How far in advance is ideal to book Airtran? Anyone find the sweet spot?

[discorsner]

I am wondering those who book airtran a lot....when do you book. How far in advance do prices reach their best? I know it is never a science and can be hit and miss but I am just asking in general how far in advance did you book to get your deal?

I am looking to book in August. I have booked this far in advance before but this time prices are very high compared to what I've gotten before. Going Rochester to Orlando. Anyone have any luck?

 

[quirty30]

I just booked for early July on Airtran flying out of Milwaukee. I found a great fare on Sunday and waited...3 days later it was $10 higher per person. So I booked it before it got any higher.

 

[1budai]

I booked Airtran for one trip about 6 months in advance. I cannot tell you how many times they changed the schedules. It was very disappointing. I ended up getting all my money back and booked Delta. Just keep checking the schedule.

 

[Alexander]

Airtran out of Rochester does not change the schedules by very much if at all. When we flew in December, I booked in May and they did not change our flight by 1 single minute. Other times, the flights have only changed very, very slightly--under 30 minutes everytime. We fly them 3-4 times/year out of ROC to MCO.

Regarding pricing.....you should be able to get flights for around $69 to $89 one-way depending on the time of year. If you are looking around holidays they can be more, but not always. If you like to sit together with your family, I also suggest paying the $6 for seating. It is well-worth the peace-of-mind to know you have seats together.

I am currently waiting for Airtran to release late August and early September, so I can book for our DCL cruise.

 

[brymolmom]

Airtran out of Rochester does not change the schedules by very much if at all. When we flew in December, I booked in May and they did not change our flight by 1 single minute. Other times, the flights have only changed very, very slightly--under 30 minutes everytime. We fly them 3-4 times/year out of ROC to MCO.

Regarding pricing.....you should be able to get flights for around $69 to $89 one-way depending on the time of year. If you are looking around holidays they can be more, but not always. If you like to sit together with your family, I also suggest paying the $6 for seating. It is well-worth the peace-of-mind to know you have seats together.

I am currently waiting for Airtran to release late August and early September, so I can book for our DCL cruise.

I'm waiting for that timeframe too - for our Free Dining trip - Roc to MCO here too. Any idea when those dates will be released?

 

[Alexander]

I'm waiting for that timeframe too - for our Free Dining trip - Roc to MCO here too. Any idea when those dates will be released?

I'm thinking about 7 months out. So, hopefully by the end of this month!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm thinking about 7 months out. So, hopefully by the end of this month!

Is it always 7 mos out? We are also cruising in the fall and like return flights with a participating airline for Onboard Check In (which SW is not)
We got $87 down on USAirways but they want $300 for our return dates. Simply gouging since that's a popular travel week with lots of schools closed around here.

So around Apr we should be able to book for November?

 

[Alexander]

Is it always 7 mos out? We are also cruising in the fall and like return flights with a participating airline for Onboard Check In (which SW is not)
We got $87 down on USAirways but they want $300 for our return dates. Simply gouging since that's a popular travel week with lots of schools closed around here.

So around Apr we should be able to book for November?

The legacy carriers (Delta, American, United, Continental, USAir....) put their flights up 330 days ahead of time. The "discount" carriers (AirTran, JetBlue, Southwest) don't have a definite timeframe. It just seems to be "about" 7 months ahead of time. Sometimes they are quite a bit later especially if they are moving their fleets around, or changing their routing. Unfortunately, there is no exact science to this....I am hoping 7 months works with Airtran, because I would like to book our Aug/Sept flights at the end of Jan or early Feb!

 

[PSUGuy]

The last 4 times I jumped on AT out of PHL and then ABE as soon as rates came out. I knew they were at least 'Good' based on years of flying out of my neck of the woods the same week. Only once did one of the legs go down, and that by only $10, every other time it was straight up. This time I got us $97 each, per leg, now it's $146 down and $221 back, and that's each.

