When do you buy your airline tickets?

[debelfish]

We are going for Thanksgiving this year and I am trying to decide if I should just buy the tickets now or see if the fares improve. They are more than $100 more than they were this time last year! For four of us that it a big chunk of the budget. We are getting to WDW from Wash. DC on the 18th and leaving on the 24th. I did discover by leaving a day earlier(the day after Tday) that would save an additional $400 but man I hate to pay $1,300 for just air tickets. Does anyone think the fares may go down before then?
TIA
Elizabeth
WL 11/06
AKL 10/05

 

[TinksMagic54]

I'm in the same boat -- we're going over Christmas and I've been watching the fares hoping to see a decrease before I purchase. I check everyday -- sometimes more than once.

As soon as I see a fare I think is good, I'm going to book (pretty much have our dates set as we have resort reservations, ADR's etc). Now I just need the airlines to cooperate.

I figure if I don't see much movement by Labor Day or so, I'll go ahead and book the tickets.

 

[AJKMOM]

You could research the Transportation Board here at the DIS for more suggestions, but I always use the big travel search engines and have an idea in mind what is a good price. For us in northwest PA., anything under $225 is a good price after Hurricane Katrina. The best I did before that was about $188, and I was thrilled to find $192 (after taxes, etc.) on Expedia for November 11-20, 2006. We have to fly in and out of Tampa, but I now planned a few days at the beach, too, so it will be fine. We always rent a car, so that didn't change.

The best I could do to Orlando was about $250 plus tax, so I am happy to fly to Tampa. I think the best think is to try Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity.

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

I too have been checking the rates and I went to Expedia, Travelocity, as well as directly to the airline sites. The cheapest I found was $168.00 round trip with Delta from Rochester to Orlando. For the 4 of us, it was 830 with taxes and all fees. That is sooo much cheaper than what I have been seeing and I got it directly through Delta.

I have plenty of time since we aren't going until May 2007, but with a rate like that, I couldn't see waiting.

 

[ktink]

We live close to Nashville so it's only around a 10-12 hr drive to WDW. And the past 2 years we have booked w/ the idea of driving but have been able to purchase $39 fares from SW in July for travel in early September. So this year we're holding out and hoping for the same because it's less than $400 for all 4 of us to travel. We'll know in the next couple of weeks if we'll be driving or flying.

 

[CTDis4]

Signed up for Southwest Ding. Booked our room at CSR for October 13 thru the 22nd and as soon as I saw a good rate I booked. $138. round trip Hartford to Orlando.

 

[Ella's Mom]

I'd keep checking everyday. If fares go down, chances are it will be much closer to your trip and I don't think you want to wait that long. Then again, it's
Thanksgiving and fares are usually high during that time. You could wait to see what Southwest offers. I'd definitely try individual airline websites. Sometimes they are a little less than Expedia, Orbitz, etc. Be flexible with your airport - I know there are several in the D.C. area. Also, sometimes fares are cheaper during the middle of the night. I've gotten better fares searching at that time (for example, Tuesday at 2 AM). Good luck.

 

[justice11]

i got us tickets yesterday from southwest for 200 dollars apiece round trip from st. louis it is a internet deal. when i called sw they wanted 358. so i went back online and got 11 of them. was very excited. 93 days left. tuesday is when airfare comes out.

 

[loriandmatt]

i give myself a window, i start looking around 8-10 weeks away from my departure date. if i don't find anything that i think is a bargin within 2 weeks/10 days at the lates, i bag the idea of flying and we just drive.

we have it figured that to drive it would cost us around $400 in gas round trip and @$100 each way for hotel half way. (philly to WDW @ 16 hours one way) total around $600. if i can find airfare for the 4 of us for that much or less - i will go for it.

right now flights between philly and mco are not so much of a bargin.

i would rather fly, but we don't hate driving if it ends up being the way we go. advantage - we have a car with us the entire time we are down there and don't have to fork out a few hundred dollars to rent one.

 

[bnorm27]

Big jumps in fuel prices mean a big jump in ticket prices. Some airlines raising fares by as much as $50 per segment. With the volatility in the fuel sector, don't look for too many deals now. Best bet is to book when you see a good deal. We have tix on Jet Blue out of Newark, and paid about $207 per seat inclusive of all fees and taxes. Best deals are also found on line.

Good luck!!

 

[bnorm27]

Don't overlook Spirit Air out of Atlantic City!

 

[hellokitty86]

We fly from Washington DC (Dulles) too. I bought my tickets in March 2006, for my trip in September. I am flying United for Ted and tickets for 2 people were 374.90.

I like to buy my tickets early because I am a bit of a fanatic about getting an aisle seat, but the downside to booking so early is that they change your flight time sometimes. They changed my flight once already and we still have a little while to go! They didn't even inform me, so make sure you check your flight info. frequently.

Hope you have a great trip, and find great airfare!!

 

[kimberh]

I was checking a ticket for a friend the other night. I started around 7:30 the ticket was $852.00. She almost passed out. Between midnight and 1:00 AM the ticket dropped half by the same sites that I had been searching. I had heard that might be a possibility so check that out and see. We don't have any discount carriers here.