When is best time to buy airline tickets?
Oct 18th, 2015, 05:00 PM
#1
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When is best time to buy airline tickets?
I'm planning a trip with my husband and two college-age grandchildren to Italy in June 2016; I'm not sure when airline ticket prices should be the best. Will flights into Rome in June usually fill up early? I know that's a busy time to travel. Can I wait a couple months before making reservations without risk of full flights and yet get a good deal??? Any suggestions?
Oct 18th, 2015, 05:36 PM
#2
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If someone could answer your question they'd be able to market that information to just about everyone who travels and make a fortune. It's virtually impossible to tell you when you'll get the best prices on airline tickets. The best advice is for you to:
1) Monitor airfares to your destination for your planned dates of travel so you get some idea of the "price range" and when you see a fare you can live with purchase the tickets as it may not be there "tomorrow".
2) Sign up for airfare alerts on your airline(s) of choice's website and travel sites like Kayak, Orbitz, etc. and proceed as described in #1 above.
Many people will tell you best prices are found are often found around 3 to 4 months before planned dates of travel however that's not always the case, there's not set time period for fare sales and there are never any guarantees when it come to predicting airfares and/or availability of seats for a given flight. Remaining flexible about your travel dates can sometimes result in lower fares.
1) Monitor airfares to your destination for your planned dates of travel so you get some idea of the "price range" and when you see a fare you can live with purchase the tickets as it may not be there "tomorrow".
2) Sign up for airfare alerts on your airline(s) of choice's website and travel sites like Kayak, Orbitz, etc. and proceed as described in #1 above.
Many people will tell you best prices are found are often found around 3 to 4 months before planned dates of travel however that's not always the case, there's not set time period for fare sales and there are never any guarantees when it come to predicting airfares and/or availability of seats for a given flight. Remaining flexible about your travel dates can sometimes result in lower fares.
Oct 19th, 2015, 12:08 AM
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http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/0...rline-tickets/
<i>"There isn't a golden rule anymore," says Patrick Scurry, chief data scientist for Hopper, a travel-information firm that archives ticket prices. "There are these 'average' rules, but they're not that useful necessarily for a specific trip."</i>
<i>"There isn't a golden rule anymore," says Patrick Scurry, chief data scientist for Hopper, a travel-information firm that archives ticket prices. "There are these 'average' rules, but they're not that useful necessarily for a specific trip."</i>
Oct 19th, 2015, 03:01 AM
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I agree with RoamsAround, as I expect most other Fodorites will.
While considering airfares you should also consider under what conditions you would need to change your plans. The further ahead you book, the more likely it is that something will come up to interfere. If you have purchased the lowest price fare class likely there will be no refund and change fees will apply to rebook. Purchasing travel insurance at the same time as you buy your ticket is a good idea, but you are covered in only some circumstances: be sure you know what they are.
Take some time to consider all the options. Then once you’ve bought your tickets don’t look back. Put your energy into planning other aspects of the trip and enjoy the anticipation.
While considering airfares you should also consider under what conditions you would need to change your plans. The further ahead you book, the more likely it is that something will come up to interfere. If you have purchased the lowest price fare class likely there will be no refund and change fees will apply to rebook. Purchasing travel insurance at the same time as you buy your ticket is a good idea, but you are covered in only some circumstances: be sure you know what they are.
Take some time to consider all the options. Then once you’ve bought your tickets don’t look back. Put your energy into planning other aspects of the trip and enjoy the anticipation.
Oct 22nd, 2015, 07:32 AM
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If you start watching fares on a regular basis, you will notice that they do fluctuate. Just because a fare took a jump doesn't mean it will not go back down again. Airlines sell "fare buckets" and yes, the cheapest seats probably do get bought out first, as ticket buyers like a bargain when they can get it.
I agree that once you have decided on a price that is acceptable to you, don't look back! Should-uh, would-uh, could-uh is not a fun way to start trip planning.
I agree that once you have decided on a price that is acceptable to you, don't look back! Should-uh, would-uh, could-uh is not a fun way to start trip planning.
Oct 22nd, 2015, 07:35 AM
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Oh, and they don't sell all of the cheap seats at once. They will hop around from one fare to another as the base price! That's why there are fluctuations, up and down, in the prices.
I don't have any particular time to buy, and I travel quite a lot (over 100,000 miles per year). Often I must buy tickets at the last minute. Would prefer to buy about 6-8 weeks out.
I don't have any particular time to buy, and I travel quite a lot (over 100,000 miles per year). Often I must buy tickets at the last minute. Would prefer to buy about 6-8 weeks out.
Oct 25th, 2015, 02:09 PM
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I've never bought my ticket to Europe for summer this far ahead, I can't see any reason why you must (I wouldn't even want to, can't plan that far ahead). I usually buy mine Feb-March. I've never seen fares go up a lot until the last month or two before departure. Definitely not this far ahead, sometimes the fares now aren't even the lowest.
Oct 26th, 2015, 12:51 AM
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<i>I can't see any reason why you must</i>
If you collect miles then getting that right fare code at a good price might mean booking far in advance. Also, many carriers offer a handful of loss leader seats (ATH-JTR for less than 100 Euro return for instance) and if you don't get them far in advance, someone else will get them.
If you collect miles then getting that right fare code at a good price might mean booking far in advance. Also, many carriers offer a handful of loss leader seats (ATH-JTR for less than 100 Euro return for instance) and if you don't get them far in advance, someone else will get them.
