@#$%^&@#@!!!!!

I am planning a trip to Phoenix in April from the 12th-19th. I was kind of watching airfares, but thought it too early to book. Last week there were fares from NY to Phoenix for $172 R/T. I didn't book them. This week they're gone.

From all you very frequent, very savvy fliers, what do you think? Will they go back down again? Should I book now at $261 (I need 4 tickets), or would you wait awhile? Thanks.

I would call a local travel agent and see how booked the planes might be, that way you know if you need to book now. $261 is still not a bad fare rt to Phoenix. IF that time frame is spring break, I would get the tickets as soon as possible, because fares for spring break are usually higher.

Good luck.

Thanks. Yes, that is for Easter week. I could kick myself for waiting!

With that much time until your trip, I would wait. The fares should come down between now and then. The key is to keep checking the fares online often using sites such as Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz, as well as the individual airline websites.

Good luck.

If it's a holiday weekend, I would not assume the fares will come down. The airlines are having problems with money now, so if anything, during high demand weekends I would think the prices will go up not down.

Again, I would call the airline you want to fly AND a local travel agent to see how booked the planes already are, and make a decision. Again I think the $261 is not a bad price.

Good luck.

You can set Fare Watcher at Travelocity to email you whenever the fare to your selected cities drops. I find it very helpful, especially when planning a trip well in advance.

Funny how everyone suggests "call a travel agent" AFTER the deals are gone, and someone wants some strings pulled. Maybe should have called a TA in the first place.

Don't kick yourself too much - I was up late one night checking fares East to West coast, found one I liked but was too tired to deal with entering info at that late hour. In the morning it was gone.

Normally I would wait, but that is Easter week and everyone wants to travel then. So you risk not getting a seat at all.

Since you are planning for Easter week, I would pay up if your family has it's heart set on going. One way to check availabilities is to go to the airline website and book a reservation, then go to seat selection and see how many empties there are. But, when you roll the dice you take your chances.