How far ahead do you book air? Good Rates?

[mommyceratops]

We are going to WDW in Dec.

How far ahead should I book air. Right now without SW posting it prices it is $300 pp, I was hoping to get around $200 pp.

I am flying from Louisville to MCO

Any advise??

TIA!

 

[bicker]

Fares probably won't go lower, but perhaps might go higher. We typically wait for Southwest and JetBlue to announce their fares, and then buy that day, either from them or someone else. That day is the day when the airfares are most likely to be the lowest, barring some unforeseen fare war which we cannot count on (and generally cannot get tickets during, due to how many other people are trying to get tickets at the same time).

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

How do you know when the airlines will announce their schedule? Is it posted somewhere a website or something? Or do you just check alot?

 

[bicker]

Most major airlines release their projected schedules 330 days prior to the date of the flight. They release updates the projections regularly, in some cases now monthly, and release their final schedules between five and one month prior. Some airlines, most notably Southwest and JetBlue, don't release projected schedules, but rather only their final schedules, typically about five months prior, and in a block (a month at a time, rather than day-by-day, like the major airlines). There is no offical, specific time-and-date published for Southwest's and JetBlue's schedule releases.

 

[aide4]

We bought our tickets for De. 23-29th the end of February, MKE to MCO 207.00 per person.

 

[Bugsmom73]

We booked in January for our december trip and the cost with tax was 187pp. I was thrilled with that. Our tickets now go for 872 pp. Actually, our flights are not even available. Book soon.

 

[pennyplanner]

I booked BDL (CT) to MCO for early December non-stop at $249 PLUS the almost $40 in taxes/fees to make it $287.10.

Should I have waited? Maybe, but the gas prices were making me nervous so I just bought the ticket.

The prices were sky high and when they dropped, I just caved.

We'll see! It was kind of like that "Deal or No Deal" kind of mentality. I am not a big gambler!

Good luck!

--penny

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, there's December, and then there is Christmas.

If you are flying for the Christmas holiday period, the answer is as soon as humanly possible, because holiday fares go nowhere but up as time goes on.

For the rest of the month I'd say about 6-8 weeks out should be the best window for good fares.

 

[OhMari]

We bought our tickets for De. 23-29th the end of February, MKE to MCO 207.00 per person.

My window for April 4-12 opened today and it was $40 higher than yesterday, boo. I think a lot of people are booking the minute the window day opens. Last evening though those tickets were $200 more. The best time to get tickets at an airline is midnight when the computers roll over for the day. As the day progresses the price goes higher.

 

[mommyceratops]

Thanks! How realable are the airlines???

 

[tbrenk]

Oh mari...I tried going on Continental's site at midnight (actaully almost 12:30AM) to buy one way tickets and they weren't booking that day yet.