WDW June 2002---very confused about booking airfare.....

[disney4us2002]

I've been reading here and budget board and trying to absorb, but I'm sooooo confused. I have been waiting patiently for July 20th to pass so that I can start to look at airfare for the first week in June 2002, but it appears that to buy this early would be a mistake. Most everything I have read about airfare is that the tickets are nonrefundable so I don't want to book with a 'too high' fare. Now I see that some are saying they have been able to get lower tickets and get a voucher for the difference, but I'm not sure I understand that either. Is a voucher only for FUTURE airfare because the last time we flew anywhere was 1992 and I don't see us flying after this trip for several years again. There is no way to just get the ticket adjustment credited back to my credit card?

I feel pretty nervous about not booking a flight til sometime in March but it seems as though the cheapest prices are nearly last minute. If anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear 'em. Also, we are a family of five and it appears as though expedia and travelocity allow only 4 ticket purchases at a time. Suppose I can't get the 5th ticket on the same flights?? I have signed up for the farewatcher program and I'm hoping this will help too.

C-

 

[jel0511]

First off, expedia lets you book 6 tickets at a time, so you won't have any problem booking 5 tickets through them. I used them last year and bought 6 tickets at one time. Also, where are you flying from? Right now the fares to Orlando are about as low as I've ever seen them, so see what the low airfare from your city is, and then keep that in mind when looking for airfare. Since you're leaving in June 2002, I'd definately wait until at least next year to purchase your tickets. Most airlines don't release any really cheap seats until about 3 months before. If you're concerned, you can just keep checking on the flights you want on expedia, you can look at the seating chart of the flight without purchasing, to see if the flights you want are filling up. If they get too full for you, then I'd book.

 

[Laurajean1014]

What state are you traveling from? My experience has been great with Delta! I book my airfare 11 months in advance (as I do my DVC) directly through Delta. I only use Expedia and Travelocity as guides. Delta also allows you to view and pick your seat assignments! Which is a great perk!

It is sometimes more expensive to fly on Delta (by less than $20) but my son is 5 and has over 15,000 sky miles with them. Another 10k and he gets a free flight (then we can upgrade to lst class when we trek to Hawaii).

Just food for thought...................have a blast.....L

 

[lovingthemouse]

You know - i usually book them well in advance too but the prices for next April from Hartford to Orlando are quite high - i am surprised because i have seen no lower prices at all. Still waiting for decent prices to surface.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

for that far in advaNCE YOU WON'T get the best fare. you will get your "seat" but not the best price. its not like Jun is going to book like spring break weeks and thanksgiving do. you have time. lots of it. right now the sales go until oct 31st and some have gone into nov. and if the fare goes down they will give you the voucher to use at antoher time. (the reason they do this is approx. 85% don't use the vouchers and that means the airline gets to basically keep that amount. personally I would wait until the come out with a sale for jun in march or april and even may. but the final decision is yours. they could possibly come out with a sale for jun as early as feb.

 

[Scotch]

If you don't travel much, I don't think you should rely on getting vouchers for price drops. The vouchers I've seen typically have a one year use period -- after that, it is money down the drain.