When to book airfare?

[abby]

I usually book packages, but this trip I am booking without a package because I got such a good rate at HOJO.

We travel 12/11 to 12/15. The only airline that goes direct to SNA is alaska. Last month it was way too expensive, now it's 330 for the flights I want which is 50 cheaper then before. Do I book now or wait.....I hate this........why are flights so expensive these days? (I know the price of gas et al......)

Also, my friend who is planning to go has a husband with cancer, and so we all know her plans could change at the last minute.....

Help, what to do?

 

[Alex2kMommy]

If you haven't already, you can sign up with various airlines to be notified when hot airfare deals come up. A friend of mine did this, and told me about it so I booked a great rate! Though I am flying into Long Beach for the first time, but it's only a couple miles further away than SNA, and apparently because of its size is very quick and easy to get in and out of.

I think my flights are through Alaska as well, so she must have signed up through Alaskaair.com...

ETA: I wish your friend's husband the best of luck, and I hope she is still able to travel to DL with you.

 

[abby]

I forgot to mention, I only do direct flights, so it's alaska or nothing. I hate to fly so I can deal with it better when I don't have to take off and land more then once.........

 

[Albort]

i would try sites like kayak.com.

It shows when the flights are the cheapest and most expensive...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I forgot to mention, I only do direct flights, so it's alaska or nothing. I hate to fly so I can deal with it better when I don't have to take off and land more then once.........

Ours is direct as well, it's just direct to LGB instead of SNA.

 

[staley7580]

I would wait... I have never paid more then $99 each way through Alaska. I just keep checking, usually when it gets to be about 2 or 3 months out they have there sales!

 

[brenda1966]

When to book. This is the question! One thing I do is check the seats on the flight. Go through the steps to book your flight and get to the seat selection area and see how many are left. If there are only a handful and it's a flight you really want, then I'd book. Otherwise I wait until I see a fare that I feel is okay. Once I book, I never look back. There's not point then in checking the rates because if they go down more you'll just feel bad.

 

[Kailua's Belle]

I just went through this dilemma!! I waited and the prices went up $120 per ticket! AHHHH! Now for the good news. I checked for just one person versus six and they still had the cheaper fare. I called the airline directly and found out that there were actually five at that rate. I learned my lesson not to wait and booked the five they had and one more at the higher price.

So that being said, waiting was not a smart idea for me. I'm traveling from Hawaii and going during a peak season. Since you're traveling in what looks to be right before peak season begins, you may be okay waiting for a deal. You may even want to call the airline directly. I would also recommend kayak.com. They're the best for finding the lowest airfares. Good luck with your decision!

 

[bouncy54]

If you haven't already, you can sign up with various airlines to be notified when hot airfare deals come up. A friend of mine did this, and told me about it so I booked a great rate! Though I am flying into Long Beach for the first time, but it's only a couple miles further away than SNA, and apparently because of its size is very quick and easy to get in and out of.

I think my flights are through Alaska as well, so she must have signed up through Alaskaair.com...

ETA: I wish your friend's husband the best of luck, and I hope she is still able to travel to DL with you.

I've never considered flying into Long Beach from Seattle. I just looked at the Alaska website and we could have saved around $40 a ticket if we had flown into Long Beach and with 8 of us going that would have been quite a savings.

We always fly into SNA and always fly Alaska. I'm looking forward to hearing how your flight was when you get back from your trip.

 

[imjen]

We are flying into Long Beach from Seattle on Alaska Air as well. I'm sooo looking forward to it b/c last year we booked with Southwest since Alaska's prices were much higher. I didn't book far enough out. We had a layover in No. Cal and it was awful with kids! I will only do direct flights now. Anyway, I watched Alaska's prices for several weeks and they finally went to $99 each way about 4.5 months before our dates. And they didn't stay at that price for long either so once you see it go down, book right away. I learned my lesson the hard way last year when we just missed the cheaper seats. Good luck!

 

[Barbday62]

I do find tickets are cheaper to buy on Tuesday or Wednesday too. Keep watching all days of the week to see if it drops.
I guess driving is out of the question from Oregon if prices dont go down? We have driven from Seattle many times and it was about 19 hours drive for us.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I've never considered flying into Long Beach from Seattle. I just looked at the Alaska website and we could have saved around $40 a ticket if we had flown into Long Beach and with 8 of us going that would have been quite a savings.

We always fly into SNA and always fly Alaska. I'm looking forward to hearing how your flight was when you get back from your trip.

I guess I should have prefaced my comments a bit:

1. I have never flown into Long Beach before, either, but for $99/each way tickets, noooo problem! I'm there! The cheapest seats at the time to SNA were $358 RT, I believe...

2. I also will only fly direct. With two little boys (ages 6 and 3), it's a must.

3. The only other time we've flown with both boys was last year, for our first trip to DL. We flew into SNA.

4. From what I hear, Long Beach is easier to get in and out of than SNA. It's much smaller (no jetway, you actually disembark the plane via stairway on the tarmac), so fewer planes, luggage and people. I'm hoping this translates to a quicker arrival at DL!

5. If you rent a car, it may take a bit longer. I believe I read that you take a shuttle to the car rental location(s) rather than them being at the airport. We're going to take a cab anyway, so won't matter to us.

6. This is my first time booking the pieces separately, too. So far so good, though! Saved money over last year's trip already on airfare and hotel, so now just need to figure out whether to get APs for everyone, or one AP and park hoppers...

 

[Phalene]

I always fly Alaska Airlines too, mainly because I'm coming from Alaska and there aren't many other options

I have noticed in the past 2 years that AK Air has flight specials in March. In March of 2006 I was able to get our tickets to WDW $200 less PER PERSON, than what they had been, and did the same this year for our tickets to DLR.

So, if you know ahead of time when you usually take vacations, and you usually fly the same airline, keep checking with them and see when they traditionally offer sales.

 

[mystic_path]

I do find tickets are cheaper to buy on Tuesday or Wednesday too. Keep watching all days of the week to see if it drops.
I guess driving is out of the question from Oregon if prices dont go down? We have driven from Seattle many times and it was about 19 hours drive for us.

Too funny, I too was going to mention this. For some odd reason prices are cheaper then.

I wouldnt wait too long to get them, but you could always wait for a little while as you still have some time yet, and see if you can get some red tag deals or something. Last minute deals a month or so out seem to come down in price depending on what company you go through

 

[drag n' fly]

Kids fly free is on right now for Canadians in the west. I found out yeserday it had been extended past July 1st to October 31. Alaska is also offering as always but we fly AC because the flight times from Calgary are sucky.

Kids Fly Free to Los Angeles is back with Air Canada. This offer is valid for travel up to January 31, 2008 and must be booked by October 31, 2007. It is valid for departures from Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops. Black out dates & restrictions apply. Contact your travel agent for more details!

 

[5 Disney Fans]

There is a great site called farecast.com It will show you the different flights available and it it is a good time to buy or not.

Good luck to your friend's DH.

 

[abby]

See posting is good luck, today the fares dropped a lot. $114 each way non-stop from PDX to SNA. I was trying to decide if we were coming back Saturday or Sunday, well the good rate is for Sunday not Sat, oh well another night at DL that works for me. (especilly with my 69/night at HOJO in a park view room....Yeah Now all I have to do is wait 5 months.....

 

[RuthieT]

where did you find such a good price at Abby? We are going December 11th-17th

 

[abby]

www.alaskaair.com They have 114 each way for our dates, Tuesday down and Sunday back. Saturday back was more. Lower then I have seen in awhile from PDX for a nonstop flight.

 

[Kailua's Belle]

Hooray!! Glad it worked out for you!!