HELP! I need advice on flights.

[MYD714]

I tried to book flights today, but by the time I was able to get to the computer the flights on Southwest were outrageously expensive for our dates (Dec. 26th-Jan.2nd). As I paused to contemplate my dilemma, the prices went up again.

There are only two flights available on the 26th now.

We've never gone for Christmas, but in previous years I've seen reasonable flights available for these Christmas dates in August. I don't know if I should jump on the expensive flights, or wait until later in the year in hopes of getting a better price.

Anyone have experience with this?

Is it normal that almost all flights are booked on the 26th at this point?
What are my chances of getting a cheaper flight later...or any flight at all?


This is the first time that our schedule allows us to go to Disney for Christmas and I feel like it's not going to happen now.

TIA

 

[Ranger111]

Book it....why not?

IIRC, you can change your mind on SW and "sort of" get your $$$, back, right?

I mean, maybe not in hand, but toward later flight, etc....So, you could keep checking prices. Prices go down, cancel and quickly rebook???

does that work? I think it does...or maybe you do not even need to cancel....

Of course, if prices are never going to get any better....but then, that is why booking airfare is so fun...

Some people here would know better than I, but if you are set on SW, no reason not to book now that I could see.

Personally, I avoid SW nowadays, as their prices never seem competitive, but, if you like them, again, why not?

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

We have gone for Christmas for the past 2 years flying Southwest and have never paid these prices. We are waiting for the prices to come down. Last year I booked the day the flights were released and the prices were normal for awhile. I even changed my flight in August and the prices were the same. The year before that we booked in October and the prices were good. I have no idea what is going on now. But I am waiting it out. I booked a one way to Tampa but I am most likely going to cancel that.

 

[Greysword]

Book it....why not?

IIRC, you can change your mind on SW and "sort of" get your $$$, back, right?

I mean, maybe not in hand, but toward later flight, etc....So, you could keep checking prices. Prices go down, cancel and quickly rebook???

does that work? I think it does...or maybe you do not even need to cancel....

Of course, if prices are never going to get any better....but then, that is why booking airfare is so fun...

Some people here would know better than I, but if you are set on SW, no reason not to book now that I could see.

Personally, I avoid SW nowadays, as their prices never seem competitive, but, if you like them, again, why not?

what the?....

Ok, so to filter this advice a bit , current FAA rules require an airline to provide a refund 24 hours after ticket purchase. As such if you buy today, you'll have a day to get a full refund.

This notice provides guidance to U.S. and foreign air carriers regarding compliance with the customer service rule that requires carriers to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty (the “24-hour reservation requirement”).

Second, have you looked at airfares on other carriers? I would suggest Hipmunk, as they are not a travel agency and any fare you click on will connect you to the carrier's website. Also, they use the best airline search tool available (ITAMatrix).

Oh, and Christmas is still seven months away. Keep an eye on the prices and book when you are comfortable.

Good luck!

 

[Ranger111]

what the?....

Ok, so to filter this advice a bit , current FAA rules require an airline to provide a refund 24 hours after ticket purchase. As such if you buy today, you'll have a day to get a full refund.

Chris, I get you, and with United, Delta, etal, yes, on refunds. BUT SW?

I have NOT FLOWN SW FOR YEARS, but do they not CREDIT/REFUND flights if you have a change? They used to do that.

IF NOT-- IGNORE ME.

But, if so, what is there to stop you from booking and then rebooking if prices come down?

I am sure others know more, but would this work on SW?

I, for one, would like to know?

 

[NEV2OLD4DIS]

I also could not believe the prices for flights, mostly the week of New Year's. This is hopefully going to be our 1st time going for Christmas, but I was not purchasing the posted fares today. Yes, you could book and hope it goes down, but I wouldn't unless you are comfortable knowing that prices might never go down giving you a chance to cancel and rebook. On the other hand, some might find security just having the tickets instead of nervously playing the waiting game as I am due to having a budget.

