When to purchase airfare?

[2002Disneybride]

We have decided to fly instead of drive in December. Now we could add an extra day on our trip! My question is when should I buy the airfare?

 

[Bill From PA]

I start tracking prices at the airports I'm willing to use as soon as we set the date to get a sense of the range of prices to expect. I find that 3 to 4 months before the flight the prices are at their lowest. Much sooner and you may lock in a price only to see them go down, much later and the cost can skyrocket as the flights fill up. Last year we bought tickets in Feb. for our kids to fly to Myrtle Beach in late June for $165 RT. Six weeks before the flight the same ticket cost $800.

Bill From PA

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Find out what a good rate is from your city. I live in the DC suburbs, and I buy as soon as the tickets are under $150.00.

 

[buzzlady]

We bought ours in Jan. for end of June. I checked last week and the price has gone up $185

 

[2002Disneybride]

well I was able to get them for 160 round trip for May...they are 284 each way for dec...I know that xmas time is a more expensive time to fly...

 

[DebbieB]

What day of the week are you flying on? I've found that they have cut flights on Saturdays, making the remaining flights expensive.

 

[QuickGold]

I'd start looking 2-3 months out and see where prices go.

 

[bryantslovedisney]

I was so Mad...I have been shopping for the rates for about a month...talked the hubby into going with our 3 boys...I was quoted $236 from Hotwire(Roundtrip Denver to MCO)...Didn't take it(you only have 2 hours to purchase)...Since then results of same
trip kept coming up $259...Not a big deal but wouldn't mind saving
$110 bucks...Anyway, I kept seeing much higher prices on Expedia,Priceline,Travelocity so decided to go ahead and buy...
Should of known...$237 This morning...Called Hotwire...No changes or rebates...Oh well, You can never tell on these things...
The guy at Hotwire said that usually 2-3 weeks before departure
the rates get better(We're leaving June 16)...but you never know if there is going to be availability...so it's always a crap shoot...Just go with your decision and be happy....
Remember We're one of the Lucky ones...We're Going to DISNEYWORLD!

 

[2002Disneybride]

bryant--this is true...I think I will wait until it gets a little closer to get the airfare...but not to add a day on to our hotel stay!

We fly Spirit out of Atlantic Cty, NJ and we just love it!

 

[kdibattista]

We are also going in December and I have been checking prices for a few months now. I know what we have paid before (~$175) but the prices have not yet gone below $210. I will wait and hopefully the prices will drop. I would take anything below $200

 

[erikthewise]

I agree with Bill from PA

Right now does not seem to be a good time to buy for December. Airlines are charging premium prices for the security of a flight booked long in advance. Except that there is no security -- many who buy now will see their flights cancelled and rebooked, at least once. That happened to me both for our Dec 2001 and Dec 2002 trips, and I only bought four months in advance! So why buy seven months in advance when the prices are high?

 

[KellyJ]

Post this on the transportation board and see if anyone can give you some ideas on decent prices out of your airport. We're flying in October (out of Memphis on NW) and in all the years we've gone (many times in October) I've never paid more than $180 and the year I did that, we were able to get vouchers when they dropped to $160. This year, I've been watching steadily since the tickets became available and the lowest I've seen them is $260 (ouch!) We did go ahead and buy at that price but ONLY because we needed to travel on a particular flight with our daughter's band and because the price had been over $350 for several months before that. A week later they were back up to $291 and they haven't changed since.

Kelly

 

[2002Disneybride]

I didn't even realize there was a transportation forum...DUH!

 

[bunnyfoo]

I usually buy about 1-2 months before I go and I've found that I usually get the best prices then. I'm willing to buy the ticket as long as its about $450-$470 CDN (or $310-$325 US). This year, the prices for my dates are still dropping but they've only gone down by $30... oh well

 

[disneyberry]

really? is it better to wait till 3-4 mos before, even when you are going for Xmastime?

 

[Bill From PA]

Originally posted by disneyberry
really? is it better to wait till 3-4 mos before, even when you are going for Xmastime?

I've never done X-Mas or any major holiday, usually late Feb./Early March, June for getting the kids to Myrtle Beach and last Nov. 8 - 16. For these 'normal' times, 3 - 4 months out seems to be the best time to buy. If you're going during a week that always sells out, maybe you better strike fast and just eat it if the cost comes down later. Better that than being shut out. Ask questions here of people who fly that time of year a lot.

Bill From PA