Would you or wouldn't you? Help!!

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

We are talking about going for Christmas this year again. I will be able to pull up the dates later this week. Now if we buy them now we will save $850.00 compared to last years flights. The problem is, my husband does not know for sure if he can get those dates off. It is $100 x 4 fee to change the tickets. My husband usually does not know his Christmas dates off until the end of November. We bought tickets 30 days before this past Christmas, but saving $850 would really be nice?? What would you do?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Buy the tickets and only change hubbies' if need be.. is an out of the box solution..

Or heck.. just leave him at home (kidding of course)

 

[OntFamily]

No one can answer this, but yourself (as only your family will face the financial impact of cancelling/postponing the reservation).

However, here are some questions you can ask yourself:

How often does your husband receive vacation @ Christmas (ie does he not get confirmation until Nov, but 9 of the last 10 years has he received vacation)?

If you have to cancel, will you fly on that airline within 12 months of cancelling (so you can use your flight credits)?

Can you afford to lose $400 of money?

Can you find a flight with a better cancellation policy?

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Thanks for the ideas and thoughts. We will have to discuss it some more.

 

[heidia]

So if you book sooner.. you'll save $850? But then if you have to change your flights you'd lose $400... wont you still be saving $450? Maybe not as good as saving $850.. but its still a big savings!

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

I know, that's what I am thinking. We have always paid around $500 to $550 per person for flights. If we purchase now we would save $850 for a total of 4. So even if the dates don't work out we would still be up $450 then waiting till November again. I think? I don't know??? Arggggggh!!

 

[surfer_ed]

I understand how you feel. DW need to take time off without pay for our December trip and she won't know if that is approved before September.

 

[Questforthemouse]

I know, that's what I am thinking. We have always paid around $500 to $550 per person for flights. If we purchase now we would save $850 for a total of 4. So even if the dates don't work out we would still be up $450 then waiting till November again. I think? I don't know??? Arggggggh!!

A couple of questions and a couple of warnings...

Questions...

What airport are you flying out of and what airline are you planning to fly with?

Warnings...

1) I presume you are buying non-refundable tickets. If this is the case you'll likely have to pay the change fees ($400) plus the difference in fare. If you change flights next November you'll pay the change fees ($400) plus the increase/difference for the new flights which will likely be equal to or greater (due to inflation) than the fares you booked last November for Christmas. You'd likely end up paying $400+ more than you did last year. Basically, you're hedging your bet...If you buy now and your husbands dates work out then you save $850 vs. last year but if you buy now and your husbands dates don't work out and you need to change flights then you spend $400 more than last year.

2) As for cancelling...read the fine print. Some airlines may not charge you the change fee to cancel but most will charge you. Most will give you credit for future travel up to one year from the date of issuance. The question is what do they mean by date of issuance. Before you buy your tickets, confirm whether this means the date you called to book the flight or the date you are cancelling. Most mean the former.

 

[CrazyDisneyMommy1]

Questforthemouse: Thank you for the info. I did not think about the increased fair....
We will fly out of Edmonton. Right now it is through United which we have flown before. Not bad, not great...
I think we will wait a little while yet and think about it some more.
Thank you for all the wonderful info.