When do YOU book your flights?

[jlbower79]

I was wondering how many days ahead do you book? I still have 115 days until my trip... so far the cheapest flight I can find is with american airlines around 134 per person (no taxes added) from new orleans to orlando... i dont like my times though, i believe my flights took off at 6am and new orleans is a good hour away... kind of early. I did find a good fare with delta (more $ but perfect times) at fare fox (HAS ANYONE USED FAREFOX BEFORE? please someone tell me if you have?) anyways I know delta is doing a lot of changing so they might not be good fares. anyways... someone help! I can't get a DING from New Orleans I believe because of the hurricane, they aren't giving out any good offers. So far I have found... (per person, before taxes)

American Airlines 134.00
AirTran 162.00
Travelocity 165.00
Continental 176.00
Southwest 200.00
Delta 188.90
Northwest 357.00 (they are CRAZY and yes that's per person! Gas would cost me around 300 there and back cheaper then one ticket!)

anyways... should i wait longer or take a cheap flight as soon as one opens? I do have the aa on hold till tomorrow, but like I said, the times are kind of yucky. Let me know what you guys think!

Jaime

 

[jjan]

When are your flight dates? That is weird that the cheaper SW flights are already all booked up, unless you are traveling around a holiday??

 

[jlbower79]

because of the hurricanes southwest only has two flights a day out of new orleans... so southwest isn't going to give me a DING.. so far no dings I have seen are after Dec 16 and NONE have been for New Orleans to anywhere...

my times are Jan 28th and Feb 3rd.

Thanks
Jaime

 

[beccasmom]

$134.00 is a pretty good fare, IMHO. But if you've done better in the best, I would wait. You still have some time to find a more competitive fare. The dates you are traveling are not typically busy times at WDW. We were there early last February and it was relatively quiet. In fact, the reason we went then is because of cheap airfares. So you may yet have hope for a better fare, although it is difficult to say when it may be advertised. Of course, your situation is somewhat unique because of the conditions in your area. My advice - Keep looking and/or think about leaving from another airport that may offer more competition.

 

[jlbower79]

Just wanted to let you know that I got a DING up to feb 3! No New Orleans but hey, still cool. The other airports around me are more $$$, that's why i would just rather stay with NO... I did want to pass this around, i read it on hotwire

Our Discounted Fares aren't yet available for these travel dates.
Airlines offer their best fares within 60 days of travel.

I guess I'll just wait!
Jaime

 

[goofy4tink]

I always book as soon as I know I'm going...usually at that 331 day before window! Yes, I know...early. But, I've always gotten the cheapest fare that way. If the fare goes down more the the $25 change fee, I'll ask for a refund voucher. I fly Song and have yet to have that happen though. Right now, the flight I have booked for my return from Orlando to Boston is at $239!!! When I booked it last spring, it was $89. My flight down has stayed about the same at $79. I would lose sleep if I waited until 60 days before my trip!!!
And yes, I realize that flights often change when you book that far in advance. But, I check my flights once a day, just to sure. Hasn't been a problem yet.

 

[Blondiex46]

I am leaving in November around Thanksgiving and still haven't done it, have a van rented as back up!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are leaving in 10 days. We booked our flights in April and the price has gone up and up ever since then.

 

[maroney495]

We are flying for the first time in February and I booked our flights with Delta last week because everyone said they will only go up. I checked this am and they are DOWN by $35 per ticket.

 

[stage manager]

Buying airfare is like buying stock. The price is always fluctuating. It will go up and it will go down based on demand and proximity to travel. Set a budget for yourself and go by that. Don't try to make them make sense, just look at your finances and go with that. Even my sister-in-law, who is pretty high up in finance at a major airline can't explain the fare bucket system.

Just know Murphy's Law, when you buy, the price will go down. When you wait, the price will go up.

 

[disneymiss]

I have to say, I too book right when the flight opens, I believe the 11 month window, just like DVC home resorts....I usually always get the cheapest airfare that way, never saw a flight later that was cheaper.....

 

[Brian Noble]

If I'm traveling during a popular vacation time, I buy as soon as I know I'm going and I see a price I can afford for flights I want. I don't try to wrangle every last dollar out of the fare. If I'm thinking about going during a slow time, I'll wait until 6-8 weeks out, but I might jump on a really good deal that shows up a bit earlier than that.

For example, from Detroit, for our late February trip (typically President's week or thereabouts) I buy them ASAP. Because any sane person would rather be in Florida than Michigan in late February, they generally only go up.

 

[Kimmielee]

I booked our April 18th flight last week. I watched Spirit go from $1800 to $500 to $700 and thought I'd better jump... so I did... and today it's back down to $500

 

[disneycrazzzy]

I travel often from Seattle to Hawaii, Florida, California, and Indiana. I always start checking prices before the 11 month (330 day) window opens.
If prices are similar to what I paid in years past, I snap them up.

I like to book early so I can get direct flights and good times. Many times the prices have gone down, but only if I am willing to take a connecting flight.
Usually all the flights for the same airline to the same location cost the same when the flights first come out. Over time though, the more popular flights increase in cost and sometimes the less popular flights (long connections, too early, too late, etc.) get cheaper. Since our flight SEA to MCO is 5+ hours, I am willing to spend a few more dollars to get a direct flight.

I often look at expedia, orbitz, travelocity and the airline with the cheapest price on first three to get a good price. One year travelocity offerred flights to Hawaii for $400 cheaper than the airline itself (same flights). Keep checking!

Also, when in doubt I look at how many seats are available via orbitz. If there are lots of seats available I don't sweat as much assuming the price isn't going to go up with lots of seats. This has worked as well.

Happy flight planning all!!

 

[jlbower79]

Thanks Guys!

I think because I'm going during a "not so busy" time I"m going to stick it out for the prices to drop some... Right now I WANT to fly delta because they have the best 'times' aka no at 6 in the morning when i have to leave my house at 4:30... but right now AA has the cheapest flares and I would rather go the cheaper fare and get up so I have the extra 70 bucks... we all know we don't sleep that well the night before AND I will be landing early enough to catch a good afternoon nap... so it'll all be good..

Thanks Again!
Jaime

 

[SB in KY]

Jaime...I think you are wise to wait this one out.... I am betting SW will open up some more flights from New Orleans before your travel dates and when they do the price will drop again (and/or they will run Dings)

I have found that Delta and other legacy carriers out of Louisville do not drop their flight prices until after SW opens up their schedule for dates and then they will match or almost match those fares.

I have also found that Delta will drop fares to match SW when they drop a fare for an internet special (usually takes them about 24 hours after the SW fare is released), however they do not match Ding fares....

Another reason to wait a while....you like those Delta times now, but they are VERY likely to change flight schedules on you (and times can vary WIDELY) before the end of January....and I would be ticked if I paid more to get a flight at a better time and then they changed it on me!!

 

[jlbower79]

Another reason to wait a while....you like those Delta times now, but they are VERY likely to change flight schedules on you (and times can vary WIDELY) before the end of January....and I would be ticked if I paid more to get a flight at a better time and then they changed it on me!!

Duh Jaime... yeah I didn't even think about Delta and with their problems they been changing flight times like mad... I been hearing all over the board about people having flight changes... thank you so much! Here's helping for some lower flares in the future!

Thanks Jaime