How far in advance do you buy your plane tickets?

[roselark]

Also remember to consider baggage fees when comparing rates from the various airlines. Some have lowered or removed their fees recently while others still have them. It can made a considerable difference depending on the fees.

I know what I consider a decent deal for airfare and so I start looking as soon as my plans are finalized. I normally purchase at least 90 days in advance and then I STOP looking. Don't want buyer's remorse...

Now seems to be a great time to buy for the fall. I booked a DVC trip for the 3rd week of October on Monday evening, got confirmation of time off from my boss on Tuesday, and purchased airfare that evening. I had started looking with a target of $250 but was pleasently surprised to get RT for $198 on Midwest.

 

[madge]

I believe Southwest fall sale prices end today, so hurry.

I believe they are in the range of 50% off for some flights

I think it ended yesterday (apologies if this has already been posted) because my flights went up $400+ from when I bought them on Tuesday.

 

[FINFAN]

we are heading to Fl 8/7...we planned to drive as we
1. have a car payment and our rule is to avoid paying ofr flights if still paying for a car
2. taking DD back to college in Sarasota, so luggage requirements/fees


well, DH finds out yesterday that he can only get 3 days off work, so driving from Il to Fl is now pretty much out of the question, we are flying.
Booked yesterday on SW in to MCO, getting ready to book AirTran out of Sarasota. So, I guess a month out? This is the closest I think I have ever booked airfare to our departure...but it has worked for us this year due to the economy. I am seeing rates lower now than if I had booked a month ago.

 

[kissthemouse]

I just bought our tix for our Dec trip this week... $548.80 after tax for 4 of us nonstop on AirTran. I thought it was a GREAT deal.

I THINK though, that if you buy your tix through Orbitz, if someone else buys a ticket on the same flight for cheaper, they will automatically send you a check for the difference (you don't even have to keep watching). Not sure if you can get AirTran tix on Orbitz, but I know you can on Expedia now, so I imagine that Orbitz may have finally added them as well.

 

[geenerbell]

There are still some good buys with SW. I found $59 each way. I like SW because if the fare goes down they will issue a credit. Got round trip for two at Thanksgiving for $303 minus $110 credit = $193. Pretty good me thinks. I usually wait till last minute except around the holidays.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

We are traveling Sept 11-17, I bought my tickets yesterday from Southwest, paid $462.60 for 3 tickets. Pretty good!

I just checked the prices today, the tickets I bought yesterday, cost $570.60 today! So yipee! I saved $108!

We always fly Southwest to Orlando, they are the only airline offering a direct flight to Orlando from New Orleans right now. Works out great because they are normally the cheapest too, plus you can check 2 bags per person for free! I love Southwest! I don't care if there are no assigned seats, doesn't bother me in the least!

 

[shaws2003]

We arrive the day before you and we have had our airfare for about 2 months now. We found a great deal on United so, we are paying about 198 pp from Chicago.

However all of the airlines have matched Southwest's fall sale, so if you hurry, I am sure one of them still may have some reduced seats.


I received email alerts from http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/

I too use www.airfarewatchdog.com and it's done me very well the last few flights I've booked

I actually booked our flights today for our trip in December!!! I'm taking a chance that they won't go any lower, but I don't see how. Round trip from Portland Maine $179 pp including taxes and fees!!

 

[abc999]

yapta is the site for alerts... i've been looking too for the same dates as you. continental was down to $219 from newark but it has since jumped up to $260 for the same flights ugh!!! I'm so hesitant to buy!

If you are in South/Central Jersey, consider flying out of Philly. We usually pay $129-159 round trip. Parking is also a lot cheaper.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

This thread is a better fit on the Transportation board.

 

[twinsplusone]

I'm such a worldly traveler....NOT. But for both of our trips last year and this year (both Feb.) I booked almost the same day the flights were available. Both times the fares never went lower. Maybe I'm lucky, but I hate playing the chicken game. Good luck getting a great fare. Enjoy your trip.

 

[KELLY]

We leave October 24th and I just booked mine yesterday. Nonstop is a must for us. It is hard to come by in our airport so when the price at airtran hit 90 and 74 each way I took it. Sw was the same but at a diffrent airport about a extra hour trip.

 

[KJMAX1]

6mos out here. On a Saturday morning for 99 each way from Seattle to Orlando on American.

 

[Inkmahm]

My family is going in October. DH and I are flying out of State College, which is a little podunk airport. I priced flights back in January and when I saw them the cheapest I've EVER seen them , I booked our two tickets right away. The other four members of my family are flying out of Baltimore, so I waited until SWA announced their schedule and booked them at $69 each way, about which I was ecstatic ! Several weeks later, the fares went down to $49 each way, so SWA issued me a credit of $160, which I'll use to take DH on a business trip with me next January. Win-win all around!

My advice is to know ahead of time what fares to expect and when you see something reasonable, go for it. When you see something so tremendously cheap that you have to blink, rub your eyes, and ask someone else to come read the screen to make sure you aren't imagining things, JUMP ON IT!

My in-laws live in Boalsburg so I've BEEN to your airport! Kind of cute, but I don't like some of the tiny planes to get there.

Anyway, we are taking the in-laws with us in 2010 to Disney. What kind of fares do you usually get?

 

[eacatwork]

My in-laws live in Boalsburg so I've BEEN to your airport! Kind of cute, but I don't like some of the tiny planes to get there.

Anyway, we are taking the in-laws with us in 2010 to Disney. What kind of fares do you usually get?

LOVE Boalsburg!!! Wouldn't spend Memorial Day anywhere else!

The good news is that most of the airlines (all three! ) have switched over to jets as opposed to prop planes. The planes are still small, but much faster. The hour flight to Philly now takes about 35 minutes.

Anyhoo...our flights are on United, and for two adults, I paid $556 total. We're flying Wednesday to Tuesday and our flight times are absolutely ideal for us.

 

[Inkmahm]

LOVE Boalsburg!!! Wouldn't spend Memorial Day anywhere else!

The good news is that most of the airlines (all three! ) have switched over to jets as opposed to prop planes. The planes are still small, but much faster. The hour flight to Philly now takes about 35 minutes.

Anyhoo...our flights are on United, and for two adults, I paid $556 total. We're flying Wednesday to Tuesday and our flight times are absolutely ideal for us.

I was just there this past Memorial Day weekend and you are correct.

$556 sounds high to me! We're also planning a Wed to Tuesday trip.