Please help with strategy for the 331 day booking?

[moocow35]

Hi!

I have been reading here on and off, and was hoping that some of you could share the tactics or strategy for booking air at the 331 day mark. I have my cruise booked with DU and according to my booking with them I have 334 more days. I will be going a day early though, so lets say I have 333 more days. Would I call Song after midnight tomorrow? I think I read somewhere that this can not be done online, only over the phone?

Also, (sorry) one more question. My second choice airline is Jet Blue, but it would appear that they only book 6 months in advance. Do any of you know the timing or a trick with them?

I will gladly accept any and all suggestions. This trip will have to be booked both one way flights. Leaving New York (either airport, LGA for Song or JFK for Jet Blue) on May 13, 2005. Coming back will be either May 30th or 31st (Jet Blue out of Long Beach, or Song out of Las Vegas)

Thanks so much in advance for your help!

Robin

 

[CarolMN]

Are you trying to use Frequent Flyer miles?

If not, why do you have to book right at midnight at the 331 day mark? Do the low fare seats really disappear that fast? If so, wow!

Best wishes -

P.S. Have no experience with SONG, so can't help with your actual questions. Good luck!

 

[moocow35]

Hi!

Thanks for your quick answer. No, we don't have enough frequent flyer miles yet. Maybe that is why everyone is staying up past midnight to use the flyer miles? I thought it was to get the lowest fares? I know the trip we just took and got back yesterday from, as the flight filled up, I couldn't touch the fare that I got. People on the same flight were paying a lot more than we were. Maybe I misunderstood all the posts here about getting right in at the 331 day mark? Anyone else?

Thanks!
Robin

 

[CarolA]

When are you going (I have no idea when 331 days in advance is? LOL!)

There are advantages and disadvantages to this method. I would not do it unless you are going at a VERY high period. (ie. Febuary break in the NE).

This is harder to do with a paid ticket since normally the best fare require a round trip. Have you considred looking at 331 days from your return and then calling to book both ways.? Also, make sure you know what a good fare is. If the airline has not loaded the "cheap" fares when you call, you might want to hold off.

If you are using FF miles then this is the way to go, but otherwise it is not always required.

 

[Jillpie]

You may be reading alot about the 331 days out posts because alot of us are trying to book our April school vacations here in Ma. We all did this a couple of weeks ago and were pretty successful. This is done in very peak weeks, such as February and April vacations. And to seek the coveted sky miles seats. But, the times you are going does not sound like peak times. You may want to hold out till the return flights are available and book it as a roundtrip. That way, if you have to cancel next year for some reason and rebook your flights, you will just have to pay the 25.00 per person change fee once and not twice (which you would have to do with one way tickets). As far as what you may expect to pay for low fares with Song, it seems to be at 107.00 one way is their lowest fare right now. If you get that each way, you have done well. Now if you are patient, you could wait it out for Jetblue to become available in the Fall for May, and you could get 79.00 one way. Its really up to you. But as far as staying up till midnight for a May flight, I say nah, most likely not necessary. Good luck.

 

[moocow35]

Thanks Jillpie!

I sure am glad I don't have to stay up till midnight We have been using Delta for all my daughters college visits, and they require 25,000 for a free flight. We are only about 1/2 way there now to qualify.

Robin

 

[PatMcDuck]

We flew Jet Blue several times. they are tricky, they open up 2-3 months at a time....... all of a sudden, they will be booking the month you need. I checked frequently, when I could see my travel month was approaching.

 

[Jestocost]

You will need to wait 331 days from your return in order to book a round-trip ticket. That's an issue on most of the major airlines, where round-trip booking is required for the best fares. Some of the discount carriers, like Southwest, offer good fares on one-way tickets, but many also don't book that far out. I don't know how Song's pricing works.

As has been noted, I don't know that it's usually worth it to book at 331 days unless you expect flights to completely sell out right away (not likely in most cases) or you need to use frequent flyer miles. The only time I've been that on top of it was to book frequent flyer tickets for our cruise next spring break. A double whammy. I slept through my alarm at midnight, but woke up and got them booked at about 6:00 a.m. There went 100,000 miles, but I got the four tickets!

In fact, most airlines don't seem to have their best prices right away either. Sales seem to hit 3-4 months out in most cases. Again, I'm not familiar with Song (they don't serve my airport), however, so I don't know how they work their pricing and sales.