When do you buy airfare?

[kristenrice]

Calling all frequent flyers....

We are travelling in the last week of January of 2008. When would we have the best chance of getting the lowest airfare? We are planinng on flying out of Grand Rapids. I've been looking at NWA prices for the same week in 2007 and their fares are going up. In August, the flight was $239 and now it is $245. A few days ago it was over $300. How far out are fares typically at their lowest?

I have considered flying out of Chicago (SWA, AirTran, etc) but we will be travelling with a 2 year old and a 4 year old and I do not want a 3 hour drive followed by a 2 hour wait at the airport followed by a 3 hour flight! That would NOT be the way to start our vacation. I'll spend the extra $$$ to fly out of an airport that is 15 minutes from my house.

 

[TyGuy]

I believe the earlist you can buy airfare is 11 months from the date of travel. I usualy start watching fares about that time. I usualy balance between low fares and getting the schedule I want. Since this year we are traveling to WDW at a busy time of year for our airport (Jersey Week) I booked about 10 months out. I think I did alright with the cost but I was also able to get direct flights.

I've always found that flights get more expensive 30 to 60 days out but then drop off in cost between 30 and 14 days depending on how full the flights are.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

Start looking at fares in Feb. 07. Pick a price you're o.k. with, when/if the price hits that point, book it and forget it, otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy looking for the best deal.
In my case, $500 total round trip, non-stop from Boston to MCO for the 3 of us is what I paid the past 2 years and that's the price I'm looking for our April '07 trip. Otherwise we drive; looks llke we might be driving this year;
No Big Deal.
Good luck all,
Joe

 

[salmoneous]

How far out are fares typically at their lowest?

I don't think anything is "typical" anymore. Whenever we think we've figure out the airlines' pricing schemes, they change them.

I have a price in mind I want to pay. I keep checking back and as soon as the price is below that amount, I book.

 

[beccasmom]

We got a great fare on SWA for early February two years ago (which USAirways ended up matching). I think you'll probably make out well for that time period; it seems to be a slower time for air travel. I agree that flying from Chicago would undoutedly be cheaper, but far more stressful for you! Sometimes, you must bite the bullet in order to save your sanity!

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

FYI: We are traveling to WDW the last week of January 2007. I purchase our airfare on October 6th through Airtran flying out of Akron/Canton Regional Airport. The final price for us was $187.00 pp. ($74.00 each way plus fees and taxes) I was happy with that.