How far in advance do you book airfare?

[Aliceacc]

We're going to WDW the first week in August.

In the past, I've found good fares booking pretty close to New Year's. So that's 8months out.

I know the price I'm looking for (roughly $200 pp, round trip, from JFK) and I'll jump on it if and when I see it.

But I'm curious-- how far in advance do YOU book?

 

[sam_gordon]

About 323 days out from the return flight. We fly Delta and they release their fares 330 days out. When they first announce, they are high. About a week out they're low so we booked. That's what we did for our trip this year. $144RT/person. Yes, the flights changed a couple times, but I made the changes work to my benefit. The prices NEVER got below $170RT I believe. It spent most of the time above $225.

If you have a target price, start watching. When you hit your target, grab them and DON'T LOOK AGAIN. If you don't know the price dropped, you can't get upset.

 

[GenGen22]

The sooner the better. The later it is the more it costs. I booked mine in July for December. I would have booked sooner but didn't have the money to book, thankfully the price didn't change and like Sam I booked mine through Delta as well. It was cheaper than Southwest even. I'm flying from San Jose, CA and each flight was $350. Southwest wanted $500.

 

[Snappy in OK]

I book as soon as I find airfare at a price I am comfortable with. I booked in early May for our October trip. I just watching until I find something that looks okay to me.

 

[macraven]

i fly american or united.
(mainly due to the number of daily flights out and in for my schedule.
if a flight is overbooked on the return trip, i can volunteer to give up my seat for free tickets and comp, and still get out of orlando on the next flight)

i book my flights about 9 months and some weeks out and have been able to get the best fares that suit me.


i go from o'hare to mco.
book early january for a sept 27 flight.

this year i paid $134 rt, non stop flight.
last year it was $147.....
i travel only on tuesdays or wednesdays for the cheapest rate listed.


this has worked for me for the past 10 years.

i do check the fares after i have booked.
i can see that fares for my route and non stop have similar bargains about 7 months out also.
after that, it goes up and down.......

rates can be around $197 and up to 300 on some flights. + taxes.

i know flights can change and mine have over the years.
it hasn't been a disaster for me.
usually a change of times up to 90 minutes are involved.

once i have my flight booked, i then book my hotels.

looking at the sites i use, it shows the flights i am on have no seats or just a couple of seats left.
of course that can be deceiving as i know the emergency rows are not booked in advance.
same for the seats for the disabled.

but, it gives me an idea very little picking is left at this time point.

you should book the flights that work for you and your family.
have it be a cost you can live with.

if you book far out, it is paid for in advance, well before your trip.

the down side is change of times for the flights.
if you are flexible of gaining or losing up to 90 minutes, then you won't be disappointed if this happens.

how i do it, is not for everyone.
that i totally understand.
there are many that do not book their vacations that far out due to work schedules or not being able to be sure of their vacation dates at work.


so many posters in the past always say, book the flight when you can live with the rate you see.

when you are a month or 6 weeks out, you just don't know if it will rise or fall.
or be close to full....

good luck in your decision.
i know it is always a hard one.

 

[Arielle22]

I booked in late February for our November trip. My sister and her family decided to go down the same week. Our tickets were about $230 each but she is looking at $400 per ticket.

 

[jeff968]

ASAP. We visit during President's week along with the rest of the North East. If you want a reasonable price and non-stop you have to purchase early. I got my flights in July this year for February 2012 but I have purchased them as early as April if the price is right.

 

[cassie]

In Dec 2010, I received a great email pin offer so I booked POFQ for Oct 2011. Then I checked Delta prices which were $200 with taxes. I had enough flyer miles, but I saved them and paid cash. That was 10 months out.

 

[Missytara]

You book as soon as there is a price you feel comfortable with.