When to book flights?

[poseys]

I am going with 3 others in September and we will likely fly Southwest.
It looks like a couple of flights on my dates are already sold out. I wondering if I should go ahead and pull the trigger so I don't get the flights I want sold out. Also curious on Southwest if you book earlier, if you have a higher likelihood of your party getting seats together? It's been so long since I flew, I don't remember if we choose seats or they are assigned.
Thanks!

 

[khurley23]

Southwest does not have assigned seats. The earlier you check in for your flight, the higher your boarding group number. There is A, B, and C. If you have a boarding group higher than your travel companion, you can just save the seat for them.

 

[nikkislaght]

We usually fly Jetblue. and we bought our tickets in Dec for our April trip.. i know they wont come down much further than what we got them for.. and with free bags... and peace of mind.. any money we would save from someone else a bit cheaper would be eaten up with fees..

 

[pmaurer74]

Southwest has not had good deals lately. they usually come out on Tuesdays. The prices for LAX are better than Orange County airport right now. You can pay $12.50 per person to upgrade your seating priority. The flights I have been on recently have been pretty full. I keep waiting for a good deal as well. I have not seen a good deal with them since October. The bags are free. There is a non stop on another airline I am looking into that is $500 cheaper but we would have to pay for bags and would not be able to cancel and our plans are up in the air right now.