Bill From PA

 

[Mary T in PA]

I just booked AT from PIT to MCO for July, and the rates haven't been out too long, and they are pretty close to what they were last year. As for schedules changing, that hasn't been our experience.. we had one trip change by 10 minutes, and was notified immediately by email - that really didn't affect us.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The legacy carriers (Delta, American, United, Continental, USAir....) put their flights up 330 days ahead of time. The "discount" carriers (AirTran, JetBlue, Southwest) don't have a definite timeframe. It just seems to be "about" 7 months ahead of time. Sometimes they are quite a bit later especially if they are moving their fleets around, or changing their routing. Unfortunately, there is no exact science to this....I am hoping 7 months works with Airtran, because I would like to book our Aug/Sept flights at the end of Jan or early Feb!

Actually, Southwest has a very definite timeframe. They extend their calendar in blocks of approx 10 weeks at a time and announce on their website the exact date that the calendar will be extended.
From their website:
We are currently accepting air reservations through August 12, 2011. On February 8, we will open our schedule for sale through September 30, 2011. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

Within a few days after they release on Feb 8, they will post when the next release will occur.


Airtran seems random.

 

[Alexander]

Actually, Southwest has a very definite timeframe. They extend their calendar in blocks of approx 10 weeks at a time and announce on their website the exact date that the calendar will be extended.
From their website:
We are currently accepting air reservations through August 12, 2011. On February 8, we will open our schedule for sale through September 30, 2011. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

Within a few days after they release on Feb 8, they will post when the next release will occur.


Airtran seems random.

"Definite and approximate" don't go together!

My post was just a general statement. I'm sure other airlines have definite schedules as well. But Southwest does not release dates at the 330 day mark. That was the point. I have no clue what Southwest actually does because Southwest is not an option for us unless we drive 2.5 hours to the airport. I know there are a lot of die-hard Southwest fans out there, it just isn't an option for my family.

 

[RainbowsMist]

"Definite and approximate" don't go together!

My post was just a general statement. I'm sure other airlines have definite schedules as well. But Southwest does not release dates at the 330 day mark. That was the point. I have no clue what Southwest actually does because Southwest is not an option for us unless we drive 2.5 hours to the airport. I know there are a lot of die-hard Southwest fans out there, it just isn't an option for my family.

I'm thinking we just made the cheap window for our March trip BOS - MCO. We booked mid November for $84 each way..since then it's gone up 3 times and never down. I never looked before that time but I honestly can't imagine it being any cheaper.

 

[klm7926]

Good questions....we are looking into flights from IND to MCO.

 

[dilligaf212]

I have not ever flown with air trans but with jet blue i got a cheap flight from bos to mco it was it was $99 down and $173 back.. I did keep checking and the flight actually went down to $89 down and $99 back they gave me a credit for the difference

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

"Definite and approximate" don't go together!:lmao:

My post was just a general statement. I'm sure other airlines have definite schedules as well. But Southwest does not release dates at the 330 day mark. That was the point. I have no clue what Southwest actually does because Southwest is not an option for us unless we drive 2.5 hours to the airport. I know there are a lot of die-hard Southwest fans out there, it just isn't an option for my family.

I didn't contradict myself.
The definite part is that they announce the exact release date in advance. If I needed to, I could take that day off from work and know that I'll get it taken care of.
The approximate part is that it's not always an exact 10 week block but whatever the amount of extension, they tell us when it's coming with at least 2 months notice. I don't have to keep checking everyday wondering like I find myself doing with Airtran.

Mine was also a general statement. I'm not trying convert anyone to SW and JB is not available to us without an extra long ride either. I'm just used to being able to plan ahead exactly the day I'm going to buy airfare.

 

[NancyIL]

I fly AirTran from Bloomington, IL to Orlando, and I tend to book as soon as they release their fares. I also keep checking fares in case they go down. If they do, I request a credit.


*As I typed this, I just got an e-mail from AirTran for sale fares through May 24 booked by Jan. 20!

 

[suemom2kay]

The earlier the better. Of course one can never predict a fare war but I'm seeing really low numbers ($62 each way from Allentown Bethlehem PA to MCO). Don't see them much earlier than that. Can't WAIT for their calendar to extend into September so I can book that rate.