Spring break first timers- mid march book now or wait?

[KMP12]

Title says it all. We flying for the first time ever for our spring break. We never book this early but are worried prices will sky rocket. Typically fly SW midway-mco. Book now or wait?

 

[Ross Kratter]

Definitely wait. There is absolutely zero reason to book flights more than a couple of months in advance. All airlines adjust pricing, and typically pricing is at its highest when fares are first published.

 

[sam_gordon]

Definitely wait. There is absolutely zero reason to book flights more than a couple of months in advance. All airlines adjust pricing, and typically pricing is at its highest when fares are first published.

I disagree with this. You should start monitoring flights as soon as you have plans. This gives you a "baseline" cost.

If you see so.ethi g drastically lower, grab it. Doesn't matter how far away the flight is.

I've used this multiple times, and yes, sometimes booked at 10 months and prices never went cheaper. Another time I grabbed during a sale that lasted 36 hours 5 months out.

To answer the OP, no one can say what prices will do.

 

[KMP12]

Definitely wait. There is absolutely zero reason to book flights more than a couple of months in advance. All airlines adjust pricing, and typically pricing is at its highest when fares are first published.

Okay thanks. Some people on FB groups have me freaked out prices will only go higher....we have never booked this early.

 

[KMP12]

I disagree with this. You should start monitoring flights as soon as you have plans. This gives you a "baseline" cost.

If you see so.ethi g drastically lower, grab it. Doesn't matter how far away the flight is.

I've used this multiple times, and yes, sometimes booked at 10 months and prices never went cheaper. Another time I grabbed during a sale that lasted 36 hours 5 months out.

To answer the OP, no one can say what prices will do.

Ill be checking daily! Right now we are looking at $1500 for 3 people for the week of March 15th

 

[Herding_Cats]

I agree with waiting, but I'm curious as to why you aren't also considering O'Hare? The "perks" for Southwest are all but gone at this point from a luggage standpoint.

 

[KMP12]

I agree with waiting, but I'm curious as to why you aren't also considering O'Hare? The "perks" for Southwest are all but gone at this point from a luggage standpoint.

We are. We have looked at midway and ohare all are around the same cost.

 

[_19disnA]

All airlines have different price categories within a given flight. When the cheapest seats are sold, the fare jumps to the next higher level. Prices also depend on where you are flying from (i.e. how much competition there is among various airlines) and where you are traveling to. Popular destinations (such as Orlando) are likely busy the year-round. During peak travel times (like Thanksgiving/Christmas) seats sell out months in advance. Airlines are unlikely to offer a sale when the planes are likely full to capacity at those times. Many older threads on this topic. The is no one-size-fits-all answer to your question.

If you wait too long to book seats on a popular route, the best times or non-stop options may no longer be available and/or the only choices are times you don't consider optimal. Depending upon where you live, be sure to check nearby airports to see what other choices you might have and how the pricing varies.

 

[leebee]

If you are booking SW with points and will feel better having flights, go ahead and book. You can always cancel/rebook if prices go down... but I would wait.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Definitely wait. There is absolutely zero reason to book flights more than a couple of months in advance. All airlines adjust pricing, and typically pricing is at its highest when fares are first published.

We have been flying SW for 20 years and spring break are the most expensive flights. We need to buy them as soon as they come out for spring break or they double in price.

 

[KMP12]

What week is spring break for you?

We have been flying SW for 20 years and spring break are the most expensive flights. We need to buy them as soon as they come out for spring break or they double in pric

 

[Robber Baron]

We always purchase flights when we make our vacation plans, well in advance.

I know some say to wait for better rates, but, I ALWAYS check at least weekly right up until our flights and they NEVER go down.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

What week is spring break for you?

3rd week of April

 

[pooch]

We always purchase flights when we make our vacation plans, well in advance.

I know some say to wait for better rates, but, I ALWAYS check at least weekly right up until our flights and they NEVER go down.

NEVER?? I’ve flown SWA for 20+ years at all different times of year and I can’t remember 1 flight that didn’t have some type of price drop, usually 2 or 3. Certainly there are many factors involved in how SWA prices flights and perhaps I am just lucky but I even had a flight drop 1500 points the morning of the trip!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Google flights has a feature that tells you if airfares are cheap/normal/expensive for the route and date you’re booking. Idk if it works for WN but I’d check there to get a baseline idea of what you’re watching for. I think there is also a flight alert feature you can set for dropping fares.

 

[sponica]

I'm only speaking from my experience with our winter break flights, but those flights only went up in price. Granted we're a smaller airport with only a couple flights a day on the vacation start/finish days.