I need insight! When do YOU book?

[;-)]

I’m interested in seeing what others do. I’m also wondering if anyone has any apps they can recommend for flight trends—I have hopper and skyscanner. If anyone could share any useful tips or personal experiences it would be greatly helpful! Thanks!

 

[SteveH]

What I read is between 50-70 days is the sweet spot. I try to book earlier, but I also try to use Alaska, however they dropped their price match policy which was a huge let down and has since prompted me to be less loyal to them. I have been price searching various times for our future flight to WDW in February of 2020. Though I can't totally use it to see if the price is right, it will give me some idea.

 

[1911]

I always book the flight first and find a price I am comfortable paying.This has worked out to be 4-6 months in advance as I have found flights out of lax in the summer tend to do nothing but go up once released.
once I have my flight then I book the hotel

 

[craigkerstiens]

I highly recommend using Google flights for tracking very specific flights. You can enter a search with as many details as you like such as arrival time, non-stop, specific airline, then toggle the tracker to receive alerts when prices go up and down.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I book as early as possible.
I booked a BB while there December 7-11 and I booked my flights on December 18th.
I have been checking daily just to see and they went up up up and have dome down slightly but no where near what I booked them at.
I don't find the waiting game to work very well for me at least.
I have found some decent prices when I've booked a last minute trip about a month out but I did have to compromise and fly home to a different airport that is twice as far from my house to make the price reasonable.

 

[AngiTN]

I've never given the when any thought.
I know what I would like to pay, what I typically pay, and when I see the rates reach that, I book. Sometimes that's really close to travel times, others further out. I don't think it's a set pattern.
Maybe our situation is unique in that if I don't like the fares with the legacy airlines that fly out of here I can always book with SW out of Atlanta. Knowing I have a low cost airline "in the back pocket" so to speak may take a lot of pressure off booking the best fare

 

[;-)]

I've never given the when any thought.
I know what I would like to pay, what I typically pay, and when I see the rates reach that, I book. Sometimes that's really close to travel times, others further out. I don't think it's a set pattern.
Maybe our situation is unique in that if I don't like the fares with the legacy airlines that fly out of here I can always book with SW out of Atlanta. Knowing I have a low cost airline "in the back pocket" so to speak may take a lot of pressure off booking the best fare

I agree! We’ve been going consecutive years in August. And usually I find it best to book early and I usually find a normal priced fare booking early. This year is just outrageous and I’m not sure what to do. It’s out of my comfort zone....lol

 

[SaintsManiac]

I book the morning Southwest releases flights.

 

[sam_gordon]

I book when I see a cost I'm comfortable with. Sometimes that's when flights are released (or shortly thereafter), sometimes it's 4-6 months out, or sometimes in between.

THERE. IS. NO. MAGIC. TIME. TO. BOOK. FLIGHTS.

 

[;-)]

THERE. IS. NO. MAGIC. TIME. TO. BOOK. FLIGHTS.

Ain’t that the truth!

 

[pooch]

I agree with the previous posters, I know what I am comfortable with and expect to pay. When I see that price, I book.

 

[dakotix]

We typically book when the flights are released We ALWAYS plan our flights mid week .. that's when flights are the cheapest.

 

[dakotix]

Ain’t that the truth!

Actually that's not entirely accurate.

 

[ForMyBoys]

I also book when Southwest releases flights. The fares are a but higher but without extra cost we've always been able to sit together, we check all our bags with no cost, rarely have a delay and love their service. Plus if the price goes down I know I can change it with no fee and get a credit.

 

[sam_gordon]

Actually that's not entirely accurate.

OK, so at what point are you GUARANTEED to get the lowest price for a flight?

 

[FCDub]

We typically book when the flights are released We ALWAYS plan our flights mid week .. that's when flights are the cheapest.

Might be the case for you, but FAR from an absolute.

 

[;-)]

I think it’s based on location also. In the NYC metro area, even though there are a lot of options, they are not in need of filling up their planes, in fact they overbook. Can you save flying from Tuesday to Tuesday as opposed from Sunday to Sunday? Most likely, yes, but lately these patterns are so unpredictable. Quick story: we usually go to Aruba during spring break when my daughter is off from school. Last year, flights started off at $1600pp! From Newark NJ! A normal fare from EWR TO AUA is $350-$450....so when I saw that I said heck no and waited it out. Lowest it ever went was $930pp—still double what we’re usued to paying. And guess what? That plane filled up! I can’t believe people actually paid that much to fly to Aruba. So we canceled about 5 weeks out and went to Punta Cana instead. Now this year we’re doing Aruba Tuesday-Wednesday, because they hit us off at $1600pp again. My daughter will miss 1 day of school, but at least we’re getting a normal fare. Point is where demand is high, they charge! During School breaks and summer vacation, we can expect fares to be high to Orlando. You could probably get a good deal if you’re going any other time of year, and are flexible.

 

[rwdavis2]

Book whenever I like the price. With Southwest I book as soon as we have definite plans to travel. With them you can pocket a decrease.

Other airlines I'm a bit more cautious but still buy when I can live with it and never look back. I think it fruitless to try and time it. It's like guessing lottery numbers or timing the stock market.

Given that, we always buy travel insurance.

 

[rwdavis2]

OK, so at what point are you GUARANTEED to get the lowest price for a flight?

I want to know too.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I book when I see a cost I'm comfortable with. Sometimes that's when flights are released (or shortly thereafter), sometimes it's 4-6 months out, or sometimes in between.

THERE. IS. NO. MAGIC. TIME. TO. BOOK. FLIGHTS.

Totally Agree!!!!
Flights price fluctuations differ from airline to airline, city to city, departure v arrival, day of week, time of day, etc. I have tracked many flights for many years. There is no pattern. That, of course, is intentional by the airlines to insure continuous bookings.
There are some tendencies. There are averages. There are no absolutes.