Those who get incredible FLIGHT deals..please share secrets...

[TnTWalter]

Is there a certain time of year that the deals are better?
Certain website or airline?

I remember getting $165 per person total roundtrip non-stop last year Ind-MCO and thinking I had scored but others were getting even lower...

Now I'm looking and can't find anything below $200 per person. This adds up for family of 5.

I do have ding installed.

Please share secrets [besides the free Wendy's cups...LOL].

Trish

 

[MyGoofy26]

Airfares are pretty much constantly fluctuating. I check a couple times a week when I have plans on the horizon and stay somewhat flexible (willing to move my dates by a day or two) I'll check sites like Travelocity using a flexible search for the month I want to travel and just watch those fares that come up for the month. When they get to a reasonable price, I check to see which days are available to fly and see if they work with my schedule.

One thing that has NEVER failed me, but I understand why some people panic about waiting, is waiting until about 8 weeks before departure date. I start checking almost daily at about 10 weeks, but at around 8 weeks the prices bottom out and will at least match, if not beat, the best fare that was ever released for that flight. The price drops usually happen and last from 8-6 weeks before departure dates. I guess if I lived near a small airport that had a tendeny to sell out flight I'd be more worried, but there are so many flights out of Pittsburgh that I can always find open flights on sale so I never hesitate to wait it out. Like I said, it has NEVER failed me - I even managed to fly to Rome with just 1 stop (best you can do from Pittsburgh) days before Easter for under $400 round trip with all taxes and fees.

Oh and of course there is Ding if you're flying from an airport that has Southwest. I don't worry about the price with Southwest since you can keep cancelling and rebooking, never really losing your money (at worst it's a credit to use on your next trip)

 

[MEM]

Ding worked for me as well as haunting the transportation board on disboards. I am fortunate to live within an hour or so of three major airports - Boston, Manchester and Providence. Also try searching on http://www.kayak.com for flights

 

[ceecee]

My SIL told me to check at midnight on a Wed. I did get a really good flight last year by doing that. I would check the airlines website 3-4 times a week and waiting is hard but you can usually save that why.

 

[Chicago526]

One thing that has NEVER failed me, but I understand why some people panic about waiting, is waiting until about 8 weeks before departure date. I start checking almost daily at about 10 weeks, but at around 8 weeks the prices bottom out and will at least match, if not beat, the best fare that was ever released for that flight. The price drops usually happen and last from 8-6 weeks before departure dates.

Generally, this is a good stratagey. Just be aware that it CAN backfire on you if you are traveling over a holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break) as those flights tend to sell out months in advance. Also, you need to be flexable with your times, popular flight times are the first to go and the good prices may be gone at the 8 week mark, leaving the good deals on less popular flights. If you need specific flights or you are traveling over or near a holiday, this stratagey may not be for you.

My best advice is to just keep checking (and checking and checking and checking) and make sure to use all sources of tickets, internet booking engines, the airlines individual website, and travel agents (who still can sometimes beat online sources, even with the service fees they charge). Be flexible, consider alternate airports, dates, and travel times. Once you find a fare you can live with, jump on it. While it may go down further, it may also go back UP, too. If you hold out for an even lower price, you may regret it.

 

[justcantwait]

They're taking my 2 kids and my niece and nephew at the end of August. Flights were running about $290-$300 (and are now up to $333!). I'm signed up with Delta's SkyMiles program, and they send me emails every week with deals going on. I got one that said "$99 one way - Hartford to Orlando", checked the dates, and they worked, so I checked the price. It was actually $137 ROUND TRIP! So, they saved about $1200 on airfare alone. I don't know if it works for everyone (hasnt' worked for me...yet!), but it's another way to get information. Hope it helps!

Kathy

 

[aclov]

Try signing up for the airlines newsletter, I get one from United. You can also try Travelocity Fare Watcher Alerts. You put in your criteria and they will email you. I hate shopping for airfare because there just isn't a right way of booking a cheap flight.

 

[jeepgirl30]

No major secrets here but be sure to sign up for all the frequent flyer and guest accounts. You can earn miles and stays with Hilton. A lot of the hotels let you transfer hotel points to miles. USairways gives you bonus miles for online booking.

