Need help finding deals on airfare

[Mommy23Princesses]

Hi, so I am looking for some help on how to go about finding deals on airfare. I am subscribed to all the budget airlines and sites such as travelzoo and smart traveler. The problem I am having is that we live in las Vegas and it seems absolutely ridicolous to fly anywhere, or maybe I am just out of whack as to what airfare prices should be. We are looking to travel either late October or early December of 2012. It will be four of us that have to pay for airfare and possibly a seat for my baby if we fly overnight. I guess what I am asking is;

Is $1600 for roundtrip tickets for 4 an outrageous price?
Is it better to fly out and come back on any certain days, I know we live in a tourist town so I don't know if we have any days like that?
Is late October or Early December a better time to fly?
And lastly any pointers on how to go about getting the best deal on airfare? (does naming your own price on priceline actually work?)

Thanks for any help or guidance

 

[ChristineandLiv]

I am interested in the feedback as well. We'll be flying east coast to west coast for a DL trip in early January.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

You're way too far out to be looking for airfare in late 2012, start looking around the 4 month mark outside of major travel periods (Thanksgiving/Christmas). As for prices, $1,600 for four tickets is not out of the realm of possibility, but it's not unreasonable to go plus or minus from there.

 

[Jestocost]

You're way too far out to be looking for airfare in late 2012, start looking around the 4 month mark outside of major travel periods (Thanksgiving/Christmas). As for prices, $1,600 for four tickets is not out of the realm of possibility, but it's not unreasonable to go plus or minus from there.

Airfares for October and December 2012 aren't even available yet. The legacy carriers open dates for booking on a rolling basis 330 days out (for the most part), while SWA and some of the other carriers open dates much closer to the actual travel dates. Who knows what airfares will look like more than a year from now.

Your smart to keep an eye on fares and then should have a good sense of what's good and what's not when you are ready to actually consider booking.

 

[ancestry]

I agree you are looking too far in advance. Unless you are traveling during a holiday (Christmas, etc.) start looking about four to six months on advance.