June / July 2011 - Purchase Airline Tickets Now?

[champ.49er]

I need your advice fellow DISers. We plan on leaving June 29, 2011 and with all the rumors of $4 per gallon gas prices and the political unrest in the Middle East, I'm thinking about purchasing my airline tickets now. I've read it's best to purchase them 3-4 months before departure, but we're leaving during peak summer season, so I'm really thinking about purchasing them today. Any reason to go for it or not? Thanks in advance.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Well, I just purchased our this morning for our June 5th trip.

I've been watching prices like crazy and they were not moving, only going up. The flight time I wanted was filling up very fast. Not a whole lot of seats left, really.

This is the most I have ever paid for a RT ticket to Orlando ($320) My normal is around $250, but I just don't think that will happen this year. Not with a non-stop flight and good flight times.

So, I guess what I if I would do, if the price is something you can live with, i would book it.

 

[mcd2745]

Well, I just purchased our this morning for our June 5th trip.

I've been watching prices like crazy and they were not moving, only going up. The flight time I wanted was filling up very fast. Not a whole lot of seats left, really.

This is the most I have ever paid for a RT ticket to Orlando ($320) My normal is around $250, but I just don't think that will happen this year. Not with a non-stop flight and good flight times.

So, I guess what I if I would do, if the price is something you can live with, i would book it.

Agreed.

History would suggest they have to come down at some point, but they haven't been budging at all, except to slowly and steadily rise. Airfare has always been known for their wild and unpredictable flucuations. But they have been fairly stable lately - at very high prices.

 

[keishashadow]

Im trying to hold out for end of July tripdespite bing's farecaster stating: BUY, fares rising/volatility

last few years same time period dropped substantially on both SW & AT a month or so out and i wound up with SW credit that 'forced' me to take another trip

I want to wait until I get my annual AT CC vouchers anyway (March I hope), but not sure i'm going to make it lol

 

[champ.49er]

Well, I followed your advices and purchased the airline tickets just now. I feel pretty confident in my decision. Thanks.

 

[Chia9876]

The rule of thumb is to check for fares on Tuesdays @ 3:00 pm EST, that is when all the Airlines show their best fares. Also to get the best price, book between 90 and 21 days before departure.

I have been watching Southwest and I have my dates (May 27 - June 4) which are 99 days today are still a little high but the fares that fall within the 90 days are super cheap.

Checkout: http://www.farecompare.com/articles/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/

Also to check prices on all airlines (except Southwest) check out Kayak.com

Good luck and buy when you believe you have the best deal that you can live with.

I'm in technology and I specialize in finding patterns in systems, logic, user patterns, etc. The above works for me.

 

[S'sMom]

We leave in June as well. I got our tickets on AirTran for $90 something going and $70 something coming back from DFW (for 4 tickets+$6 seats). We got them at the end of December. For the last two years we have gotten them at that time and the price was always a good deal.

I agree with the pp. Tuesdays is a good day to look. Best of luck to you.

 

[cagrlnor]

I've been looking too for the middle of May. I agree Tuesday's are the best day to look. I looked Tuesday morning on SWA and it was $149 (each way) from pdx to mco, then Tuesday afternoon it went down to $119! It's SWA (not the most luxurious) with 2 stops and a long travel time but that's what I get for the price, right? Other airlines were close to $250 each way! Also, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are cheap travel days. We are traveling Tues-Tues.
Keep checking and good luck! But yes I'd book sooner than later, especially with the treat of gas prices going up!!