How far out would you/do you book your airfare?

[jtowntoflorida]

I've always waited to book airfare until closer to our travel dates...usually within 2 months or so. But our next vacation seems so far away (December) and I want to do something, so I was looking at airfare. I found a decent/reasonable nonstop fare on Delta. Not knock your socks off inexpensive, but less than we've paid for trips in the past. It seems insane to me to book this far in advance, but I'm also tempted to go ahead and do it...all the flights and seats available for selection this far out have me downright giddy.

So, what say you? Would you book a flight 9 months in advance of a trip?

 

[3happydancers]

I've always waited to book airfare until closer to our travel dates...usually within 2 months or so. But our next vacation seems so far away (December) and I want to do something, so I was looking at airfare. I found a decent/reasonable nonstop fare on Delta. Not knock your socks off inexpensive, but less than we've paid for trips in the past. It seems insane to me to book this far in advance, but I'm also tempted to go ahead and do it...all the flights and seats available for selection this far out have me downright giddy.

So, what say you? Would you book a flight 9 months in advance of a trip?

For us, flying SWA, we usually book when flights first open which is about 5 months out. This is the furthest we've ever booked aside from our honeymoon. I was wondering if there was a reason NOT to book this flight?

 

[MusicMicha]

For us, flying SWA, we usually book when flights first open which is about 5 months out. This is the furthest we've ever booked aside from our honeymoon. I was wondering if there was a reason NOT to book this flight?

We book our SWA flights the same

 

[M&M's]

54 days out, according to this. Of course, that's an average.

That being said, I've already booked for our trip in Sep/Oct on SWA because I know I'm not going to do better than just under $900 for four people round trip from PVD to MCO.

 

[MAJPLO]

I've gotten good rates at 6months out and 4 months out. Now I am looking at a trip that is suddenly six months from now and airfare is going up. I'm not sure if it will come down or flights will be added or what to do.

 

[Siriusblack]

If I start looking early, and find a good price with times we want I have learned to just book it. I can't stand the constant checking and second guessing. If you know for sure you are going, I say grab it!

 

[Disneylover99]

If I start looking early, and find a good price with times we want I have learned to just book it. I can't stand the constant checking and second guessing. If you know for sure you are going, I say grab it!

I totally agree! Never count on prices going down and if the flight times are what you want? Go for it!

 

[sam_gordon]

I've always waited to book airfare until closer to our travel dates...usually within 2 months or so. But our next vacation seems so far away (December) and I want to do something, so I was looking at airfare. I found a decent/reasonable nonstop fare on Delta. Not knock your socks off inexpensive, but less than we've paid for trips in the past. It seems insane to me to book this far in advance, but I'm also tempted to go ahead and do it...all the flights and seats available for selection this far out have me downright giddy.

So, what say you? Would you book a flight 9 months in advance of a trip?

People have been complaining about not being able to find cheap flights, saying they're paying 25-50% more than they have in the past. You've found non-stop flights for cheaper than you've paid in the past, presumably at times that work for you? Book em Dano!

I generally book shortly (within weeks) of flights being announced on Delta, and like a glutton continue watching prices. It's never gotten as low as when I've booked (occasionally with ~$10).

If it's going to bother you if you find out prices have dropped, DON'T LOOK AT PRICING AGAIN AFTER YOU'VE BOOKED. If you don't know prices went low, you can't get upset, right?

But, keep an eye on your flights all the way up until your trip. Delta has been known to change flight times/equipment (and therefore seating).

 

[Tink575]

We always use JetBlue and I book as soon as we figure out our dates. If the price goes down, I can call them and they put a credit in our travel bank.

 

[debster812]

I would book it. If you found non-stops with a price you like, no question.

However, with that advice, comes this caveat: Delta will very likely switch your flight time(s), your equipment, and possibly your seat assignments. Delta does not fly non-stops anymore from Logan to the airports we fly into in FL, so they are off the table for me now, but when they did, after I had booked, I would check my flight status about 1x a week, to make see if anything had changed.

 

[goofy4tink]

If its a fare you're happy with, book now. BUT....Delta will, almost certainly, change your flight times! I have never flown Delta without them making changes. The sooner you book, the more often they will make changes. But if you wait until they are done making changes, the fares are much higher.

 

[Stephaniesue]

We fly out October 18th. I booked our flights on March 5th. I am glad I did, I was looking last week and saw the return trip had TRIPLED in price!! WOW

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Thanks, all! I think I'm going to go ahead and book. While the prices might come down a little, they probably won't come down much. You guys reminded me that on our first Disney trip we were the victims of a dreaded Delta schedule/equipment change, and they put us on some weird flight leaving hours later than originally scheduled when they could have just put us on one leaving 35 minutes after our original flight. It was odd, but Delta does crazy things, and we were able to switch to the earlier flight.

We now live in a Delta hub, so even with schedule changes, we'd probably be OK with any schedule change.