Uggg.... why can't I get decent airfare

[kdibattista]

We are traveling from PHL to Orlando on January 2nd and all the airfare stinks!!!! I hate waiting to the last minute to book but fares aren't even close to what I'm use to paying.

Sorry... just venting.

 

[Chicago526]

What fare are you being quoted?

Remember, fuel prices are much higher now, so the airlines can't afford to discount as much (fuel is their #1 expense).

 

[Geoff_M]

Chicago526, Yes... and no. Many airlines sign long term fuel "hedge" contracts that protect against oil price fluctuations. Southwest, for example has contracts that run into next year that'll keep them in "cheap" Jet-A fuel for the most part. However, some of the airlines that are in finanical straits aren't in a position to sign such contracts... so it's a "double whammy" for them.

 

[deelam]

I fly out of Philly all the time. And I was also having a very hard time finding cheap airfare. I finally found a decent price with Air tran. I had to book a one way flight to Orlando. I got it for $79. Now I'm still looking for them to release me return dates.
Air tran has been the cheapest I have found.

I think this web site is www.airtran.com

Deneen

 

[johnnyr]

Originally posted by kdibattista
We are traveling from PHL to Orlando on January 2nd and all the airfare stinks!!!! I hate waiting to the last minute to book but fares aren't even close to what I'm use to paying.

Sorry... just venting.

I'm with you. I too hate waiting until the last minute, and the prices do STINK! I finally bit the bullet and paid $238 rt for PHL to MCO in March. I expected to pay a little extra because it is peak season. I'm still checking every day for a better price, but it seems to get worse.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I know sometimes you might get panicky about waiting, but the rates typically bottom out between 8 an 10 weeks before departure date. I used to panic about waiting until then, but the past few years I've waited until that point and it's never failed me yet. It'll fluctuate up and down until then, but it will hit it's lowest (or match or come close to the lowest it's been) at around that point. I just did the same thing for a December trip - mom wanted to book a month ago and I told her to wait until the end of Sept/beginning of Oct and sure enough, last week $98 round trip out of Pittsburgh.

It's worked trips to Orlando, Vegas, AND Rome Italy.

Carrie

 

[seashoreCM]

Try a departure or a return the day before or the day after. The flight dates you chose first might have had all the cheap seats (seat allotments) sold out.

Also try for flights leaving at different hours of the day. Sometimes returning the morning of Jan 2 (or morning of Sunday after Thanksgiving) costs less than the evenings of Jan 1 and 2 (or of Saturday and Sunday after Thanx).

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm