When is the best time

[nymomof3]

When is the best time to buy your airline tickets, is it when they first come out or will the fare get bettre as time goes on. i always try to book our trips at least 9 months in advance. thanks for any info.
http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;0;0/st/20070723/e/2ND+TRIP+TO+RPR/k/c755/event.png

 

[alicenwonder99]

I wait until the great Ding rates come out. We got $54 one way on SW for our trip last week. I started checking flight rates back in March and couldn't find anything less than $99.

 

[Hockeychic]

We usually wait for a seat sale, but this trip we wanted specific flight times so we booked as soon as avail and I have already gotten a DING rate for my departing flight and SW refunded me the difference.

Kim

 

[beattyfamily]

I normally am a very early booker; usually at the 330 day mark and its almost always worked out for me.

Well, this year at the 330 mark Jetblue was outrageous for the end of October. So I waited and waited. Then I even tried SW and Dings but nothing was less then $240. and I'd much prefer Jetblue anyway.

Then suddenly there was a 3 day sale with Jetblue on August 1 (3 months before my trip and the longest I've ever waited!!) and my airfare I wanted went from $377 to $177!!

I couldn't believe my eyes. I booked it right away! I was so so happy.

I hope this helps you just a little bit. There usually are sales about 3 months out and this is the first time I waited for them and the first time I really needed to wait for them.

Good luck!

 

[dudspizza]

Here is what I do.

I research the rates so I know what tickets are going for. Then I decide on a price that I think is fair and when tickets hit that price, I buy. We don't have SW in Minneapolis, so Ding is not a possibility.

So, know what a fair price is and buy when you see it. Now, if you are going at a high travel time, earlier is better.

Duds

 

[beccasmom]

Here is what I do.

I research the rates so I know what tickets are going for. Then I decide on a price that I think is fair and when tickets hit that price, I buy. We don't have SW in Minneapolis, so Ding is not a possibility.

So, know what a fair price is and buy when you see it. Now, if you are going at a high travel time, earlier is better.

I agree with this advice. We normally book at approximately the 6-month mark. We have the advantage of SWA to keep prices competitive here in Philly. If you have that advantage (or of JetBlue), join their e-mail lists and download DING! from SWA.

If you're traveling during holiday season, you would be wise to be more aggressive and book as soon as a good fare (it might be a little higher than usual) appears. If you prefer a certain schedule, than that advice becomes more important.

Use the following sites for your research (along w/airline sites): kayak, travelocity, orbitz, airfarewatchdog, expedia, and lovemyseat & seatguru for seating charts.

 

[nymomof3]

thank you all for your great replys but here goes a crazy question..what in the world is a ding???anyone please....thanks to all!!!!

 

[Bob P]

This is a DING:

http://www.southwest.com/ding/what_is_ding.html

 

[nymomof3]

Thanks