When to buy tickets
 

I have been looking for business-class tickets from Chicago to Tokyo in early September. I have looked at the usual sites like Expedia Priceline and orbits. My question is should I get the tickets now or can I wait for a while and get the tickets later and will there be a price difference if I wait. I am thinking the longer I wait the more expensive it's going to be but I'm not sure. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you

Use the 30-day fare finder on ITA - http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ specifying your city pair and "business class or higher." Then when you see a fare you can live with, book it through the airline, or if necessary through Expedia or Orbitz. You will almost always get the best price buying through the airlines and not intermediaries, and if something goes wrong you'll have a much easier time of it.

Business class fares to Asia tend not to have "discount" periods similar to those to Europe, but as long as you book before around, say, June-July you'll probably get a decent fare. There's not much point in trying to "time" airfare, just as most financial advisers will tell you not to try to "time" the stock market. The airlines' yield management computer programs are smarter than you, period.

Two additional questions, however. First, do you have any frequent flyer miles, and if so, how many and with what airline(s)?

Second, and this might seem a bit off-the-wall, do you plan to be in Europe, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East, or elsewhere in Asia within the next 18 months, not counting the Japan trip/cruise?

I frequent flyer mileage plan is with United and I have about 200,000 miles. At this time we have no plans to be in any of those places that you mentioned except for Japan. The prices I've seen directly from the airlines are quite a bit higher than what I'm seeing from Expedia and Priceline. I think I can ensure the meet the trip through a private plan like ensure my trip.com so I think I should be okay with that. Thanks again for your advice I do appreciate it.

United often has "sales" on premium class tickets to Tokyo. I seem to get emails about such sales a couple of times a year. Also, they often have special mileage deals where you get 20,000 miles for flying to/from Tokyo in addition to your regular earned miles. Make sure you are signed up for email alerts and check prices regularly.

Thank you Kathie.