When to book airfare?

[darnheather]

The last time I flew was more than five years ago. I've always waited to around 4 or 3 months before vacation to book airfare. Today on a whim I checked Delta to see if their fares were out for next February and March. To my horror most of of the flights from San Diego to where we live are already sold out at the cheap levels. The only thing left are two flights leaving after 11:30pm and arriving the next day and they aren't cheap (plus of course baggage fees!).

Is this normal now?

I know that Southwest will release their February/March fares later this month but I hadn't planned to book right away unless the fares were incredibly low. Now I'm scared.

 

[MrsD78]

The last time I flew was more than five years ago. I've always waited to around 4 or 3 months before vacation to book airfare. Today on a whim I checked Delta to see if their fares were out for next February and March. To my horror most of of the flights from San Diego to where we live are already sold out at the cheap levels. The only thing left are two flights leaving after 11:30pm and arriving the next day and they aren't cheap (plus of course baggage fees!).

Is this normal now?

I know that Southwest will release their February/March fares later this month but I hadn't planned to book right away unless the fares were incredibly low. Now I'm scared.

Sadly I think that may be normal now I looked at airfare in Dec 2017 for our cruise in 2018 but I wasn't ready to book...a few months later and the rates had jumped to way more than I wanted to pay.

I waited until Southwest released their fares thinking that the other airlines would drop once there was more competition...unfortunatly that did not happen, so I jumped on the southwest fares a few hours after the release and was able to get tickets for my party of 8 that was in our budget.


** I would say jump on the cheap air when you see it because they disappear quickly. I checked my same flights on Southwest the evening that I purchased them and the price had gone up about 120/ticket. And now the departing flight is sold out at the lowest teir.


Good luck with your ticket search, I hope you are able to get the flights you want!

 

[rcchello]

It now depends a lot on the load management sofware. If the flight sells well you won't see a break but if it doesn't they may release more cheap seats.Then there is a possibility of one of those random air sales, if the airline want to increase loads across a group of flights. There are some websites who will try to estimate when to buy based on last patterns.

I find it is a game of chance where sometimes I buy at a great price and sometimes I miss.

 

[Shanti]

The last time I flew was more than five years ago. I've always waited to around 4 or 3 months before vacation to book airfare. Today on a whim I checked Delta to see if their fares were out for next February and March. To my horror most of of the flights from San Diego to where we live are already sold out at the cheap levels. The only thing left are two flights leaving after 11:30pm and arriving the next day and they aren't cheap (plus of course baggage fees!).

Is this normal now?

I know that Southwest will release their February/March fares later this month but I hadn't planned to book right away unless the fares were incredibly low. Now I'm scared.

When I see affordable flights, I go ahead and purchase them (or put a free hold on them, in the case of American). I've read claims that fares are cheapest several months after release, but I haven't actually seen that in practice, particularly for school holiday flights (summer & Christmas vacation) when we tend to fly. For those, I've mainly seen rates rise over time and then hold at high levels.

The best airlines deals I've gotten were booked far in advance of the trip.

 

[Girl of the South]

I pretty much ONLY fly Southwest domestically (if it works for the city pair) because you can always change your flights with no penalty and IF you find a lower fare (on Southwest) you can CHANGE your ticket to the lower priced fare (do not CANCEL, pick CHANGE) and the fare difference is put into "Travel Funds" you can use at a later date.

To change flights on the major airlines is often $150 to $200. Southwest may not always be the cheapest but it is the most flexible. Cheapest day to buy airline tickets is usually Tuesday. Cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Southwest also gives you two free checked bags . . . .

NOTE: The passenger who the ticket is for has to use the travel funds. You can't share them with someone else. And you have a year from the date you BOUGHT the ticket to use the funds. So if you buy a ticket July 1st for a flight next February, then you need to use the funds for a trip that ends before July 1st.

 

[Shanti]

I pretty much ONLY fly Southwest domestically (if it works for the city pair) because you can always change your flights with no penalty and IF you find a lower fare (on Southwest) you can CHANGE your ticket to the lower priced fare (do not CANCEL, pick CHANGE) and the fare difference is put into "Travel Funds" you can use at a later date.

To change flights on the major airlines is often $150 to $200. Southwest may not always be the cheapest but it is the most flexible. Cheapest day to buy airline tickets is usually Tuesday. Cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Southwest also gives you two free checked bags . . . .

NOTE: The passenger who the ticket is for has to use the travel funds. You can't share them with someone else. And you have a year from the date you BOUGHT the ticket to use the funds. So if you buy a ticket July 1st for a flight next February, then you need to use the funds for a trip that ends before July 1st.

