Savvy Airfair Shoppers, I need your opinions.

[HockeyMomNH]

I am planning a weekend trip with my DD for the first weekend in Jan. '13. My DS and his DGF have decided to join us. I already have flights for myself and DD, but DS and DGF haven't gotten any yet.

The flight down was at $149 when I purchased. It was up to $169 yesterday, and today it is up to $189.

So, the question is, should I tell my DS to buy tickets now, or do you think that they will drop, or that Southwest will run a special between now and then?

If they were for me, I would just buy them knowing that I could get credit if the flight price goes down, but my DS and DGF are poor college students that won't likely be flying again within the year.

 

[cmwade77]

Chances are that they will go up from here on out, the sweet spot was about a month ago for that time frame in my experience.

Now that I say that, watch you tell them to buy it and they do a sale two days later. Remember that if the price drops within 48 hours you can usually get a cash/credit card refund of the difference from most airlines (I do not know about Southwest as I don't fly with them).

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Chances are that they will go up from here on out, the sweet spot was about a month ago for that time frame in my experience.

Now that I say that, watch you tell them to buy it and they do a sale two days later. Remember that if the price drops within 48 hours you can usually get a cash/credit card refund of the difference from most airlines (I do not know about Southwest as I don't fly with them).

Yep, it's that sale thing that has me stressed out. I think that Coke Rewards had SW gift cards when they did that big gift card sale last fall. I can't remember when that was though.

 

[Mkebound]

It's a risk vs. reward choice.

The risk is, if you wait, the tix could continue to go up, a LOT more.

On the other hand they could come down a little, VERY little.


I for one would buy the tickets, since $189 is still pretty cheap when it comes to air travel these days.

 

[tlh0726]

airfare always goes up toward the end of the week and over the weekend.
Tuesdays seem to always be the lowest.
If it goes back down to the 169 I'd tell them to buy fast.

 

[LJSquishy]

I would buy them now, but wait until a Tuesday or Wednesday to purchase.

 

[lizabu]

I would buy them now, but wait until a Tuesday or Wednesday to purchase.

This is what I'd do too. Airfare usually goes up a little on the weekends and drops on Tuesday or Wednesday because more people have time to buy airline tickets on the weekend and airlines know that. If it doesn't drop Tues or Wed it probably isn't going to.

 

[Darcy03231]

I'm from NH and going the week before you. I'm still waiting. When I went in August tickets went way down about 8 weeks before our trip (I bought higher and have a credit). They had been sitting at $149, had jumped to $161 and $181 and then dropped to $99 on a Tuesday afternoon eight weeks out.

Have you also checked going out of Boston? Once when flights were higher in Manchester (around $150 each way) I went out of Boston at $105 each way.

 

[Marionnette]

Yep, it's that sale thing that has me stressed out. I think that Coke Rewards had SW gift cards when they did that big gift card sale last fall. I can't remember when that was though.

I wouldn't chance it waiting for Coke Rewards. IF they have SWA GCs again, you may be watching airfares rise while you wait for the GCs to arrive. That could wipe out anything you would save by having the GCs.

Like others have said, wait until Tuesday to see if they drop. And consider other carriers if SWA starts to climb too high. College students are capable of flying on their own and the kids should be fine taking another airline if the price is right.

 

[QueenElinor]

You could try Bing travel and see what they advise. Usually, Bing will give you some kind of indicator that the prices are steady, falling, or rising based on past data.

 

[Mrs D]

airfare always goes up toward the end of the week and over the weekend.
Tuesdays seem to always be the lowest.
If it goes back down to the 169 I'd tell them to buy fast.

This!

My friend is going Jan 16th and I have stalking air for her. It went down on SW to $89 each way last Wednesday from $116.

Check again on Tuesday.

ETA- It's still $89 now.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I agree with all of you about waiting until mid-week. I don't often see much fluctuation with SW though.

I'm from NH and going the week before you. I'm still waiting. When I went in August tickets went way down about 8 weeks before our trip (I bought higher and have a credit). They had been sitting at $149, had jumped to $161 and $181 and then dropped to $99 on a Tuesday afternoon eight weeks out.

Have you also checked going out of Boston? Once when flights were higher in Manchester (around $150 each way) I went out of Boston at $105 each way.

My DH and I flew down a few weeks ago, I have a credit for my flight since the price dropped. It does seem like that happens with SW, which is why I'm temped to wait. The problem is that my dates are not at all flexible and since it is a short trip I want the earliest flight down and latest flight back to maximize our park time.

I did look at Boston, but I would have to go in and out there and although the flight out was cheaper, the flight back is much higher so its really a wash.

You could try Bing travel and see what they advise. Usually, Bing will give you some kind of indicator that the prices are steady, falling, or rising based on past data.

I haven't ever tried Bing Travel. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Jenio]

What is the window of opportunity for getting the best prices? We are going in April, when would be the best time to look for our tickets? Thanks for any info!

 

[letsgoreds]

If that is spring break time, and you aren't flexible on departure/arrival dates, I would book now. We almost always fly Delta, and I don't see it fluctuate too much. I like to book no later than 6 weeks out. Usually 8 weeks + because I won't do connections and have very specific times I like to fly.

 

[rigs32]

I wouldn't think it necessary for all parties to be on the same plane. Check other airlines with similar flight times. SW allows two bags per person, so you could check their luggage.

My mom and I flew from Rochester NY to Seattle on different airlines and different layover cities. We departed and arrived within 30 min if each other. It was worth using our FF miles on different airlines.

 

[rigs32]

Also, if you're staying I site, just use ME and meet at the resort. I've done that w my mom twice.

 

[HM]

I bought our Jan tix back in June when the flights opened up (dates around MLKjr weekend). The price came down $30ea in August so our round-trip is $211.xx each. The price now is $350. I've been keeping tabs on the flights and they've either stayed the same or gone up since August. I keep thinking there might be another discount offered, so keep checking back.

I'd get the tickets now (Tuesday). They might come down, but the possibility of them going up is the more likely scenario.

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I wouldn't think it necessary for all parties to be on the same plane. Check other airlines with similar flight times. SW allows two bags per person, so you could check their luggage.

My mom and I flew from Rochester NY to Seattle on different airlines and different layover cities. We departed and arrived within 30 min if each other. It was worth using our FF miles on different airlines.

It's true that we don't need to all be on the same flight, but SW is the only direct flight, which really cuts down on the travel time.

The price of the outgoing flight was down on Saturday, but back up yesterday. I didn't have the money moved to the right account to cover the flights until today so I missed it. Hopefully they will go down again midweek. I'm definitely going to snag them asap!