When should we be prepared to purchase December airfare?

[tripletsmama]

Has anyone purchased December airfare yet? We've traveled these same dates for several years now, and usually purchase in August or September. I know airfare has been high lately so I thought maybe we need to start looking earlier. Our dates are December 30-January 13.

 

[dworldlovers]

Triplets-Wow!!! Keeps you busy, I'm sure!! We're going to Seattle at the end of August and I booked airfare last week. Southwest had a sale that I learned about via an e-mail they sent. I also get e-mails from AirTran and Jetblue. If you don't already, sign up for these alerts. I would start searching airfares in Sept. and search on Tuesdays-fares tend to be cheaper!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

We purchased our outbound flight for Dec last week when SW fares came out. They still had 1 flight with fares just over $100 one way, so I jumped on those. I guess we will break down and buy the return flight sometime this month still.

 

[Agent555]

Look Now! If you need more than 4 seats do not wait! Prices will go up for both WDW and DL because of the expansions and people wanting to go! If you are certain you are going those dates then find a decent price for everyone and book it. Once booked stop looking at flights.

 

[Donna M]

Once booked stop looking at flights.

So true, unless you have an airline that will give you a credit. Nothing more annoying than seeing cheaper flights that you can't do anything about.

 

[lugnut33]

I bought our Southwest tickets the day they came out because I thought the price was good. I wasn't about to wait and see if they would come down. Checked now, and they are about $150 more expensive.

 

[tripletsmama]

Thanks for the input everyone

Triplets-Wow!!! Keeps you busy, I'm sure!! We're going to Seattle at the end of August and I booked airfare last week. Southwest had a sale that I learned about via an e-mail they sent. I also get e-mails from AirTran and Jetblue. If you don't already, sign up for these alerts. I would start searching airfares in Sept. and search on Tuesdays-fares tend to be cheaper!

Busy...definitely.

We purchased our outbound flight for Dec last week when SW fares came out. They still had 1 flight with fares just over $100 one way, so I jumped on those. I guess we will break down and buy the return flight sometime this month still.

One reason I'm hesitating is because I found a decent flight on the 30th on airtran, but they haven't released fares through our return date, so I would just be booking outbound. I would rather book both legs at the same time. $100 one way sounds great though!

Look Now! If you need more than 4 seats do not wait! Prices will go up for both WDW and DL because of the expansions and people wanting to go! If you are certain you are going those dates then find a decent price for everyone and book it. Once booked stop looking at flights.

And there's the key!!

 

[helenk]

I just booked my flights for my trip from 12/7-12/12. I did not like the flight times that SW had for their non stop flights so I booked using my points with USairways. Leaving Phila on 12/7 and arriving at MCO at 8:35 pm, I'm working that day so I wanted a later flight but not the last flight out, coming home I leave MCO at 2:50 pm and arrive in Phila at 5:15. I had thought about taking a later flight but I have to work the next day so this way I can sleep in a bit have something to eat before heading off to the airport.
Both flights are non stop so I am very happy. I did not want to wait any longer for fear that the flights I wanted would not be available with points.
My vacation was approved today and as soon as I got home from work, I booked.

 

[wdwfan1]

We also bought our tickets when Southwest released fares for December. They have gone up since then. Good luck with your search and have a wonderful vacation.

 

[Agent555]

Let us know how your search for flights goes!

 

[tripletsmama]

Let us know how your search for flights goes!

I got frustrated and gave up! Good flight times and non stop flights are just as important to me as the price since we will have 3 kids and an infant. However, DH doesn't see it that way so I'm still searching for some kind of bargain he seems to think will pop up. I'm having a baby, due July 29, so I am going to make sure to book before that. Once the baby comes I don't plan on having time on my hands to obsess over flights.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've already purchased my tickets for December. And when I checked the other day, the price has already gone up, so you may not want to wait too long before buying yours.

 

[Alexander]

Unless something in the category of miraculous occurs for us, we will be driving. I have been watching flights from Upstate NY to Central FL for months on end now. The best I could find for us was $588 each and that was with a layover. Direct were near the $700 mark. Our dates are 12/21 to 1/1. With 12/21 being a Friday and just before Christmas, I am not anticipating the rates to come down. With DS starting high school in the fall and being on the basketball team, we don't have the option of leaving any earlier which would reduce the cost by hundreds per person.

 

[shannonstar]

We purchased our outbound flight for Dec last week when SW fares came out. They still had 1 flight with fares just over $100 one way, so I jumped on those. I guess we will break down and buy the return flight sometime this month still.

