We have put in for time share rental for Jan. in Aruba. We have not received a confirmation on the timeshare and possibly will not till Jan. I do not see the point in having these if one cannot get them when they want. Our friends are loaning us theres. Don't you think they air fare will increase for that month? If I have to pay $500 more in Jan then today then I am thinking of forgetting the "free" week? What are your thoughts? We would be leaving from PHL. Thanks.

It doesn't make sense that you wouldn't get a confirmation until January?? Unless you are on a waitlist? Unless you get some last minute "need to fill seats" special, it's going to be expense to wait until days before a trip to buy your airline ticket.

I have a time share. Normally when you purchase, you get the same week (by week #) per year. I know there are many purchase options for timeshares, so obviously I don't know about your friends' but how in the world can you plan a trip if you don't know you can go til the last minute?

I also don't understand the last-minute confirmation, but to answer your question I think it highly unlikely you'll find any decrease in fares between now and Jan. It's high season and, yes, chances more likely they'll go up.

I know it is confusing but there actual timeshare is not in Aruba. They own 5 and they are all elsewhere so that is why it is on a trade type situation. I don't undertstand it all either. Something to do with when they people deposit there money for Jan. then they will know. (??) Well it has all ready cost me $193.00 just to put in for a week. They have said if we don't want it at that time they will take it so I think it is a win-win for me. I just fail to see the point. Unless there is a decrease in passangers then I doubt the fare will remain the same.

OK, got it. With my time share, I have up until 2 weeks prior to my normal arrival date to tell them whether or not I am going to show up. If I deposit my week (meaning decide not to go), but allotment would be available for other people to use (exchange from their own etc). This sounds like the set up you have. Maybe you should check with the friends periodically to see if space opens up for that spot? Otherwise, you run the risk of paying a lot of money. If the spot doesn't open up, do you get your money back, or do you have the option of choosing somewhere else based on what's open/how much the airfare is?

From what I understood from the time it opens up, we can change our mind up to 60 days. I guess everyone wants the Caribbean in the winter. They seem to travel quite a bit with them. They went to Spain for 2 weeks. I guess it is o.k. if you can stay longer. They are flexible. Yes they of course will be notified if when the space opens up for it is in our name as a guest but still in there account. They will get an email stating when it is available.

Absent some sale or promotion, I think it is safe to say that tickets bought in January for a flight in January, particularly in a popular season, will cost far more than the same tickets bought well in advance.

The problem would appear to be that you are not certain that you are going, or perhaps are unsure of the dates. If you buy fully refundable tickets now, that would appear to resolve the problem. They are rarely, if ever, sold at less than full prices, and thus changing the dates is usually not a problem, and if you don't go, you can just get a refund.

I think most of us here buy nonrefundable tickets, as they cost far less. If you have to change the dates on such tickets, you pay for the privilege, but the change fee is fairly reasonable (certainly less than $500). With the airlines I have experienced, a nonrefundable ticket can be cancelled (at no cost if they change the itinerary so it doesn't suit you; otherwise at the cost of the change fee). So if you cancel the tickets, in advance, they will not return your money, but they will give you a credit for your cost less the change fee, which you can use for another flight within a specified period (often a year). I think it varies whether you can use the credit on another itinerary, or have to use it on a like flight, and you should check with the individual airline regarding the whole issue of a cancelled ticket. If you change the dates on a nonrefundable ticket, they charge the change fee in addition to the increase in the cost of the ticket currently (i.e., if the cost of the $400 ticket you originally bought has increased to $550, perhaps because the fare class you bought is no longer available and the lowest current fare class costs $550, you would be charged the change fee plus the increased fare of $150).

So I think if you can get a good price now, on an airline that has reasonable cancellation policies, it makes sense to buy now and be prepared for the change fee each time if you have to alter or cancel the trip. That would probably cost less overall than buying a last-minute ticket.

Cleavelandbrown,

This was a good idea to speculate on, however, I did some price checks on Expedia. The air now becomes a little over $2k for 2 people. Gee, how ridiculous is that?? I will just weigh it out and perhaps keep the week at another loation, and in the summer. Spring is usually not a good time either for there are spring breakers everywhere. Thanks for your thoughts.

Spring may not be a good time for you, but it is a great time for the travel industry, which is why good prices on almost anything are unlikely to be available then.

I know summer prices in Europe are invariably high as all the kids are on vacation and families can travel then (and, of course, the weather is good). Prices in what they call the shoulder season (fall or spring) are often substantially lower, with the lowest prices during the low season (winter, except in the ski areas) so we just have to be prepared to pay top prices if we are going to travel during a popular season.

The point was I choose the flexible fare where one could change without penalty. No I was searching for Jan. not spring time. it was $2K for a flexible ticket which was a great idea but it didn't work out either. So I will just have to wait and see, and if it is to high I will wait till I can get a week elsewhere. Perhaps St. Thomas in late spring.