Should I buy ticket now?
 

I will be flying to London in January. I notice airfare is going up. Should I go ahead and lock in on a ticket or wiat to see if they will go down before January. Does anyone that travels often have any advice?

It's difficult to respond to the question without knowing the point of origin, approximate dates and the ticket cost that you are looking at. Personally, I'm looking at the possibility of going to London in mid-February and I haven't been impressed with the fares I've seen thus far.

I guess some info would help wouldn't it flyboy, and I know each year is different. I will be flying out of Houston, Tx. on 01-07-05 to London, any airport, and returning on 01-23-05. I would prefer non-stop,and I really like Briish Airways but I could be pesuaded to change my mind if the price was right. So far the best fare I have found is $535.00 through British Airways.

There are a few reasons why the price may seem a bit high:

- 1/7 is not too far from the Christmas/New Year holiday where many people travel. If you a week later, it's about $30 cheaper.

- 1/7 is a Friday, where prices are highest for trans-Atlantic flight. It's about $45 cheaper if you go two days later, on Sunday 1/9.

- Only BA and CO flies IAH-London, so prices are not as competitive as other markets. It's about $150 cheaper from New York Kennedy to London on the same dates.

Anyways, I think there's a chance the airlines may have a fare sale and bring the prices down a little. But probably not by much, with the higher and higher fuel prices. If you must go on those dates, and really want the particular flights, you may just want to book them now.

Yeah, I think I will go ahead and book, because I do need those dates. I am visiting my daughter in London and we are flying to Rome on the 11th. I wish that we had waited another week to make plans but she has alreay booked our flight to Rome. Thanks rkkwan for helping me make up my mind. I will book and not check anymore so I won't know if I got the best price or not.

Any chance of spending your time in London, after the leg to Rome?

Keith

You have two problems. You want to fly home on a Sunday which is always more expensive and fly out on a Friday. I think that airfare seems high. You might try to play around with the dates more. I plugged in 1/5 to 1/25 and it was $498 on BA.

Thanks for all the great responce. I do plan to spend some time in London and surrounding areas after Rome. We are staying in Rome for only 5 days and then back to England for another 8 days. I have already spent several weeks in and around London last April and really loved it. I just don't know if I will like in Januray. My daughter and son-in-law live fairly close to London and will need to drive in to pick me up at the airport so weekends are a necessity and I need to be back on Monday of the following week for work, so I have to fly those dates.

Have you considered Priceline.com? I imagine you could save some money, though lose out on FF miles.