When to start watching flight prices???

[grover]

If we are to fly in November when should we start really watching flight prices so that we can hopefully book something that isn't to pricey? We will either fly from MSP or Winnipeg-Canada.
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[dtuleya]

When are you flying? I'm flying out of BWI (Baltimore/Washington) on Friday, November 22 (returning the 29th, Friday after our, US, Thanksgiving) and I actually booked my flights today. I kept running into problems with numerous airlines....alot of their flights with good fares were already sold out on the days I needed. When I did book my flight with USAir through Expedia, it was hard to get 4 seats together on some of the flights.

You probably won't have the same issue if you are flying from Canada, but you might have problems if you fly from MSP. We celebrate our Thanksgiving on November 28th this year. Good luck!

 

[disneydreamerinny]

Start watching today and keep an eye on it every couple of days.
You will see prices fluctuate up and down, so this is the only way to get a decent deal.

If you notice a steady climb, then grab them. Chances are they wont come back down.

Sometimes they have deals at the last minute, but I wouldnt wait that long.

Good luck!

 

[travelin' tigger]

I'd try to book ASAP IMO. Fuel prices are climbing fast and that'll mean increases in airfare to compensate for fuel.

 

[Kaelyn]

dtuleya -

How much di you pay? We are still deciding between driving to BWI for a better price or the VERY convenient Harrisburg Airport. If it is good enough savings, we'll do BWI.

 

[dtuleya]

Kaelyn -

We paid $156 + taxes ($199/pp) for our family of four. My printer isn't working, so I opted for paper tickets (didn't want to take any changes) and our total came to $809 through Expedia. We fly out of BWI on UsAir at 6:00 AM through Charlotte and land in MCO at 9:24 AM. I found some cheaper flights, but I wanted to have a later return. We fly out of MCO at 4:00 the Friday after Thanksgiving, connect throught Charlotte again and land (I think) around 7-7:30 PM at BWI.

I found a cheap hotel room through Priceline at the Courtyard by Marriott for $50 and I had already booked that, so that was part of our decision with flying from BWI. If I would have gotten a very similar price from Harrisburg, we would have eaten the $50. My problem is that all the best rates for flights on November 22 were sold out at both BWI and MDT. Keep watching MDT (Harrisburg) I keep hearing that they are trying to entice people to fly from there with better prices, but I have yet to see them. Hope this helps!

 

[Lesley]

Kaelyn and Denise-
My parents will be flying from Allentown (closest to us) in Nov. and I just asked a similar question to the original poster on this thread! Hmm...BWI? I don't think I could encourage my parents to drive that far, then have a connecting flight even for a savings. A lot of the flights from Allentown go by way of Harrisburg (I've also seen Philly, Charlotte and even Detroit!).

I'm just wondering if I should encourage my mom to hurry up and get her tix before prices rise any more!

 

[dtuleya]

We live in York, so I'm pretty much half-way between the two. Supposedly Harrisburg rates are supposed to be competetive, but they have fewer flights. I would encourage anybody flying near Thanksgiving to start at least seeing what the prices and availability is for their travel days. Are the flights from Allentown direct after their connection in Harrisburg? I couldn't find any flights directly from Harrisburg to MCO, and only Southwest and Airtran fly directly from BWI.

 

[Rhonda]

keep watching every day. We fly from MSP too. We just booked for May with their "miles & cash" special. We are paying $187 each plus 10,000 miles.

Our son (he's 18) is going with us, and he found tickets through Delta from MSP for $143!! By the time I called, they had already upped the price. He was lucky!

So, keep watching every day........

 

[Lesley]

Yep, direct after Harrisburg....those might be gone though. Most of the recent ones have been either Philly or Charlotte stops.

 

[dylansdad]

I booked our tix Monday for our Nov trip after hearing stories about an oil embargo. Phila to MCO at $164 total (RT). Booked them online at USairways.com. I had been price watchin for a month or so. Last Nov we paid $235 because we waited until the summer to book.

 

[MinnieGi]

I also just booked three tickets out of Philly on US Airways for $164.oo including all taxes for Nov. travel. They are direct flights. I checked every other airline and no one could come close out of Philly for a direct flight. I don't even think I found another direct flight. This is cheaper than last November's flight for us, so I took it!

Good luck and definetly start looking now!!

 

[grover]

Well I just got off the phone with Air Canada- to fly Winnipeg to MCO in November is 855.98 return per person so for the 3 of us that is a grand total of 2567.94 I am just disqusted with that price, there is no way I pay that much. I guess my only other option is to keep watching flights out of MSP and hope for a real deal.
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[ducklite]

I booked my August trip in October, got PHL to MCO non-stop for $148.50 on US. I just today booked my January trip EWR to MCO on CO non-stop, $181.

I just keep an eye on the rpices and when they get to under $200 I book. I don't "wait" for the lowest price, because you can very easily get burned and have them skyrocket and never go back down.

Anne