Want lowest airfare but worried about getting 6 seats?

[myhoney]

We are going BUF to MCO on 11/30, 2 adults and 4 kids. We have enough points for one-way on Southwest, and enough points for ~3 ticktets on Jetblue one-way.

Right now, the non-stop flight on Jetblue is $145. We have seen it go down as low as $102, which is what we would prefer to pay! We have plenty of time, but I'm worried about not getting 6 seats if I wait. Sometimes we've priced it out for other dates, and we'll see "3 seats left at this price!" Or, would they sell us 6 seats, 3 at the lower price, and 3 at the next tier? How long do I wait?

 

[seashoreCM]

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[seashoreCM]

If you book all 6 seats in one move they will charge you the second lowest fare for all if there aren't 6 at the lowest fare.

Or the third lowest fare for all if the combined second lowest and lowest fares don't have 6 seats between them.

You can get, say, 3 seats at the lowest fare and 3 seats at the second lowest fare if you place two orders, one after the other, and the desired number of seats is still available.

If the flights are not that many hours apart, you might consider breaking up the family to travel on two flights if you find enough lowest priced seats that way.

 

[sam_gordon]

Personally, I would book all six on a one way with SW, then three with points on JB and three with money on JB. So even at the higher price ($145pp), you're paying $435 four six RT tickets. Then don't look back. Even if prices drop to $100pp, that's saving less than $150. It would be worth that (IMO) to have my flights booked.

 

[n2mm]

Buying 6 seats is the tough part here. I don't usually wait too long to buy the flights for 6. I agree that you can break up the purchase to get some at the lower price, especially if you don't want to pay for luggage for everyone. If you break up the party, keep in mind that a child needs to be booked with an adult. So if you do 3 and 3 remember to have an adult on each purchase, because there is a fee for a child traveling without an adult. Also don't forget to incorporate the luggage fees on Jetblue vs adding the early bird fees on SW. I have purchased our mid October flight down on Jetblue because it was $115 each, (I get free luggage with my cc) but nothing coming home because the prices are extremely high and we are flexible on our departure dates. I do watch the seat map for Jetblue to see how the flight is selling....which helps me. I'm not a big fan of SW, but do use them when the price and times are what I want. We always buy early birds for SW, we travel with the grandkids who are 8 and up.

 

[myhoney]

Personally, I would book all six on a one way with SW, then three with points on JB and three with money on JB. So even at the higher price ($145pp), you're paying $435 four six RT tickets. Then don't look back. Even if prices drop to $100pp, that's saving less than $150. It would be worth that (IMO) to have my flights booked.

You are right, and it makes total sense. Unfortunately, at the higher price, we are just short of points to get 3 tickets. I'll have to play with it and see. If I buy 3 tickets first, I will earn points, and then maybe we'll be over the top to get the other 3 with points.

 

[melk]

You are right, and it makes total sense. Unfortunately, at the higher price, we are just short of points to get 3 tickets. I'll have to play with it and see. If I buy 3 tickets first, I will earn points, and then maybe we'll be over the top to get the other 3 with points.

If it's not too many points you need it may be worth it to buy some points from JetBlue. They often run specials on them.