Yes, I like that policy, but its severe limitations on the use of the funds are annoying. The other problem is that when you rebook your flight to save money, your early bird ranking gets worse.

Still like flying SWA, though. The offer of 2 free checked bags is a genuine deal. They are one of only 2 airlines offering nonstops between my hometown & MCO. And I love that they rarely change or cancel flights.

 

[ironz]

I'm on your cruise (pretty sure), and our return flights are coinciding with the first part of Spring Break (at least in the south). I'm holding out for Southwest, at least for the flight to the cruise... will probably take SW back from SAN, but thanks for reminder to not wait too long.

I usually don't book super far in advance just from home in TX to MCO, as those are generally reasonable *knock on wood!*

And, as to one if your other posts, I'll tell you all about the Alaska cruise in February if we meet!

 

[kaseyC]

I love Southwest but during holiday and spring break weeks their prices can be higher than the other domestic carriers. I booked tickets for our Christmas cruise in May on AA. They had great non-stop flights in First class from Chicago for what I considered a very good price. Checked Southwest at the end of May the day they opened up that booking period and their flights were $100 more pp. So glad I didn't wait because the First class tickets we booked on AA are 3 times what we paid pp now.

My advice always keep looking. I like google flights to set up alerts. Purchase when you find a price you're comfortable with and don't look back.

 

[DCSWO]

There is no magic time to purchase anymore. SW is good sometimes, but they aren’t guaranteed to be the cheapest anymore. As people have said, if you see a fare you like, regardless of how many months out it is, buy it. In your case, you may want to look at renting a car and driving to LAX. More flight options there than SDGO. Good luck.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Hi my friend, I would recommend booking with SW when their schedule is released. You will have the best choices of flights right then. Ideally, you will want a nonstop with no connections. Are you traveling with the girls? Do you three like to sit next to each other in the 3x3 seating configuration? If so, you could buy Early Bird boarding for one of you. Once you board, you can save the other two seats until they come on the aircraft and join you.

We live in Phoenix, there are over 160 SW flights departing here each day, we have flown them a lot. I really like the “free baggage” policy and their favorable on-time performance history.

I am excited for you!!

 

[darnheather]

Thank you all so much. I hadn't thought about spring break starting when we are trying to come back. That may actually change when we come back as we may spend a couple of days at DisneyLand after all! What a dream come true.

This board always manages to cheer me up. Pixie dust is magical.

I pretty much ONLY fly Southwest domestically (if it works for the city pair) because you can always change your flights with no penalty and IF you find a lower fare (on Southwest) you can CHANGE your ticket to the lower priced fare (do not CANCEL, pick CHANGE) and the fare difference is put into "Travel Funds" you can use at a later date.

To change flights on the major airlines is often $150 to $200. Southwest may not always be the cheapest but it is the most flexible. Cheapest day to buy airline tickets is usually Tuesday. Cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Southwest also gives you two free checked bags . . . .

NOTE: The passenger who the ticket is for has to use the travel funds. You can't share them with someone else. And you have a year from the date you BOUGHT the ticket to use the funds. So if you buy a ticket July 1st for a flight next February, then you need to use the funds for a trip that ends before July 1st.

That is really good to know. The free checked bags is a huge deal on a 2 week cruise. I know I'll have to do some laundry but we have multiple dresses, costumes, shoes, etc. We like our finery. Plus all the fish extender gifts!

I'm on your cruise (pretty sure), and our return flights are coinciding with the first part of Spring Break (at least in the south). I'm holding out for Southwest, at least for the flight to the cruise... will probably take SW back from SAN, but thanks for reminder to not wait too long.

I usually don't book super far in advance just from home in TX to MCO, as those are generally reasonable *knock on wood!*

And, as to one if your other posts, I'll tell you all about the Alaska cruise in February if we meet!

Would love to meet and talk Alaska. I wish DCL would offer the joint cruise/train trips as that is my bucket list item for Alaska. Going to check the exact dates for SW release and add an alarm to my phone.

Hi my friend, I would recommend booking with SW when their schedule is released. You will have the best choices of flights right then. Ideally, you will want a nonstop with no connections. Are you traveling with the girls? Do you three like to sit next to each other in the 3x3 seating configuration? If so, you could buy Early Bird boarding for one of you. Once you board, you can save the other two seats until they come on the aircraft and join you.

We live in Phoenix, there are over 160 SW flights departing here each day, we have flown them a lot. I really like the “free baggage” policy and their favorable on-time performance history.

I am excited for you!!

