Question on Airfare for Xmas
 

I am planning to fly home to my Dads in Wyoming for xmas. I have noticed the only 2 airlines that fly into Cody are Delta and United. The cheapest airfare on Delta is 611.00 RT. This seems like alot as I just came back and it was 300.00 RT.

Question is how to know when to book tickets..when are they at their lowest rates????? Is there anyway to track airfare overtime or compare to last year over xmas?

Any airfare from December 21st through January 2nd will be very expensive.

You've almost waited too long for any good fares. They've probably come and gone.

I would jump on anything under $500.

Thought I'd try again..anyone know of a website that compares airline prices say xmas 2005 to 2006?

"Is there anyway to track airfare overtime or compare to last year over xmas?"

I do not know of such a site, but truly...what was last year and its trends really has no bearing on this year. With the increase in fuel/oil costs, I don't think that history will repeat itself in this case. Just my opinion....

Debi

Yes, there is - and I even posted a link to it on this board...but can't remember. Let me do some checking.

It may be www.fareaware.com

It was mentioned on Clark Howard's show. The one above gives historical data - lots of it.

The one I remember gives present airfare AND a recommendation on whether to buy now or wait, based on historical data. Unless they've changed the website since I've last been on it, there's another website out there. But the one listed at the top gives you the historical info you are asking about.

www.farecompare.com

Dear starsville,
Thank you so very very much. You get hugs from my grateful DAd who can't bear to spend a Xmas alone since his
wife died and a grateful dtr who tries to help her DAd thru the Holidays ...while saving the pennies...txs again...

Probably the only way to get a decent fare is to be VERY flexible with your dates. Latest flight on Christmas eve or a flight on Christmas Day, with return on New Year's Eve, may be your only choices. It's tough in markets with little competition.

Can you fly into Billings, maybe?

Last year's air fare is immaterial - unless you can go back in time. We're now - different fuel prices and in a different security situation.

Also - so many factors impact price - which days of the week, which flights and how busy they will be and how far in advance tickets are bought - that you could never find fares to match your exact current situation - it would be apples and oranges.

If you're trying to find out if - on average - prices have gone up - the answer is yes. But how does that help you? You still need tickets now.

I would concentrate on broadening your seach as much as possible - and seeing if picking different days of the week or times - or even airports - or multi-stop flights will help.

Try itasoftware.com -- you can do a search by the month to see what days are cheapest for flying.

Tickets were getting impossibly high so I booked tickets today thru Booking Buddy vis smartfares.com to Wyoming.
Got email confirmation..

Anybody book smartfares thru BookingBuddy...does anyone know how to get seat assignements???

Tried entering teh Reservation Code on Delta (airline we bought tickets for on smartfares and it says....oops the system is down...

Just call Delta, with your name and the flight number of your first flight, they can give you seat assignments.
800 221 1212
(as for how to get to talk to a REAL PERSON when you call the airline...that's a tougher question to answer. I usually try pressing 0 five times followed by the #pound sign 4 times and then *star twice.

be very careful with smartfares. the tickets are not confirmed for up to 72 hours and it's next to impossible to get on the phone with a live representative when you have a problem. i have also come to find out about people who have had the tickets cancelled without any notification.