Questions about airlines and fare release dates/prices

[disneyworldfamily]

Hi everyone,

So we are going again next year (yay!) and we are far enough out right now that flights have not been released for our dates yet.

So my questions:

1. How far in advance do airlines release fares?

2. The first day that they are released, is this date typically the cheapest the fares will ever be? Should I grab them that day? or wait?

Thanks!

 

[Madame]

Good questions! I'm in the same boat. Delta has released up until Aug 17 - Fri nights seems to be the pattern for releasing new dates. I don't think anyone knows when to jump on a price. We paid $1200 for 6 Detroit to MCO this Aug 22 & 28th. If I get anywhere near that I'll be happy.

Any high peak times buy as soon as released, no matter the airline. Then don't drive yourself nuts by going back & beating yourself up if the fare dropped $10!! Except with Southwest & I think Jetblue who credit you the difference for a future flight lol!

I'm pretty sure Southwest is buy as soon as released. They're going to release April - June (?) Oct 27th I think the date is. I've never found SW to be cheaper. Maybe because I fly out of Detroit..? Or because I seem to miss the release dates & the prices skyrocket!

If you see a price you can live with pull the trigger

 

[xlxo]

The magic date is "54 days" from when you plan to take off. May be a little sooner for high demand schools out dates.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...udy-reveals-exact-day-buy-airfare-lowest.html

 

[bankr63]

If you are flying on a school break and flying direct grab them the day they come out. Most flights drop over time, but not the popular dates. I know for us on our last trip we bought the day WJ released the March break flights (around 300 days out for Canadian airlines), and they went nowhere but up from there.

 

[mytymom79]

Madame,

Have you ever looked at flying out of Flint? Its a little closer for me than Detroit because I am just outside of London . I am finding pretty cheap with Southwest. Back in 2011 we flew Detroit to MCO with Delta and paid $150 pp roundtrip...if only we could score them again like that!!

 

[Madame]

Madame,

Have you ever looked at flying out of Flint? Its a little closer for me than Detroit because I am just outside of London . I am finding pretty cheap with Southwest. Back in 2011 we flew Detroit to MCO with Delta and paid $150 pp roundtrip...if only we could score them again like that!!

I have looked at SW out of Flint, but I missed the SW release dates for our X-Mas flights so it was more expensive than Detroit (I caught a newly released Delta flight at $355 per person about a month ago for Dec 20 & 26 so I can't complain!).

Thanks for reminding me about Flint!! I'm going to try to jump on SW releases for next Aug

 

[CanadianPaco]

Flint has fast become our favourite airport to MCO. We booked our Christmas flights for $700 for 3 of us, back in June. Direct with SW!!

 

[greenclan67]

I just booked Flint for March Break for a $120.00 each way. Last Xmas we got $102 on SW DEC 23rd to Jan 2. They still have some decent prices for Xmas.