what day of the week should I reserve for best airfair price?

[3kidz4dis]

I am getting ready to make my ressie for the 11 month window and was wondering if it is better to do Wed-Wed or Sat-Sat or Sun-Sun. I know everyone is thinking, "save the points" don't stay on Sat. but that is why we bought enough points, to use them on Sat. What is the cheapest as far as airfair is concerned? (Baltimore-Orlando). Does it matter as far as check in is concerned? Thanks!

 

[stlrod]

If you are looking at Southwest, their best price (but not always) are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

 

[DebbieB]

Probably Wed-Wed would be cheaper airfare. Why don't you plug in some dates for early next year and compare. On the other hand, room choice is probably going to be limited on a Wednesday, more people checkout on Friday.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This will tend to be area specific. For us, usually Saturday and Sunday are cheaper. It used to be Wednesday or Thursday, but that has changed. I usually do some sample airline trips to check price. Lately, I have had a hard time figuring out what the airlines do, so I just make the ressie and spend abouit 8-9 months waiting for a good airfare. It usually comes in around 3-4 months before the trip.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I went ahead and booked vwl for new years, I was so excited, not I am getting quotes of over 2000 to fly direct from hartford, CT to MCO!!! I could save 330 going to LGA!. Normally I don't mind stops, but during the holidays we prefer non-stop because of all the confusion and delays at the airports, just seems like so much money, when I have flown the four of us to MCO for under 700 in the past!!! I am looking for a wednesday to a Monday, does anyone know when Southwest comes out with their fares for the end of December?

 

[gottagodisney]

I think Southwest posts schedules 6 months or less out. Often fares become cheaper the closer to date or they run specials. I would wait for one.

 

[bears163]

i have been watching southwest very closely for months now waiting for them to release dates in septmeber. i was looking for sept. 13. at 123 days before the 13th they released the dates for reservations. so that might give you some help also with their cheapest airfare was not available on sunday but i checked again 6 days later and then it was so just keep checking southwest.

 

[andriade]

Sign up for Southwest's click and save program. I get emails every week with some very good deals on flights from them.

You might also try bestfares.com. There is a membership fee but you might get some really good deals through them.

We're in California and we will proabably pay $1000 to fly there the first week of Dec. You are sooooo much closer you should get a better deal than that.

Good Luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I went ahead and booked vwl for new years, I was so excited, not I am getting quotes of over 2000 to fly direct from hartford, CT to MCO!!! I could save 330 going to LGA!. Normally I don't mind stops, but during the holidays we prefer non-stop because of all the confusion and delays at the airports, just seems like so much money, when I have flown the four of us to MCO for under 700 in the past!!! I am looking for a wednesday to a Monday, does anyone know when Southwest comes out with their fares for the end of December?

When does your ressie start? We specifically made our NYears ressie to start Dec. 31, because that day is cheaper to fly than the days before and after. I just purchased our tickets Friday, and our DD's ticket was more than ours, because she is going home on Saturday and we are going home on Tuesday. On the other end, it was more to fly on Friday than it was on Saturday....Go figure.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

I went ahead and booked vwl for new years, I was so excited, not I am getting quotes of over 2000 to fly direct from hartford, CT to MCO!!! I could save 330 going to LGA!. Normally I don't mind stops, but during the holidays we prefer non-stop because of all the confusion and delays at the airports, just seems like so much money, when I have flown the four of us to MCO for under 700 in the past!!! I am looking for a wednesday to a Monday, does anyone know when Southwest comes out with their fares for the end of December?

You can book with one stop for $1028 via Delta for 4 of you. It's not ideal with the stops but I'd rather have the $1000 to spend over the New Year. Good luck.