I am in the same book as this. I booked November 14th for 99/person 1 way. Now if I can just get the return on the 24th for 200 or less I will be ecstatic.

 

[Deesknee]

I'm having the same issue. DH keeps telling me to hold on as gas prices are falling fast. I just keep seeing the "cheap seats" going higher and higher in price. I think if they don't come down by our 3 month mark I am biting the bullet and buyin them.
As far as you all sitting together. We also have triplets and a younger. We have found finding seats to be fairly easy as long as you don't mind getting a particular area of the plane. We have never had to seperate. Sometimes the triplets have sat in front of us or behind us, or beside us. But we have always gotten 3 + 3 near each other. When my multiples were younger we would separate them with DH or myself in the middle of 2 of them. But by 8 they sat 3 in behind us.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[Missyrose]

I'm having the same issue. DH keeps telling me to hold on as gas prices are falling fast. I just keep seeing the "cheap seats" going higher and higher in price. I think if they don't come down by our 3 month mark I am biting the bullet and buyin them.
As far as you all sitting together. We also have triplets and a younger. We have found finding seats to be fairly easy as long as you don't mind getting a particular area of the plane. We have never had to seperate. Sometimes the triplets have sat in front of us or behind us, or beside us. But we have always gotten 3 + 3 near each other. When my multiples were younger we would separate them with DH or myself in the middle of 2 of them. But by 8 they sat 3 in behind us.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.

The only problem with thinking that airfare will fall along with gas prices is that aircraft fuel hasn't fallen nearly as much. And since airlines buy in large quantities, it locks the price in for a while.


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[tripletsmama]

Unless something in the category of miraculous occurs for us, we will be driving. I have been watching flights from Upstate NY to Central FL for months on end now. The best I could find for us was $588 each and that was with a layover. Direct were near the $700 mark. Our dates are 12/21 to 1/1. With 12/21 being a Friday and just before Christmas, I am not anticipating the rates to come down. With DS starting high school in the fall and being on the basketball team, we don't have the option of leaving any earlier which would reduce the cost by hundreds per person.

We just discussed the possibility of driving last night. DH thinks it would be great to leave at 8pm and have all 4 kids sleeping though a large portion of the trip and then having our car while we're there. I personally think it sounds borderline crazy! Good luck finding something reasonable.

I'm having the same issue. DH keeps telling me to hold on as gas prices are falling fast. I just keep seeing the "cheap seats" going higher and higher in price. I think if they don't come down by our 3 month mark I am biting the bullet and buyin them.
As far as you all sitting together. We also have triplets and a younger. We have found finding seats to be fairly easy as long as you don't mind getting a particular area of the plane. We have never had to seperate. Sometimes the triplets have sat in front of us or behind us, or beside us. But we have always gotten 3 + 3 near each other. When my multiples were younger we would separate them with DH or myself in the middle of 2 of them. But by 8 they sat 3 in behind us.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Our girls have been flying since they were 2 1/2, but I've never attempted a flight with a baby. Guess that will have to be a learning experience! Cool to see another mom of triplets on here.

 

[linskypens]

We wont be arriving in orlando until after midnight for our trip in november. Is there a hotel near the airport that provides shuttle service? Id like to stay there overnight the first night and then go back to the airport in the morning to rent a car.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Alexander]

Okay, flights for us at least, are coming down! Our original $588 with layover and almost $700 nonstop is down to $340 nonstop!

Just need to convince DH! It would only be about $600 to drive and we wouldn't have to worry about over packing (it is Christmas time). Flying at $340/pp would put us just over $1300 plus another $200 for a rental car.

I told him that $300 was my limit and I was pulling the trigger at that point with or without his blessing!

 

[Becky0216]

I check every day on all sites for airline prices. Usually I buy the tickets about 6 - 8 weeks out but I also usually book my trip last minute. This year we planned 7 months early. Tickets from my local airport (small place in Allentown, PA) to MCO on Dec 11- Dec 18th just went down. They were non-stop for $189 and now are $134 RT. I don't like the times so I am booking non stop down and a short connecting flight back. Will cost me $167 RT. Weird enough, my closest major airport (Philadelphia, PA) will cost me $60 more and up to fly RT and it takes me 3 times as long to get there. Keep checking, but be sure to check more than one site and if you have a small airport close by, check that one too. Good luck. Now my task is to find a real cheap car rental.