How early do you buy airfare?

[MidgeD79]

I'm looking into going to WDW next June. How early should I start pricing airfare? Should I book the room first or plane tickets?

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

I have done it both ways. I have booked the plane and then added the Disney stuff later and I have also booked the Disney stuff then matched up airline flights after. It is your call. I am going next spring (March) and have purchased my plane tix already (using miles, I had to do it this early to get seats). I will book my Disney stuff when they release a schedule in August.

Depending on where you fly out of, historical prices can be found on sites such as Kayak and you can also set it up to get daily alerts. In the past, I know what I have paid in the past and try to get in that general ballpark. I also look for flights with decent amount of time for connecting (especially with kids) to avoid that headache. If you find a price you like, buy it and don't agonize over it.

PS: Kayak does not show airlines such as Southwest, so keep checking them as well and sign up for DING alerts.

 

[Missytara]

You want to wait a few days after the airline first posts their fares, because it will be the most expensive ones first. The reasonable fares will come a few days later.

Try to book your airfare on Tuesday/Wednesday, as early or late in the day as you possibly can. You will see the lowest rates. By the weekend, the fares go back up again.

My theory is that people are usually home on the weekends and discussing their travel plans, then check fares and they are up slightly.

Since I travel alone, I book mine the minute I get into work on a Tuesday or Wednesday around 6:00 am, and it is the lowest all week. Seriously, how many people are online that early to book airfare?

Give it a try.

 

[Brian Noble]

Ideally, you have in mind a "fair price" that you'd be willing to pay and is a decent value for that specific route. As soon as the airlines hit my "fair price", I buy. In most instances, it's easier to move a room reservation to match flights, rather than the other way around. We use timeshares for our lodging---that requires planning *well* in advance, and locking in dates early, so we tend to do the lodging first, but not always.

 

[jeff968]

I have found that it is MUCH EASIER to find accomodations in Orlando then flights into it. If you are on a budget, I would suggest getting your flights first as they could make or break your trip based on how much they cost. From the NYC area you can get flights to MCO as cheap as $150 round trip per person. That said, they can go as high as $600 per seat RT depending on when you travel. i have never had any trouble with accomodations. There are so many hotels and timeshares there you will never have an issue and some great deals too. I just purchased my February 2011 flights this past weekend. I always have to buy early as we travel on President's week (kids off of school and so is wife who works in school system).

 

[msjprincess]

I usually book when I see a price that I can live with. Sometimes it's 11 months in advance and sometimes it's just a month.