My thought is that if people do book at the high holiday prices right away, then the airline has no incentive to lower fares to fill seats. Really, it depends on what the tickets are worth to you.

 

[Redarrow5150]

It's way too early. Come the end of June is the time to actively monitor airlines websites.

 

[sam_gordon]

Chris, I get you, and with United, Delta, etal, yes, on refunds. BUT SW?

I have NOT FLOWN SW FOR YEARS, but do they not CREDIT/REFUND flights if you have a change? They used to do that.

IF NOT-- IGNORE ME.

But, if so, what is there to stop you from booking and then rebooking if prices come down?

I am sure others know more, but would this work on SW?

I, for one, would like to know?

Southwest will credit you the difference in fares if the price drops after you purchase. HOWEVER, all the credit must be USED within one year of the original purchase. So if the OP buys today, then prices drop in August (or even the day before the trip), they must use the credit (which means they must complete the FLIGHT, not just book) by 5/20/15. Of course, SW will not automatically apply the credit, a customer must monitor the airfare and call if the prices drop.

It's way too early. Come the end of June is the time to actively monitor airlines websites.

I disagree. While I might not book now, I'll start watching prices whenever I decide to take a trip. Especially in the OPs scenario when they're traveling at a busy time for flights and going to a busy destination.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's way too early. Come the end of June is the time to actively monitor airlines websites.

It's definitely not way too early to be looking at tickets for travel over the Christmas holiday.

 

[Greysword]

Chris, I get you, and with United, Delta, etal, yes, on refunds. BUT SW?

I have NOT FLOWN SW FOR YEARS, but do they not CREDIT/REFUND flights if you have a change? They used to do that.

IF NOT-- IGNORE ME.

But, if so, what is there to stop you from booking and then rebooking if prices come down?

I am sure others know more, but would this work on SW?

I, for one, would like to know?

The timetable is the point of view on this. If the ticket was purchased within 24 hours, federal regulation requires the airline (regardless of who it is) to refund the purchase price in full. After 24 hours, no refund is required, but Southwest airline's policy takes over as Sam has outlined.

In other words if we see tickets that you sort of like but not sure about, I agree with your statement to purchase immediately then take time to think about it. However, make sure a refund is requested before the 24 hour mark to ensure the money is returned.

Bottom line up front, go ahead an make the speculative booking, but make sure to cancel before 24 hours if the tickets are not kept.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Highly likely rates won't move much but even I'm checking. Just don't think you will see much of a difference.

It's definitely not way too early to be looking at tickets for travel over the Christmas holiday.

 

[laura428]

Highly likely rates won't move much but even I'm checking. Just don't think you will see much of a difference.

I've been noticing a disturbing trend of crazy high costs associated with travel recently, specifically with airfares and car rentals. I've never seen airfares this high, and getting reasonable deals on cars has become a major battle. We're heading up to Calgary to visit family in July and looking at $91/day for a standard car at the airport. What?????? Of course, the rates drop to a modest $61/day if we're willing to pick the car up elsewhere in Calgary. We usually pay more north of the border, but not even half what we're seeing now. Hoping and praying that something drops before we go, or we're going to be borrowing someone's wheels for the duration of our stay.

When I first looked at the fares for our WDW trip in December, we were looking at $622 Chicago-Orlando. No way. But then I played with the dates/times and found a $390 fare. Not great, but better, and low enough to be preferable to a 19 hour drive in possibly not so great weather. But I'll be stalking the SW site when the sale goes up, in the hopes of saving some money on the fare. Who knows - if I save enough, I might be able to use the credit for a rental car through SW.

 

[MYD714]

Hi everyone! I've been so busy with work that I haven't been able to get on the computer in 24 hours...and guess what? Yup, the cost went up some more.

I really appreciate all of your ideas and advice. I'm going to try looking around and seeing what I can find on other sites as well. The SW flights are about $1200 for the two of us right now, and that's a bit steep. My fear is that all the flights will disappear and I'll be stuck with nothing, so I might end up trying to swing it.

