I Hate The Airfare Game

[jjskribs]

In planning for a Christmas trip next year I have been following airfares from Boston to Orlando. Yesterday the one way fare for the flight I was looking at was $102.00. Today it's $162.00. I was hesitant to book the fare down until I had an idea of what the return fare would be and now it looks like I've lost the lower fare by waiting. I hate this "game". I never know whether to book, not book................... it's driving me crazy.

 

[seashoreCM]

Generally there is no such thing as knowing the correct date to book your airfare. In the few instances where there is such a thing, there are people all across the country, mice poised, ready to pounce on the small number of low fare seats the moment they are offered 331 days out.

Try slightly different dates, you may see profound fare differences.

Really big promotional fares usually don't include the most popular dates.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Aisling]

now it looks like I've lost the lower fare by waiting.

Don't worry, because I don't think this is necessarily true.
I'm obsessive about watching airfares for my trips and they alsways go up and down and up and down, especially over the course of a year's time.

I keep reading about certain seats being a lower fare and they sell out quicker...I don't see this to be true in my experience. last year I booked 3 months ahead, got prime seats in the 2nd row, for $155 RT from JFK to MCO.
When you book online, the fare offered is for any seat on the plane (excluding FC, of course ). Web specials happen at any unpredictable time, as I have seen over the last few years of booking my own seats.

For our upcoming summer trip, I booked one way because the fare dropped so low, and I'm confident that the return fare will drop, too.

Just keep watching the fares, daily if you can. You'll see what I mean.

 

[seashoreCM]

It's not that certain seats in the coach section may have a lower fare but rather when a certain total number of seats have been sold at a given fare, the rest will be at a higher fare unless the lower fare allotment is increased at a later date.

 

[Aisling]

It's not that certain seats in the coach section may have a lower fare but rather when a certain total number of seats have been sold at a given fare, the rest will be at a higher fare unless the lower fare allotment is increased at a later date.

Ah, that explains it. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they increase those allotments!