When to purchase plane tickets?

[cfriend416]

I'm not a seasoned flyer so I would appreciate the advice from some experts!

When is the best (read: cheapest ) time to buy airfare? I read recently that people get the best deals when they purchase six weeks in advance. Personally, I would feel extremely uneasy not having purchased plane tickets with only 6 weeks to go!

Is 6 weeks really the magic number? Both times I've flown as an adult from Boston to MCO, I bought my ticket about 6 months in advance through Delta and got what I thought was a decent deal (about $210 for late May, 2010 and about $290 for late February, 2013). I just assumed the sooner you bought, the better.

Right now I am looking at tickets for February 2014 (same week I went this year, same airline, almost identical flights) and tickets are about $100 more. Can I expect this to go down? Our plans still aren't solid so I won't be booking yet, but is it really ok to wait until there are only 6 weeks left? My main concern is that we like to get the first flight of the day for the trip down and the last flight of the day for the trip home so that we can utilize every day and I worry about those selling out.

Thanks in advance!

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Check out a site called ITA software. you can watch ticket prices for a couple months. You can also download the app on your phone and check flights quickly many times a day. You can check prices for many months in just a few minutes. Spend some time studying and learn what a good price is. I've been looking for flights from Minneapolis. Looks like $300rt might be the best we will be able to do for September. I usually go twice a year and have never paid over $190rt. The prices have changed many times the last few days. They have gone up recently but I am confident that if I am patient they will come back to the $300.

 

[deakam]

I bought tickets from Chicago to Orlando on June 11 for our September 25 trip. They were $197.00 RT on Southwest and Airtran. February we paid $99.00 down on Airtran and $112 back on American. September 2012 RT on Airtran $198.00. When I decide when I am going I start checking airfares 2 or 3 times a week. I also get email updates from all of the airlines so when they have a sale or a special they let me know. When I find a price I am comfortable paying I go ahead and book. The February trip we booked the flight there at 6 months out but the return flight we booked at 4 weeks out.

 

[kt_mom]

I usually book between 45 and 90 days out. I start watching long before that though in case of a good sale. I always book airfare midweek, never over the weekend. I have always found the prices higher over the weekend and on Mondays. I think there was an article about that somewhere not long ago too.

I'm watchig now for our December trip, but haven't booked anything yet.

 

[deedeetoo]

If the February week you are looking it is President's Day week than I would book sooner rather than later. Whenever there are school vacations and holidays flights prices just seem to go up and up.

We are flying to Orlando twice this year and bought both sets of tickets as soon as flights were released. They have never dropped.

 

[sam_gordon]

When is the best (read: cheapest ) time to buy airfare? I read recently that people get the best deals when they purchase six weeks in advance. Personally, I would feel extremely uneasy not having purchased plane tickets with only 6 weeks to go!

My standard answer... I'll tell you EXACTLY when you could buy the cheapest airfare (down to the minute), but in exchange, you have to tell me what tomorrow's winning Powerball numbers will be.

I don't fly a lot (1-2 times a year maybe), but the last couple times, I'd book ~10.5 months out, AND PRICES WOULD NEVER GET THAT LOW AGAIN (and yes, I'd look).

Anyone who tells you 'x' days/months/weeks before is the best time is just guessing.

The best thing you can do is watch prices, when something falls into your budget (and your comfortable buying), buy them. Now, here's the key... DON'T LOOK AGAIN (unless you're flying an airline that offers a credit if the price drops). Let's say you book a RT ticket at $300. Two weeks later, the price drops to $200 RT. If you don't KNOW the price dropped, you won't be bothered, right? So don't look.

 

[cfriend416]

If the February week you are looking it is President's Day week than I would book sooner rather than later. Whenever there are school vacations and holidays flights prices just seem to go up and up.

We are flying to Orlando twice this year and bought both sets of tickets as soon as flights were released. They have never dropped.

We are flying out on 2/22 and back on 2/27. It's not a school vacation for most of Massachusetts but is for most of New Hampshire (where I am from).

The best thing you can do is watch prices, when something falls into your budget (and your comfortable buying), buy them. Now, here's the key... DON'T LOOK AGAIN (unless you're flying an airline that offers a credit if the price drops). Let's say you book a RT ticket at $300. Two weeks later, the price drops to $200 RT. If you don't KNOW the price dropped, you won't be bothered, right? So don't look.