 

[quentina]

I went ahead and booked vwl for new years, I was so excited, not I am getting quotes of over 2000 to fly direct from hartford, CT to MCO!!! I could save 330 going to LGA!. Normally I don't mind stops, but during the holidays we prefer non-stop because of all the confusion and delays at the airports, just seems like so much money, when I have flown the four of us to MCO for under 700 in the past!!! I am looking for a wednesday to a Monday, does anyone know when Southwest comes out with their fares for the end of December?

We used Delts's song airline from JFK. Direct flight $130.00 per person. Too be honest, it was the best flight I ever had. Individual, free satellite TV on on each persons seat. I watched Regis and my hubby and son watched Nickelodean.

Kim

 

[CHOPR]

yes delta song is good and the tv screens keep the kids busy. our 5 from jfk to mco for under $1000.00

 

[DeeDeeDis]

Both Song & SW have direct flights from hartford to orlando.

We booked our tickets for August trip in April via internet (79.00 each way plus tax), in May i noticed that the flight was cheaper, called sw customer services (who i think are GREAT-always have had wonder service from them) and they walked me thru canceling our current flights and rebooking at the lower price. 4 rt tickets at 135.00 each, This is without penaty. We currently have a credit in our account which we will use for our december trip.

downloaded "Ding" on my desktop, playing on the computer friday nite and hear a "ding" two round trip tickets to orlando from hartford leaving on a Saturday am and returning on a friday for 127.00 each.

Song may have more luxuries, but who can beat being allowed to change tickets when what you have booked goes on sale without penaty. This is a great option when you have a family of 5.

Sw puts their tickets on sale approximately 3 months in advance.

good luck, keep looking theres got to be a better rate out there.

 

[JimMIA]

I am getting ready to make my ressie for the 11 month window and was wondering if it is better to do Wed-Wed or Sat-Sat or Sun-Sun. I know everyone is thinking, "save the points" don't stay on Sat. but that is why we bought enough points, to use them on Sat. What is the cheapest as far as airfair is concerned? (Baltimore-Orlando). Does it matter as far as check in is concerned? Thanks!

There is no generic answer to your question; you're just going to have to check all your options. Airfares vary widely from airline to airline, from destination to destination, and from hour to hour. You will even get different fares for flights leaving within minutes of each other.

I would use one of the travel websites (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc) and check a variety of starting points and destinations. You have five major airports close by, and as others have mentioned you may save big by flying from a different place. I don't know why, but Philadelphia is always a very cheap flight from Miami, as is DCA. It could be - and probably is - a completely different story to Orlando.

Remember, however, that airlines like SWA do not list fares on travel sites, so you'll have to check their site independently.

If you are going to rent a car anyway, you might check flights into either Tampa (1 1/2- 2 hour drive from WDW) or West Palm Beach (probably 2 1/2 hours). Miami or Ft. Lauderdale might be less expensive, but a longer drive. I wouldn't recommend Miami because of the confusing airport and traffic, but the other choices are all easy-in, easy-out and not bad traffic.

For the major airlines, their fares generally change very early Tuesday morning, so if you book on Tuesday you will often have a combination of the best flights and fares. NEVER buy airfare on the weekend.The prices are higher on the weekends - they usually raise them on Thursday night.

 

[JimMIA]

One further thing - your airfare will probably vary a lot more depending on airline and airports used, than the days of the week you fly. Mondays and Fridays (when most business travelers fly) might be exceptions, but other than that, the days may not matter much.

 

[plamp]

I was also happy with Delta Song. And you can book flights up to 330 days out. From NY (JFK) I found Tuesdays and Wednesdays to be lower fares. Found $89 one way fares for next Easter vacation.

 

[living la vida mickey]

We made our airline reservations for New Year's day through Saturday, 1/7 two months ago. I got this tip on the transportation boards. Go to expedia and book your trip with a rental car or a hotel room if you want to use one for your first night. You actually get cheaper prices on the airline tickerts and we got cheaper prices on the rental by doing the package. We have round trip non-stop from Chicago to MCO on American for under $200 a person and we got a full size rental for $135 for the week unlimited mileage. It's worth a try.