I feel like flights for last Christmas didn't open up as early last year because flights were abundant and cheap when I checked in August for Christmas 2013 (I've dreamt of going for Christmas for years, and I always try to price it out). I've never checked this early, so I'm not sure what's normal. Of course, this would happen the one time I can actually book a real trip.

I would suggest Hipmunk, as they are not a travel agency and any fare you click on will connect you to the carrier's website. Also, they use the best airline search tool available (ITAMatrix).

Thanks so much for this site! I'm going to start looking ASAP.

 

[MYD714]

I have round trip tickets from BDL to LAX in August on SW. I'm not crazy about the fact that they're connecting flights. I'd rather fly nonstop.

If I purchase nonstop flights from another airline for August, could I then get SW credit for my original August tickets and use them to purchase nonstop December flights on SW?

I bought the original August SW tickets in March of this year.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Yes. I'm going off of past experiences and rates are typically high when released but then they drop off and then go up again. I think the problem is people want to have them right away so it's one less thing they have to do. I'm using credit card miles for the four of us but looking for our friends and Delta's rates are (no pun) sky high. I just think you need to have patience depending on your timeline.

I've been noticing a disturbing trend of crazy high costs associated with travel recently, specifically with airfares and car rentals. I've never seen airfares this high, and getting reasonable deals on cars has become a major battle. We're heading up to Calgary to visit family in July and looking at $91/day for a standard car at the airport. What?????? Of course, the rates drop to a modest $61/day if we're willing to pick the car up elsewhere in Calgary. We usually pay more north of the border, but not even half what we're seeing now. Hoping and praying that something drops before we go, or we're going to be borrowing someone's wheels for the duration of our stay.

When I first looked at the fares for our WDW trip in December, we were looking at $622 Chicago-Orlando. No way. But then I played with the dates/times and found a $390 fare. Not great, but better, and low enough to be preferable to a 19 hour drive in possibly not so great weather. But I'll be stalking the SW site when the sale goes up, in the hopes of saving some money on the fare. Who knows - if I save enough, I might be able to use the credit for a rental car through SW.

 

[Dwheels]

I have to say book it!! For some reason i have only seen flights go up in price or sell out! We are going to Disney 2x's this year 8/23-8/31 and 12/2-12/7. We fly out of Philly and have been going to disney for over 30 years! This year has been the worst for flights!! I will fly whatever airline is cheapest so we have flown just about every airline! I only book nonstop. In the past flights would always get cheaper as the trip got closer usually always book 3-4 months out. Not anymore!! Have found that prices just keep going up and selling out!! I would book your flight ASAP! I booked my SW flight for august when they opened up on 3/3 and paid $330 the most I ever paid! But glad I did our choice flights are sold out now and the price is $500 or more RT! So when SW opened up on 5/19 I booked at 6am without hesitation paid $288 RT. Our December flights are already way up in price $400 RT. So I find now that you should book ASAP if the flights go down in price (which I highly doubt) SW will credit you for future travel! Good luck

 

[mikehn]

I think these fares are as good as it gets, especially for travel around the holidays. As high as they are, people will still scoop them up like hotcakes.

 

[MYD714]

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all the advice.

Unfortunately, I still haven't booked the flights. I got really busy at the end of the school year and stopped thinking about the trip all together.

I'm back to looking at flights, and they're still so high. Now I'm not sure if we're going to continue planning the trip or abandon our plans all together. This is the year that my schedule is the most flexible, and I'd be able to spend 7 nights rather than 4 or 5. However, the price for flights is so much more than usual.

I have the room booked, meals booked, and I just need to bit the bullet on flights. I suppose only time will tell at the moment.

Thanks again for the responses.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Just a side note. You should decide in the next few days because of all of the legislation stuff going on... prices are set to increase around July 21st.

If you are still on the fence, decide now because the prices will only go up

 

[cranbiz]

Is driving an option? It looks like you are in the CT area. It's probably a 16 hour drive if so and if airfare is still elevated it may be a better option.