I have been back and forth about taking the girls. It is supposed to be a graduation present for the oldest but it is so hard to deal with a 17 year old who thinks she knows everything. LOL I have to keep reminding myself that I was her age once. I hate that airlines make people pay to sit together. My youngest would be terrified to sit alone.

 

[Dug720]

I have been back and forth about taking the girls. It is supposed to be a graduation present for the oldest but it is so hard to deal with a 17 year old who thinks she knows everything. LOL I have to keep reminding myself that I was her age once. I hate that airlines make people pay to sit together. My youngest would be terrified to sit alone.

Not all do. Some airlines actually allow you to select your seat without paying for it.

 

[Intr3pid]

These have been a few studies on this, such as the one quoted here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/11/whens-the-best-time-to-book-a-flight.html

Here is an interesting quote from the article:
"In most markets, someone buying a ticket two months before a flight will pay less than someone buying a ticket 10 months before a flight."

In my own experience, whether you are able to get a cheaper fare will depend on three key variables:
1. Travel time of the year. If you must travel in the peak season, such as in the December break, you have less of a chance of scoring a deal later.
2. Travel destination/route. Some routes and destinations have a significant demand/supply imbalance, such as on many cross-border or seasonal routes.
3. Your tradeoff preferences between the fare and the travel experience. If you are willing sit in the middle or pay up for a preferred seat, you can afford to play the waiting game. Ditto for, say, whether you can travel with 2 layovers or in a red-eye flight.

If booking reward tickets though, definitely do "the sooner, the better".

 

[FigmentSpark]

These have been a few studies on this, such as the one quoted here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/11/whens-the-best-time-to-book-a-flight.html

Here is an interesting quote from the article:
"In most markets, someone buying a ticket two months before a flight will pay less than someone buying a ticket 10 months before a flight."

In my own experience, whether you are able to get a cheaper fare will depend on three key variables:
1. Travel time of the year. If you must travel in the peak season, such as in the December break, you have less of a chance of scoring a deal later.
2. Travel destination/route. Some routes and destinations have a significant demand/supply imbalance, such as on many cross-border or seasonal routes.
3. Your tradeoff preferences between the fare and the travel experience. If you are willing sit in the middle or pay up for a preferred seat, you can afford to play the waiting game. Ditto for, say, whether you can travel with 2 layovers or in a red-eye flight.

If booking reward tickets though, definitely do "the sooner, the better".

to add... I've found that there may be cheap fares quite near the flight date, but they are the 5am or 11pm flights. Sometimes 'cheap fares' are advertised, but these are the ones they mean... even on Hopper or Google flights.

 

[DisneyDream2B]

Regarding changes to Southwest tickets, we were given helpful advice a few years ago. If you buy the tickets with points, the refunded points don't have to be used within a year of the ticket purchase date.
If you need to buy points, they go on sale periodically, up to 40% off.

 

[Bethany10]

We're looking at a couple of trips over the next 2 years. I've got notifications set up for "opening day" purchasing of airline tickets once our dates are released. We're big fans of SW and prefer to fly with them whenever possible. My kids are young enough they need to sit with at least one of us, so in addition to paying for bags, I've got to factor in paying to sit together. While SW isn't always the cheapest, it pays to add in the extra charges to really compare apples to apples.

 

[Shanti]

Are you traveling with the girls? Do you three like to sit next to each other in the 3x3 seating configuration? If so, you could buy Early Bird boarding for one of you. Once you board, you can save the other two seats until they come on the aircraft and join you.

Well, you might get away with saving two seats, or you might have to accept that someone else will take those seats regardless of your wishes. Those seats aren't "yours" to save, so be careful of that. If you really need to sit together, you should buy Early Bird for all 3 of you and board together.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Well, you might get away with saving two seats, or you might have to accept that someone else will take those seats regardless of your wishes. Those seats aren't "yours" to save, so be careful of that. If you really need to sit together, you should buy Early Bird for all 3 of you and board together.

Or just do family boarding which has always allowed us 3 seats together

 

[MelSpees]

Well, you might get away with saving two seats, or you might have to accept that someone else will take those seats regardless of your wishes. Those seats aren't "yours" to save, so be careful of that. If you really need to sit together, you should buy Early Bird for all 3 of you and board together.

I totally agree and was thinking about how to word it. You did it for me. It's only $15 for early bird which is totally worth it for us. This also takes care of the need to check in 24 hours before the flight while you're on a cruise ship.

 

[MelSpees]

Or just do family boarding which has always allowed us 3 seats together

I think it depends on the ages of the children if you can use family boarding. It they aren't very young, I don't know that they would allow it.