I just did something that I couldn't have imagined doing last year. I actually bought an airline ticket for travel in December. After this week's news about high fares and lower capacity, I did a little online searching last night on Orbitz and found United fares to Tulsa (where I fly to visit my parents) for $245 round-trip. I snatched up 2 tickets and will now be spending all of Christmas week in Kansas. I'm curious if anyone else has been doing this kind of desperation shopping.

I think people are crazy if they don't. The only thing that would worry me (but I would still buy early if I knew I wanted to go somewhere) is if they're going to cancel the flights I booked...... I don't consider it desperation shopping - I consider it being smart when you KNOW prices are going to go up, there will be less flights - so more demand for what there is - and now, you don't have to worry about it....

Hey Doug,
Great idea for this topic.
I was curious, my trip isn't until NEXT May...I know it is a while away. I already have it booked.
I take it most people suggest getting plane tickets ASAP? Instead of the usual waiting a little while before? I believe the tickets go on sale for then around September. So I should snatch them up then, instead of waiting till say, December or something to purchage them? Thanks everyone!

Also,
How in the world would I be able to find a job like yours? Kidding, but not really? haha. Thanks again for all the great information, it's a lot of help!
-chgeeb from Boston

I don't consider this desparation shopping at all - once we know we are really going somewhere, I start tracking the flights. Speaking of which, I think we need to be in North Carolina next January . . ..

I've been looking at flights through January, but haven't found any bargains on my routes.

Keith

Doug - you're certainly not alone. I entered a "buzz" alert on kayak.com weeks ago for our planned trip to Greece in late Nov. Usually I'd wait until the late summer/early fall when I'd expect some sales, but got a quote yesterday for $860. (this is RT from IAH - ATH). This is much less than I've been seeing so am seriously considering grabbing it now. Wouldn't have even thought of doing it a year ago.

I book a flight as soon as I know we are going somewhere, using the ITA website to find the best combination of (1) flight departure and arrival time (2) flight duration and layovers and (3) price. I regularly pay more for a better schedule. Otherwise, when I've stalled, there is little choice about the flight details. In one recent case, since we only had 5 months notice about an upcoming event, we could not find adequate flight availability and decided not to make the trip at all. With the constant news about reductions in the fleet, if you really want to take a trip, waiting until the last minute to find a flight probably isn't a good idea.

It all depends upon your personal situation. If you can absolutely commit to a date, then go ahead and book. But a lot of things can change if you book more than a couple of months out.

Regardless, I think you are best served by watching airfares closely. Get to know what average flight costs are. Then, when you need to book, you will know when to jump on something. Tools like the Kayak buzz alert are great for this. I track flights for all sorts of city pairs based upon where I could conceivably travel.

I must admit that I'm behind the times in using Web-based airfare tools (I just never really believe the fare-watch sites), but the Kayak buzz alert sounds useful, and I'm going to look into that and also see what Farecast is saying about places I'm planning to go to soon (regrettably, it doesn't say anything about my next international trip, which will be to the Philippines in the Fall).

To Dfr4848: If that $860 fare to Athens from IAD includes taxes, jump on it now; don't even wait until tonight. That's incredibly cheap for Greece, even in November. If it doesn't include taxes (which will add over $200), then it's not such a great deal, but it's still not bad.

Doug - the airfare includes taxes. And it's from IAH not IAD, so it sounds even better. And all on LH, which we do like.

Wow ... I'll say. (I'm such a negligent typist sometimes and I am forever getting confused by airport codes.) Yes, that is a really good airfare. I would be surprised if you could do better than that unless you book a package that includes a really well-priced hotel. I'd jump on it.

Anyone purchaseing an airline ticket today, for a flight 6 months from now, needs to be awear that the odds are very high that the flights will not take place at the time now scheduled.

That has long been true, but with the airlines eliminating flights in the next few months, it is even more likely.

I would be double checking the flight every week, so that if the change is not acceptable, you can start working the airline for a change to something better.

Keith

Keith, that's one big reason why I was so hesitant to buy this ticket yesterday. But I basically decided that it's going to be horrible and inconvenient regardless of how I look at it, and as long as the airline doesn't put me on an impossible schedule (not unlikely knowing the airlines), I can deal with it. This fare is so cheap, I can afford to spend the night in Tulsa before coming home if they stick me on the 6am flight.

To be honest, I'm expecting the worst in that regard, but I know a fare this low will not pop up again.

I booked for March 2009 Boston to Istanbul at $559 total on Swiss International (Swiss Air). That is a very good airfare in my estimation. I was originally looking at Paris and the fares were at least 200-300 more and we have been there numerous times. So now we head out on a new adventure.

Keith - I totally agree. My observation/experience has been that airlines tend to change domestic schedules a lot more than international. Most of the cuts for this fall I've been reading about are on domestic schedules, but who knows what will happen by then. In our case to ATH, my thinking (and hope) is that while they may tweek some schedules, they won't pull out of international markets that usually do pretty well. But yes, I definitely intend to regularly check.

Inspirational travel thread.

I bought Christmas holiday airfare for 08 Honolulu to Newark for $736 not wonderful but ok in late May. When fares went down to $536 the following week, they issued me a $200 credit. Someone on here encourage me to inquire, thanks.

Now United please don't go belly up, please don't go belly up.

Maybe a week or 2 ago I read on the US board, somebody is flying Philly-San Jose (California) for just over $200 RT.

Last month I bought a ticket from Chicago to Costa Rica for March 2009 for $373. I never decide where I want to go or purchase airline tickets this far in advance. I was reluctant to do it, but I figure the routes I've chosen are quite popular, so the worst that may happen is the flight times get changed a little. I'm going to wait a little longer to book accommodations however. By the way, I checked yesterday and the fare was still $373, almost a month after I purchased the ticket.

Brian,
booking accommodations should not be a problem. Most places require a CC for guarantee, but reservations can usually be cancelled without penalty (often til 6 PM day or arrival in major hotel chains, earlier in smaller hotels). This way you can have your choice of places rather than what is left closer to time.