Good advice!

 

[Collette]

I agree with everything Sam Gordon says.

I always hope for the best deal, but a long time ago when I first started flying more, my nephew told me that when I find a price I am comfortable paying on the dates and times I want to fly... grab it and don't look back. I am always willing to pay a little more if necessary to fly at certain times of the day.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

This business about the cheapest fares being available 6 weeks before your trip must be an urban myth. It would mean the airlines know when everyone is travelling and adjust their fares down six weeks prior. It doesn't work that way. Once you see a fare that you're happy with, book it.

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

I would book now and then keep checking for the lowest price. Most airlines will give you a credit if the price went down. You just have to call them to ask for the credit. With JetBlue they have a travel bank and they put the money there. You must book within 12 months from the time you receive the credit. You don't need to travel within that 12 months. It's also a great excuse to go on another trip. I've gotten credit from Airtran as well and I helped a neighbor get a credit from Southwest when I noticed her flight price went down. So, long story short, book before the prices go up which they will during a holiday/school vacation week, and keep checking to see if you the price goes down so you could get a credit.

I've also found that prices are lower on Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesdays although one time I was able to get a credit when a flight went down on a Sunday.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would book now and then keep checking for the lowest price. Most airlines will give you a credit if the price went down. You just have to call them to ask for the credit. With JetBlue they have a travel bank and they put the money there. You must book within 12 months from the time you receive the credit. You don't need to travel within that 12 months. It's also a great excuse to go on another trip. I've gotten credit from Airtran as well and I helped a neighbor get a credit from Southwest when I noticed her flight price went down. So, long story short, book before the prices go up which they will during a holiday/school vacation week, and keep checking to see if you the price goes down so you could get a credit.

I've also found that prices are lower on Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesdays although one time I was able to get a credit when a flight went down on a Sunday.

The bolded is NOT true. Well, I guess maybe it is, but only after MOST airlines charge you a change fee (I think $150pp). Yes, SW & Jetblue offer credit, and since SW bought Airtran, that might come into play. But those are the only airlines that do so, and they are FAR from "most".

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

The bolded is NOT true. Well, I guess maybe it is, but only after MOST airlines charge you a change fee (I think $150pp). Yes, SW & Jetblue offer credit, and since SW bought Airtran, that might come into play. But those are the only airlines that do so, and they are FAR from "most".

I stand corrected. However, for the airlines I mentioned, they do offer credit when you find a lower price. I received credits from Airtran before Southwest bought them and so it still remains the case that you get a credit.

I just looked up Delta's policy since the OP mentioned that she usually flies with them. They actually have a very generous low price guarantee policy when booking directly with them, if the price goes down, not only will they refund you the difference but they'll also give you a $100 voucher to use on a future flight. Frontier has the same policy. I didn't realize that some airlines charge change fees. After doing some research, I see that United and USAirways have change fees involved. Other airlines have different policies.

Here's a useful website: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/8307247/airline-low-price-guarantee-policies-explained//

 

[sam_gordon]

I stand corrected. However, for the airlines I mentioned, they do offer credit when you find a lower price. I received credits from Airtran before Southwest bought them and so it still remains the case that you get a credit.

I just looked up Delta's policy since the OP mentioned that she usually flies with them. They actually have a very generous low price guarantee policy when booking directly with them, if the price goes down, not only will they refund you the difference but they'll also give you a $100 voucher to use on a future flight. Frontier has the same policy. I didn't realize that some airlines charge change fees. After doing some research, I see that United and USAirways have change fees involved. Other airlines have different policies.

Here's a useful website: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/8307247/airline-low-price-guarantee-policies-explained//

Where did you see Delta's policy? When I search, I get the following link: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/planning-a-trip/booking-information/online-booking/best-fare-guarantee.html
Which talks about finding a lower price on another website. Rule #2...

The lower fare is not offered at delta.com.

.

I read this as you're shopping for airfare. Delta has a cost of $300RT, but Orbitz (for example) has the exact same flight for $200. Delta will sell you the ticket for $200. So this has to happen BEFORE you buy (or within 24 hours of purchasing). It doesn't cover getting a reduction after that.

