I usually wait until about 3 months out to start looking for flights.
We're trying to go visit family in FL in August, so I started looking for flights. I know it's still a long way out, but the tickets are over $500 per person! And now that DD is over 2, we'll have to pay for her ticket - yikes! I hope they go down..
How far out do you usually book your flights?
pomelo / 5228 posts
I've heard that the sweet spot is 5 weeks, so I don't usually book until about then unless its an international trip.
bananas / 9628 posts
Yikes! That seems crazy since you're in TX, aren't you? I can fly from MA for much less!
Depends on when the travel is going to take place- if it's close to a holiday, long wk end, or school vacation wk, I look much earlier. I'm getting anxious right now because I need to book a flight for the last day of feb, but am holding off to see where things will be with our cat's health. I'd rather book & be done with it!
pomelo / 5220 posts
I usually set up a fare alert on Kayak and they email me with a fare predictor (buy now or wait). Typically, I try to book around 5-6 weeks beforehand.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
I start looking 3 months before to gauge price fluctuations, and normally buy about a month before since anything less than 21 days is automatically $$$$$$$
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
It depends... For our belated honeymoon/trip for DH's birthday, I booked in September for a trip at the end of March!
But for a wedding we have to attend in August, I am tracking the prices but probably won't buy till closer to May the earliest.
I think its trips that are for sure happening vs trips I'm not 100% about yet but don't want to pay more for refundable rates!
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
Best time to book domestic travel is 4-6 weeks out (unless you're traveling on a holiday). I would also buy the tickets on a Tuesday or Wednesday...that's typically when fares are lowest.
pea / 15 posts
I track flights on sites like Yapta and Airfarewatchdog. I get a weekly update on the price of flights to my hometown. So when I'm visiting my family, I usually buy my tickets 5-6 weeks out. Something like a wedding or a vacation with friends I don't buy more than 3 months out.
grapefruit / 4770 posts
We just bought our tickets for our cruise in 600K days So I would say 2 months?? Prices were really high two weeks ago and just now dropped for March.
ETA: 60 days, not 600,000!!! That would be an awful anniversary gift from dh lol!!!! We also booked on a Wednesday like @Lawbee11 suggested!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Where in FL are you trying to fly into? It may be easier to fly into somewhere big like orlando (MCO) and then rent a car to drive from there.
I just looked for flights to IN in May and they were about the same price. And we have to buy 3 of them!
pomegranate / 3809 posts
I start looking 6-8 months in advance or as soon as I decide I want to go somewhere, then just ticket watch until it's reasonable. I usually talk to people that have gone and done the same and have a good idea of what a good price is.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
@T.H.O.U.: We're flying into Orlando. Tickets usually run us about $250-300, so I hope they go down..
@lawbee11: great tip - thank you!
pomelo / 5789 posts
If you're willing to fly from austin and make the drive, there's $230 flights.
Also if you're a member of the fare club, spirit has <$200 flights for certain days in August. Southwest hasn't opened their August availability yet either!
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