When to buy airfare for Jan?

[KJMAX1]

Does anyone know the best time to buy those tickets??

 

[sam_gordon]

I do. But you have to tell me what the winning lottery numbers are.

Seriously, the best answer is "when you can afford them". No matter what you may read, there is no GUARANTEED time to get the lowest (I'm guessing that's what you mean by 'best') price.

Some have had luck booking as soon as tickets are released, some have had luck waiting until a couple weeks out.

The best advice is book when you can afford the price. If you are on a legacy airline (Delta, United, USAir, etc), and it will bother you if you find out the prices drop after you book, don't look after you have your tickets. If you're on SW or JB, you can get credit if the price drops, but there are limits. On SW, only the person who's name is on the ticket can use the ticket, AND it must be used within one year from PURCHASE, not scheduled flight.

 

[KJMAX1]

Well some of the airlines dont have flights out yet. Thats kinda why I asked. Do we wait a month or two?

 

[sam_gordon]

Do the airlines who haven't released their flights usually undercut the ones who do? Compare flights for the first or second week of December (away from Christmas & Thanksgiving). Fri-Fri or Sat-Sat, whatever you're flying.

That should give you a general idea of what's going to happen.