How to get the best price for airfare?

[wdhinn89]

Last year we went to Disneyland at the end of July. We flew from JFK to Long Beach. When we purchased our flights in November from Jet Blue (non stop & tv's to occupy kids during long flights) the fair was $199 each way.

In Feb prices went down, In March prices went down, in April prices went down, In May prices went down. In the end, we paid $89 one way and $149 the other. We got a credit from Jet Blue of $640. We are going to Disneyworld in June to use our credit.

Check the airfares everyday!!!

 

[momof3lovebugs]

So do you all buy the refundable option? Just in case? Or hope that nothing happens where you have to xcl?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

another good site is "farecompare.com" ...

 

[Tinkerbell58]

I have found airfare to be less expensive when traveling on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I have found airfare to be less expensive when traveling on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

and staying over a Saturday night also helps

 

[Shoppingstaceysmom]

We have flown from Sacramento to Orlando 8 times and have never paid over $250. Always use SouthWest. Sign up for Ding and online deals and watch, watch, watch. On their web site you can look at an entire month's schdule and which days are cheapest.

 

[momof3lovebugs]

We have flown from Sacramento to Orlando 8 times and have never paid over $250. Always use SouthWest. Sign up for Ding and online deals and watch, watch, watch. On their web site you can look at an entire month's schdule and which days are cheapest.

This is the 2nd time s/o mentioned ding....is it a website?

 

[Shoppingstaceysmom]

You can sign up for Ding and email updates on SouthWestdotcom

 

[PrincessEmily87]

Being from Oregon, we usually are able to get flights in the 200 dollar range from Portland to Orlando. We used Delta, and as long as the time isnt around a big holiday or break from school (other than summer), you should be able to find inexpensive ones.

 

[leebee]

DING is a program that SWA runs. You sign up and download the program and then SWA sends sale info directly to you. Ding fares are often only on specific flights on specific days, but you can save a bundle. They are also only available for a very limited time- sometimes only several hours- so if you get a fare you like, jump on it.

You don't have to book the refundable airfare price to be able to get your money back if prices drop. The refundable price is the one you pay so that if you cancel your entire trip, you get your money back. What people are talking about here is a refund you get if airfare drops for your exact itinerary after you pay for your tickets. You have to keep watching the rates and if you see that it's dropped for your specific flights on your specific dates, you can contact the airline and try to get a refund for the difference between what you paid and the new price. It isn't as straightforward as it seems; many airlines require not only that seats still be available at the new price, but they have to be in the same class/price code as your original tickets. Still, money back is sweet, and so is credit with the airline towards a trip in the future, even if it has to be within 365 days.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We have been flying from Phx to Mco for 12 yrs now and $318 is not a bad fare, it's actually a sort of ok fare.

We used to pay under $250 for all our trips before and after 9/11 until about 3-5 years ago airfare went berserk. We have paid on average $330-360 pp for our airfare the last 3-5 yrs.

There was an airfare sale this Summer that got us $260 fares and that was great

keep an eye out the fare may go below $300 and if it does BOOK IT that minute. We booked for our April trip already and got $316.

Southwest doesn't always beat the other carriers in this market...they are usually the same.