How Early Do You Book Flights?

[jodi90]

How early do you book your flights? We are traveling in December and I'm not sure if it's to early to book? I've been watching flights and they've stayed pretty stable for months until today. It jumped $100 over night. Is it too early to book? I'm just not sure.

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Checking airfare prices is like investing in the stock market! Sometimes you look really smart by waiting, and sometimes, well...not so smart. Sometimes the price will go up, and sometimes it will go down.

Are you a gambler? My opinion is: if you are comfortable with the price now you should book it.
__________________

 

[keishashadow]

How early do you book your flights? We are traveling in December and I'm not sure if it's to early to book? I've been watching flights and they've stayed pretty stable for months until today. It jumped $100 over night. Is it too early to book? I'm just not sure.

1) What airline are you considering? If you book SWA you can request a credit if the prices drop, only good if you will actually be using it within a year of booking for additional flights. AT also will issue credits good for luggage/seat assignments unlike SWA...however, this policy could change with pending merger.

2) What day of the week are you traveling? mid-week flights usually turn out to be a great deal down the road (i.e. a few months out) if you can take advantage of them

3) It's midweekodd to see fares take big jump overnight (but standard on the weekends) Whatever airline/flight you're monitoring, are you able to see the available seats? A group may have booked the plane resulting in less seats open/higher prices for the remaining ones.

I've always booked ASAP, but have advised my DD to sit it out for her airfare needed the week after Thanksgiving this year. She'll monitor them for a sale but currently her flights are almost 70% more than her trip last year.

I've found that my flights are averaging 30% more than the same time frame last yearif that helps any. Good luck

 

[sjs314]

I normally check the prices if the fares are out when we book our trip but most times the flights for JB are not available yet (JB is our prefered carrier) so I watch and check the prices the first day our flights are offered and usually book then I like to sit at the front of the plane, if the prices go down later you can always get a credit on most airlines for the difference. For me seat selection is more important to me than the price of the flight unless the price is outragious.

 

[ancestry]

I determine a price that I am willing to pay. Once the fares hit that price then I book. My preferred carrier is Jet Blue so I try to do what I can to book with them. I will pay more to fly Jet Blue than I will other airlines keeping in mind of course that Jet Blue's fees include a seat assignment and one piece of checked luggage.

We too are traveling in mid-December and I bought our tickets several weeks ago because the price was right -- not necessary dirt cheap but it was reasonable and had the flight times I wanted so I booked.

 

[jodi90]

1) What airline are you considering? If you book SWA you can request a credit if the prices drop, only good if you will actually be using it within a year of booking for additional flights. AT also will issue credits good for luggage/seat assignments unlike SWA...however, this policy could change with pending merger.

2) What day of the week are you traveling? mid-week flights usually turn out to be a great deal down the road (i.e. a few months out) if you can take advantage of them

3) It's midweekodd to see fares take big jump overnight (but standard on the weekends) Whatever airline/flight you're monitoring, are you able to see the available seats? A group may have booked the plane resulting in less seats open/higher prices for the remaining ones.

I've always booked ASAP, but have advised my DD to sit it out for her airfare needed the week after Thanksgiving this year. She'll monitor them for a sale but currently her flights are almost 70% more than her trip last year.

I've found that my flights are averaging 30% more than the same time frame last yearif that helps any. Good luck

I'm looking mainly at Delta. We have to fly out of a small airport or drive about 3 1/2 hours. Normally I don't mind the drive but with December weather it can get a bit trecherous and I'm not sure I want to deal with that. Delta and United are the only airlines that fly out of our airport to Orlando.

We are traveling on a Wednesday or possibly Tuesday so I'm hoping that will help if deals come out later.

I was surprised to see the flights jump midweek too. It get's even crazier. I checked Delta's site around 1:00 this afternoon and the price was $560 and it's now down to $466 which is what it's been for about a month.

I think that I'm going to hold off until mid August. I'll be about 3 1/2 months out at that point. If the price is still up at that point I may just book with SW or JB and deal with the drive in nasty weather.

Thanks for all you help!!

Jodi

 

[jodi90]

I determine a price that I am willing to pay. Once the fares hit that price then I book. My preferred carrier is Jet Blue so I try to do what I can to book with them. I will pay more to fly Jet Blue than I will other airlines keeping in mind of course that Jet Blue's fees include a seat assignment and one piece of checked luggage.

We too are traveling in mid-December and I bought our tickets several weeks ago because the price was right -- not necessary dirt cheap but it was reasonable and had the flight times I wanted so I booked.

How is Jet Blue for roominess (is that even a word)? I've only flow United and Delta. United is a tight fit, not much leg room. Delta is a bit better but not by much.

 

[LisaTC]

We're going at the end of October and I haven't gotten tickets yet, which, most people would think I'm crazy. I just can't book for some reason...it seems so high. I don't know. I see people from the west coast and other further places getting fares and half of what it would cost from Ohio...ridiculous. I will book this month, I guess, but it will kill me. It will either be AirTran or Continental. They are basically the same $$ and offer nonstops. I could go SW, but that airport is a 2 hour drive and not worth the savings.