I'm amazed at how many people do not sign up for hotel and airlines because they don't think they'll use them enough. Most never expire so why not?

 

[SarahKate]

If Southwest has your cities, you should download DING! It sits on your computer "shelf" (where you see the clock on your desktop) and if a new deal happens it will Ding at you. This is a much more timely way to get discount airfares, it's quicker than if you subscribe to their emails.

It really amounts to being diligent. I had to be VERY patient. I knew that there were good deals to be had and I had to stop myself when they opened up our dates. It was about 3 weeks after they released our dates and I got the Ding one day after lunch with a $59 each way fare from St. Louis to Orlando! It was worth every hour I spent checking. Total for 3 of us to fly was just about $350!!! The sales usually just last a short time (maybe 4-6 hours), so you need to be around to get the Dings. Luckily I have an admin assistant job and am on the computer ALL the time! And you can only get these fares through Ding - you won't see them if you just go to their website.

 

[nicdanh]

We downloaded ding and just hoped for a great fare and for us we got 5 RT tickets for 107.00 a piece. We are going in Sept and are thrilled that we got such a great deal from Ding.

 

[CheapMom]

I second DING! Also- you can sign up for Travelocity fare watcher when prices change from XXX airport to XXX airport. Travelocity automaticallys email me whenever fares go down $25 ( I chose $25- can be any amount you specify,) from my city to MCO

 

[lnh'smom]

I just checked flights from IND to MCO for May 3 thru May 12 (that is where we fly out of too). Price including tax was $197.70/person with Delta. No discounts or anything. Also checked United and American and they were $300 something and $500 something. I didn't think that was bad at all.

 

[TnTWalter]

200 pp is not good enough for me unfortunately. I received $165 TOTAL pp last time. I'm trying to get closer to the $100 RT deal that nicdanh received.

I guess I'll just hope to get DING'd with a good rate.

Trish

 

[bahogg]

I like the website www.cheapair.com

It is best if you put in that your dates are flexible and check everything that is available. After finding the best fare I then go to that airline's website and purchase it there to avoid the service on cheap air. I am in Detroit and saved $600 to travel out of Indy last year, maybe you can do the same by checking out other airports.

 

[gottaluvdis]

I just got $165 pp r/t non-stop Manchester-Orlando for the end of August. That's actually pretty good. It was $265 when they fares were first announced, then $195, now $165. I'll re-book if they DING again, but I'm satisfied with $165. I paid $225 in February (due to school break time). Just keep constantly checking DING, and try to fly Tues or Weds.

 

[Shagley]

I see that Airtran currently has some $49.00 one way tickets out of Detroit for some days in September. You may want to check to see if they have any cheap deals out of Indy.

 

[Redwitch]

http://www.kayak.com/ and http://www.sidestep.com/air/ are good search engines for flights. However, they do not include Southwest.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

http://www.kayak.com/ and http://www.sidestep.com/air/ are good search engines for flights. However, they do not include Southwest.

Actually I have found Southwest rates on sidestep before - not sure if they pulled from the SWA site or some other site with SWA rates like Travelocity or CheapTickets.

 

[Trixiezzz]

1) I agree: Ding!
Last year we got 'dinged' with a $34 fare to Orlando and were able to change from our $89 fare to the ding one. Saved us a bunch.

2) AirTran Wendy's Cups!
I know the deal is over and there's no way to take part in it now. But I'm just so tickled with the great deal we got!
Collected 64 cups each for the 4 of us and just last month got back from flying roundtrip to Los Angeles.....4 people for $48 TOTAL!(that was the tax).

I didn't really believe it was going to work....right up until we boarded. Then, I'm pinching my DH saying, we are FLYING for FREE!!!!!

So, I guess the moral of the story is that SOMETIMES these "deals" really are worth participating in!

Now, if Wendy's would just come out with a deal for sailing on DCL for free, I'd really be excited!

 

[suzannews]

I second or third or maybe fourth...sign up with DING!

We just booked $39 from Orlando to Detroit.