In fact, Delta's change policy... http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/ticket-changes-refunds/ticket-changes.html shows a $200 change fee.

If you've got some other information, please let us know. I usually fly Delta so this would be very good info to have.

ETA: Even the link you posted has the following description for Delta...

Claims must be initiated before midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on the day of purchase of a ticket at delta.com.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I'm always trolling for airfare. Right now looking for April 2014 to WDW. If you're looking in February during President's Day week, it may be harder to get a bargain. I'm not going to say impossible because we flew from California to Hawaii (Aulani) in February during President's week for $331. And when I was first looking it was over $700. I've read some where that the prices of flights really don't start getting seriously manipulated until 4 to 6 months out (that is the time frame when I got the Hawaii tickets). I don't believe the 6 weeks out time line. I found the complete opposite, prices are higher 6 weeks out. We're flying from California to NJ next week and airfare 6 weeks out is now $1700 per ticket when I got it, it was $466 per ticket. I wouldn't expect to pay what you paid last year, costs just go up. Many people I know have said to look on Wednesdays for prices. Supposely the best time to? Try to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday too, if you can (if your plans are flexible). That definitely helps. Oh, I also learned that these websites (especially airlines) know when you're trolling for airfare. Was told to clean or clear your cookies (computer lingo)? I asked my husband if that was true and he said definitely. Think about it, how many times have you've been to a website and then got an email about that exact same item you looked at? I know it's happened to me. (Husband IT guy).

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

Where did you see Delta's policy? When I search, I get the following link: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/planning-a-trip/booking-information/online-booking/best-fare-guarantee.html
Which talks about finding a lower price on another website. Rule #2... .

I read this as you're shopping for airfare. Delta has a cost of $300RT, but Orbitz (for example) has the exact same flight for $200. Delta will sell you the ticket for $200. So this has to happen BEFORE you buy (or within 24 hours of purchasing). It doesn't cover getting a reduction after that.

In fact, Delta's change policy... http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/ticket-changes-refunds/ticket-changes.html shows a $200 change fee.

If you've got some other information, please let us know. I usually fly Delta so this would be very good info to have.

ETA: Even the link you posted has the following description for Delta...

I'm sorry for the misinformation. You are right.

 

[cfriend416]

I'll never understand plane ticket prices. Right now, there is a flight through JetBlue with reasonable departure/arrival times and for $50 less than what we paid last year! Too bad our plans aren't 100% solid yet so I can't snatch them up!

 

[richmo]

It varies so much, there really is no set answer. I don't think I could wait until 6 weeks out, unless it was a last minute trip. If its a quiet time, like September or January, maybe you could get away with it, but you're really playing with fire by waiting.

Sometimes the best fares are when they're first published, but often not. I have had some luck with Southwest that way.

I have also heard that it is best to buy airfares on Tuesday afternoon, as that's apparently when most sales are posted. Personally, I can't remember that working for me.

The piece of advice I liked best in this thread was to not look back once you make that purchase (unless you're on Southwest, or the like)

 

[cfriend416]

Thank you everyone for you advice! I just booked with Southwest for only $200 round trip! We added an extra night's stay to make it work, but since we're splitting the room 3 ways and we're staying value, it's still a great deal. And it's departs from the airport that is only 1 hour away from my house (usually tickets here are about $100 more than a comparable flight from Boston, so we usually fly from Boston even though it is farther away). Both flights are nonstop and neither are early in the morning so no waking up ridiculously early! I think this is a pretty good deal, so please don't tell me if it's not. The trip is now official! Wooo!

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

Thank you everyone for you advice! I just booked with Southwest for only $200 round trip! We added an extra night's stay to make it work, but since we're splitting the room 3 ways and we're staying value, it's still a great deal. And it's departs from the airport that is only 1 hour away from my house (usually tickets here are about $100 more than a comparable flight from Boston, so we usually fly from Boston even though it is farther away). Both flights are nonstop and neither are early in the morning so no waking up ridiculously early! I think this is a pretty good deal, so please don't tell me if it's not. The trip is now official! Wooo!

That's a great rate!