When does everyone typically book their flights?

[disprincess2213]

Just a general question to see if you book airfare the minute it goes on sale or if you wait and see if prices drop? I always have a trip planned (hotel) but am always debating airfare (to wait or not to wait). What do you all do and what are your experience for best prices?

 

[alldiz]

Just a general question to see if you book airfare the minute it goes on sale or if you wait and see if prices drop? I always have a trip planned (hotel) but am always debating airfare (to wait or not to wait). What do you all do and what are your experience for best prices?

Southwest I usually book right away especially during school breaks. If price goes down i can get an adjustment to use within 1 yr.
In my flight to Europe for this summer I waited till January I have heard that is a good month to book Europe. Frustrating because price did go down and delta has such a large penalty for any changes. Wish southwest went to Europe.
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[deedisneydream97]

I guess it depends on where you are flying out of. Our only good choices for non-stop from Newark, NJ, are United or Jet Blue. I usually start haunting United right after I make my 11 mo. out reservation at my DVC. I know by now what is considered a "good" fare and base my purchases on that. I always get non-refundable, but only because it is usually just DH and myself and our plans have rarely changed. I think United lists fares 11 months out, maybe 12, not sure (I already got our fall flights). Jet Blue, I am pretty sure, is 6 months out. And that being said, we've only used Jet Blue once for a New Years trip because they were cheapest. I think I probably paid too much for our spring trip, but jumped on a "reasonable" fare because that was last summer when fuel prices were skyrocketing.

 

[automaticsoap]

I fly mostly US Airways to MCO, occasionally Jet Blue, and usually wait to see if airfare drops. I typically buy my flights anywhere from 1-3 months ahead of my reservation. Another reason I wait is because I know my schedule might change after I book at 7-11 months.

 

[seelyt2]

DH and I are type A people, so we hop right on it the very minute the plans are made. We book our resort at 8 or 9 a.m. at either 7 or 11 months out (on opening day), and immediately we book our flights. We fly Jet Blue from either Newburgh, NY, Philly, or Newark, depending on the fares and times. We've never seen a price drop from when we book so we're pretty happy with our system - or at least it works for us.

 

[DougEMG]

We normally go with Southwest and I try to book as soon as the days open up on their schedule.

 

[CarpeDisney]

We usually fly Southwest, and have rarely seen prices drop on the route(s) we fly.

I try to get flights within the first few minutes they open up, especially for the times we travel when public schools are on vacation. I've seen prices jump by 20-25% in the first two hours from the initial release time, and some booking categories are sometimes "sold out" within hours.

 

[sanibel93]

We fly Southwest and book as soon as they become available. If they go down we rebook and use the savings for towards another trip.

 

[keishashadow]

I've been trying to keep a supply of SWA points on hand to be able to book 'anticipated' travel at the release date, then I switch over to booking via cash if price is in same ballpark once I'm sure of our travel plans.

I have switched existing travel to accommodate big price drops that have popped up for airfare several times when I can switch DVC or other travel plans to make it work.

 

[ppoe65]

I usually book as soon as flights become available. We fly Spirit out of ACY. They usually are cheapest when first come out on Monday night Tuesday morning. We've used Spirit for years and know a good price. Once I buy I never look back. As long as I "think" I'm getting a good deal I'm happy

 

[disprincess2213]

The flights finally came out for November-Jan for Jet blue but the prices are TERRIBLE! I know what I can usually get them for and they are double that. In the past, if the fare dropped, they would gladly issue a credit. Unfortunately, I just found out you would have to PAY $75 for a credit!! per person!! Thats terrible. I am so disappointed with them lately.

 

[han22735]

Add me to the list of SW bookers who books within the first few minutes of the opening window. Our flights went from 185rt to 275 in a few hours. Just a month later and now it would be just over $350 a person rt.

 

[ton80]

We are planning 6/19-6/26 and the AF is horrible.. Checked the airfare the week before and it was so much cheaper (JB Delta). Hopefully the prices drop a little before we jump on them.

 

[bochnikm]

We fly out of the New York area and prefer JetBlue. With JetBlue we book as soon as possible. Their fares start out low then only increase as the flight fills up, so the earlier, the better. I have yet to see them drop fares after they have gone up.
If we fly on other airlines such as Delta. I try six to three months out. Earlier is better if it is a high travel day ie near holidays or on weekend flights. I check almost daily and usually early in the day. Prices can change dramatically even in the same day. I seem to get the best fares on Tuesday or Wednesday morning but your results may vary. If the fare goes down and is reasonable I jump on it. I don’t have the stomach to try and wait for even a lower fare.

 

[bochnikm]

The flights finally came out for November-Jan for Jet blue but the prices are TERRIBLE! I know what I can usually get them for and they are double that. In the past, if the fare dropped, they would gladly issue a credit. Unfortunately, I just found out you would have to PAY $75 for a credit!! per person!! Thats terrible. I am so disappointed with them lately.

I did not see your post till after I sent my first post. Hoping this isn't the new JetBLue. If it is we will lump them into the other airlines when we search for a good fare, first best fare wins.

 

[Sleepy425]

We fly JetBlue and are literally online the minute they release them. The last time we did this, within 2 hours the flights had gone up about $20 each. I know JetBlue no longer issues credits, but I still stalk them to see if it goes down (just to assure myself I did the right thing). So far they have only gone up.
On our 2013 trip, flight prices did go down a bit and we received credit (we had to book our foster daughter's flight just a month before we left and paid over $500 - by the time we flew we had gotten about $200 back as credit because the price kept dropping).

 

[DreamerWDW]

I fly Southwest and always book the day rates are released. Sometimes rates will go down slightly, but usually rates jump up and even sell out of the cheapest fares and direct flights. I generally fly at peak times.

 

[Kidanifan08]

We usually book as soon as SWA opens their flight schedule for our travel time. We have a trip planned for Oct, and I was caught off guard. By the time I figured out that the dates were open, some of the Wanna Get Away fares were gone and in just two weeks the options have diminished considerably. We fly out of IND, and I think part of the problem is SWA and Airtran merging. We never had Wanna Get Away fares disappear this early. Now we will be flying SWA (with a connection ) on the return and we are still watching the outbounds. Probably United, AA or US Air (all with connections ).