How far in advance do you buy airline tickets?

[Stitch1404]

I am traveling to the world in 45 days and I still don't have my plane ticket. I am traveling with my two friends. I know that anything from $250 or less is a good/average fare from our area. So about 2 weeks ago I found a fare for $160. I wanted to go ahead and buy it, but my friends said that it was too high. It was a great, non-stop flight, but when we last went to Disney in May we got our fare for $117 and they want to match that. However, none of them are actively looking for flights and in my opinion they are just going to keep going up. So today I found a decent flight for $220. Should I just book it and tell them they are on their own since they still think they are going to find another $117 fare? By the way, the $160 fare I initially found is now up to $350. If I wait for them I know the prices will just keep going up, but if I book just my ticket I might end up driving to the airport alone and paying parking on my own and they might find a good fare elsewhere. I just don't know what to do!

 

[Esmerelda]

As a seasoned traveler, I would say if you are 45 days out...go ahead and book. You can go to Bestfares.com and do a fare search under 'quickfare finder" downt the left side of the page...it might give you a very good rounded idea of what each airline has right now and their expiration date. I use this feature all the time. (you don't have to join bestfares just to use this feature ftr).

My past trips have all been booked no more than about 2-3 months out and I've gotten some good deals. I think being in a hurry sometime you will miss out on good deals.

best of luck to you and have a great trip!
Esmerelda

 

[PURTYPAT1]

We usually fly when the airlines are at the busiest. President's week, Thanksgiving or Jersey Week.

I found that on Presidents Week, I need to book 1 year & 1 month in advance to get a non stop flight from EWR or LGA to MCO at a fare of 200.00
rt.

Off peak, I do the same and buy 1 year & 1 month in advance also. I have found fares (last Nov 2005 Jersey week) for as low as 125.00 rt. non stop.

I have booked for Thanksgiving 2006 & I think I got us (18) a great price of just under 200.00 rt. non stop EWR to MCO.

I have not waited for Jet Blue, since I think I will get about the same fares in the ball park of $200.00 for the time I go.

I have learned that if you find a great fare, Book ASAP.

Hope this helps

Patricia

 

[Stitch1404]

Quickfare is giving me all these prices for different airlines to Orlando, but then when I check the airlines the prices are no where near what they said they were. For example, quickfare said airtran for $108 and then I went to airtran.com and the absolute lowest fare was $190. Why is this happening?