 

[minster22]

JetBlue seating is roomier than Delta and you have the option of paying to upgrade to an even roomier seat. Check their website for details. Since JetBlue came to Boston we have never flown another airline to MCO. We used to fly Delta frequently but have been quite spoiled by JetBlue with better seats,TV's, more nonstop flights,easily getting credit if fare goes down,assigned seating, one free bag and just a more pleasant experience flying(if that is really possible these days!)

 

[cemeb4dk]

We usually book once we know our travel plans (if flight schedules are out) and we are comfortable with the price. We are flying in Sept from CHicago via AA. When I booked our flights in Feb, I got 3 round trips tickets for $600. Same flight would not cost us over $1400.

So I would say the early the better, it may not be the case all the time, but I think as more tickets sell for a flight the higher they go.

The only hiccup I have encountered is it is possible for flight times to change. Our return is now a half hour earlier and our going down flight is 15 minutes earlier.

 

[5forDis]

I am waiting for JetBlue to release flights for April 2012...not sure when that will be. I try to book as early as a I can assuming the flights are reasonably priced. We prefer JetBlue and try to fly them when we can.

We are going to the Southwest in October and I just booked the flights a couple of days ago.

 

[dis_guy]

How early do you book your flights? We are traveling in December and I'm not sure if it's to early to book? I've been watching flights and they've stayed pretty stable for months until today. It jumped $100 over night. Is it too early to book? I'm just not sure.

In my opinion it's never too early to book. We generally go to Disney World once a year so I just look at what we paid last year and add a reasonable amount for price increases, usually 10%, and that number becomes the most I would pay. If tickets are there or better I buy them. So far I've managed to get about the best prices we could have gotten right up the day we fly.

This year we are going Dec 31/11 to Jan 7/12. I booked WDW on April 26 and began watching flights. On May 1 my "zen" told me (I actually saw a trend to higher prices on some other airlines first) that it was time, so I bought the tickets at my predetermined price and forgot about it. Today those same flights would cost us $1000 more, for four of us.

 

[francie57]

I book ours as soon as I find a price I like. We are going in Aug. and I booked our Delta flights last Sept. I like taking the first non-stop in the morning to MCO and return on the last non-stop of the day. I checked Delta in Sept. and they had the flights I wanted for $179/person rt with all fees and taxes. We haven't had airfare that low in a few years. I booked our flights right away and since then the price hasn't been that low again. Even with the added luggage fees I am still better than the prices I was quoted for SW and JetBlue.

 

[DebbieB]

In my experience, during less busy times Delta's prices will come down closer to the date. For example, I'm flying PIT-SNA in August. It was originally over $700 for the flights I wanted. It's now around $400. I ended up booking it with miles in April.

 

[macraven]

i always book my room early, about 11 months out.
this time i booked my room at 10 months out.

i book my air once i have my dates for the room.

i paid $134 + tax of $15.40 in feb for my october trip.
just under $150 for rt chi to mco.

looking at the rates now, my flight is currently at $357........


i always book months out and if the flight changes times, it's not a problem for me.

 

[cassie]

I book ours as soon as I find a price I like. We are going in Aug. and I booked our Delta flights last Sept. I like taking the first non-stop in the morning to MCO and return on the last non-stop of the day. I checked Delta in Sept. and they had the flights I wanted for $179/person rt with all fees and taxes. We haven't had airfare that low in a few years. I booked our flights right away and since then the price hasn't been that low again. Even with the added luggage fees I am still better than the prices I was quoted for SW and JetBlue.

I paid the same last Dec for my Oct trip. The plane has been full for weeks now, I always check for a better seat. Plus the departure time has changed by 1/2 hour.

 

[mhawk4]

I am waiting for JetBlue to release flights for April 2012...not sure when that will be. I try to book as early as a I can assuming the flights are reasonably priced. We prefer JetBlue and try to fly them when we can.

We are going to the Southwest in October and I just booked the flights a couple of days ago.

I am also looking for the JetBlue flights for April 2012. It seems like the flights are only available up to January 2012.

What time of day does JetBlue typically leave Boston and Orlando? We usually fly out on the 7 am and return on the 6pmish flight.

 

[ready123go]

How early do you book your flights? We are traveling in December and I'm not sure if it's to early to book? I've been watching flights and they've stayed pretty stable for months until today. It jumped $100 over night. Is it too early to book? I'm just not sure.

Delta, like other websites, will use a cookie to track your browsing. You might find that the price increase is due to this. They are attempting to create a false sense of urgency so you will purchase. Try clearing out your cookies or double check your prices on Hotwire.

I was looking for airfare for December too. My Delta price quotes increased due to this (luckily I knew enough to double check on Hotwire).

 

[mhawk4]

Delta, like other websites, will use a cookie to track your browsing. You might find that the price increase is due to this. They are attempting to create a false sense of urgency so you will purchase. Try clearing out your cookies or double check your prices on Hotwire.

I was looking for airfare for December too. My Delta price quotes increased due to this (luckily I knew enough to double check on Hotwire).

Thanks, that is a good idea. I did get the same price on the Delta web site as I did through Expedia. I will clear out the cookies.