Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Travel Topics > Air Travel
Reload this Page >

How early is too early?

Search

How early is too early?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 12:58 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
How early is too early?

I need to buy a 1-way ticket from EWR to FLL (my sister used credit on AirTran to buy me a 1-way ticket and now I've to find a way to come back). I don't need to travel until the end of June. I've been watching prices the last few days and Continental's prices seem to go up a few bucks every day. Should I keep waiting to see if prices will fall? Or will it just keep increasing so I'll have to spend a helluva lot more than what is offered now? *confused*

(I have to travel between those two airports - alternatives aren't an option)
pprabhu is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 01:27 PM
  #2  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Why not check AirTran for the same route back?

JetBlue.com (I know JFK will not work for you, but it just may, once you see the one-way fares)

Also check aa.com. Everytime they compete directly with JetBlue they tend to match the fares.

Just some suggestions.....

AAFrequentFlyer is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 01:31 PM
  #3  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 0
JetBlue offers EWR FLL.....
BeachBoi is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 01:57 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I've been checking most every airline (I used sidestep.com) and Continental seems to be running the lowest fares right now.
pprabhu is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 02:10 PM
  #5  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
JetBlue will not show up on any travel site, only their own.
AAFrequentFlyer is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 02:53 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
JB is stuck at $149 though - I wonder when it'll finally budge.
pprabhu is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 03:05 PM
  #7  
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,191
Likes: 0
Don't know about this specific route, but I have "farewatcher" option going on several sites for 2 trips I would like to take, and the fares for them seem to just keep creeping up as well. Also, have not been getting as many emails with bargains from airlines or heard ads for same - I think we may finally be seeing airfares inch up to stay. Just my opinion, I have no inside information.
gail is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 06:53 PM
  #8  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
ok, it's $149 to get from New York to south Florida, and you are thinking that's high???

Try Greyhound or Amtrak....

I guess the airline employees are all just volunteers?, the plane manufacturers are just donating their product to the airlines, the fuel is provided free of charge just because, the airports provide free service and allow everybody to land at will, oh, and let's not forget the air traffic control people, they just do it for the thrill.... none of these people have families, mortgages, dreams, want to travel, etc.etc....

Did I miss something?

or did I miss something???
AAFrequentFlyer is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 07:17 PM
  #9  
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Excellent point, AAFF.
8-)
jamaltay is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 07:32 PM
  #10  
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
DITTO!
dgib is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2006 | 07:49 PM
  #11  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Actually, the CO price is at $89 + $10.30 = $99.30 for almost every day in June.

So, yes, please buy now. Chances of that price jumping $50 upward is pretty high; chance of that price going down $50 is ZERO.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Apr 6th, 2006 | 04:51 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
AAFrequentFlyer: For a student who has almost always managed to find roundtrip fares between FLL and NY airports for around $220 (as late as couple of months ago), why does it shock your conscience that I am curious about finding a lower price than what is listed? If the market right now demands a $149 one-way price, then fine, I'll pay it. I only came her to get suggestions from y'all, not a pep talk about the inner workings of the airlines.

Thank you anyway.
pprabhu is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2006 | 11:26 AM
  #13  
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,191
Likes: 0
To OP - whether you are a full time student or a full time millionaire, the consensus here seems to be that $149 is very likely to be the best you can do. As I stated in earlier response - airfares seem to be inching up and not down - depends on how much of a gambler you are.

Would you be more upset if you bought the $149 fare and found it went down by a few dollars or waited and found you had to pay more? If you can answer that, you will know what to do.
gail is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2006 | 11:34 AM
  #14  
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
CO is still $99.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2006 | 12:25 PM
  #15  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 0
I think you are within the window where the best fares for June domestic flights are being offered. Airlines no longer panic and offer super low fares to fill empty seats; they just cancel flights if there are not enough buyers to give them a fairly full plane.

rkkwan is absolutely right. $100 is a good fare and the liklihood of a material reduction is nil. Buy the ticket now and spend your time working on your studies, rather than chasing after a lower fare. Even Amtrak will cost over $200, although it is less cramped and has more space for luggage.
clevelandbrown is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2006 | 12:28 PM
  #16  
Community Builder
40 Countries Visited
20 Anniversary
1m Airline Miles
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,764
Likes: 0
jetBlue DOES show up on sidestep.com

OP has every right and reason to expect a fare better than $149. Lower fares are available now!

pprabhu, since you mentioned jetBlue I checked their website and figure that you must be looking at fares for June 29 or June 25 since those are the only dates with $149 as the lowest fare. The other days around it have flights for $129. With the $149 fare your total ticket price is $159.30 because I think you get a $5 discount (and double points) if you book online. So you could try earlier dates for a slightly ($20) lower fare on jetBlue. Their fares are not going to get better.

On the 28th, you can get the $89 fare from Continental that rkkwan mentioned (it's $129 on the 29th). That's EWR to FLL nonstop. American has the same fare but goes to Miami.

Buy the $89 fare on CO for the 28th or the $118 fare on US for the 29th (or AA to MIA for $99 on the 29th). I wouldn't wait.
mrwunrfl is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
poss
Air Travel
30
May 27th, 2008 05:55 AM
Asiachick
United States
7
Feb 19th, 2007 10:35 AM
teacherD
United States
8
Mar 8th, 2006 03:06 PM
enjoylife
United States
11
Apr 2nd, 2003 02:30 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -