presented.

 

[MomofCKJ]

When you can book early I say do it!

We booked our December tickets Boston to Orlando back in February. I got us Delta non stops for $177 each way. I was VERY happy and I have not seen them that low (for non stops at good times) since. I needed 5 so it was $880 which was really good I thought.

Allyson

 

[mygyky]

I REALLY don't want to fly Delta again.

I don't blame you. Just flew Delta this week to ATL and what a nightmare. Delayed flights, wrong information. It wasn't a lot of fun.

I got our SWA flights from MHT to MCO for our November Disney trip the day they came out in July. $640 for the 3 of us. Prices are now up to $994 for 3. I think we did pretty well for that. Will wait to see if there are any Dings for our flights, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Tinkim]

I don't blame you. Just flew Delta this week to ATL and what a nightmare. Delayed flights, wrong information. It wasn't a lot of fun.

I got our SWA flights from MHT to MCO for our November Disney trip the day they came out in July. $640 for the 3 of us. Prices are now up to $994 for 3. I think we did pretty well for that. Will wait to see if there are any Dings for our flights, but I won't hold my breath.

I'm in NH too and looking to possibly fly SWA out of MHT in Feb/Mar. How did you know when SWA released the next batch of dates? I know I will have to be on the computer that day with credit card in hand and ready to buy but not sure what the quickest way to come by that info is. I have read the boards here with the historical dates when SWA opened the schedule for Feb and I am assuming mid-September but I'm thinking I may hear about it an hour or two after the fact and the good fares will be gone. I am thinking I will have to keep checking every hour or so every day but hoping there was a better way. Thanks!

 

[eeyore45]

The other thing about buying early from some of the "major" airlines (like AA) they hooked me on the price and time, knowing I would pay the SW price and time - when AA came out, I jumped, then AA kept canceling that early flight - which was why I booked them in the first place!! i"ve also read how Delta does that too!!

most annoying!

 

[tolookaa5]

I just got my airfare two weeks ago out of Allegiant Air of Worcester.
It was $99.00/one way. It cost me $859 r/t for 4 of us. They are nonstop flights. They have set flights, TH/Fri/Sun/Mon. Their times are set in stone too. They do not have times to choose from. Also, they fly into Sanford so I have to rent a car which I planned on doing anyway.