Air fare? Now or wait

[FloatMe]

Off topic I know, but most of you folks have traveled more than us. For lack of anything better to do (at least that I wanted to do), I just checked fares from columbus, oh to Ft. Lauderdale for the 1st week of November, 2016. I know the rule of thumb is 45 to 90 days out for the best fares, but I found perfect flight times for $335 RT. That seems pretty good. Pull the trigger? Or practice patience?

[WAAAYTOOO]

Actually, I have found that waiting almost never produces a reduction.  I have friends that swear that airfares are cheapest 60 days before the cruise but I have never found that to be the case.  The airfares that I booked for the Blog group tour in July have steadily climbed since I booked.  Presently, they are more than $300 more than I paid in July.

 

I would feel terrible if I advised you to jump on it and then the prices went down...but honestly, I have never been the beneficiary of a lower airfare price by waiting.  It has always just cost me more.

[monctonguy]

I don't know US airfare prices that well, except that they are WAY cheaper than flying from Canada any day.

 

That being said, I haven't found a particular time that seems to be cheaper or not and I have booked many many flights in the past few years.

 

I usually use either an airline here in Canada (westjet) that has a price drop protection in the form of a credit for your next flight with them, or I book through Flight Network which will credit your account with them if your flight fare drops no matter what airline you book with through their site.

 

Not sure if you have options like that down there...but if so, at least you know you have some protection from price drops!

[Matt]

If you can fly Southwest, you can book now and then re-book if the price drops with no penalty.

 

I recognize this is not an option for everyone.

[WhiteSoxFan]

My experience is that it depends on where you are flying and on what days. Flying to MIA and FLL on weekends during peak cruising season is the time that you will never see the price go down.  Way too much demand.  Lesser ports and flying in or out midweek may yield you a better chance of the price reduction in that 45-90 day range.

[michelle]

if you have tracked airfare from MSP to Florida in general I think that rate is good
Sundays are the cheapest days now to buy airfare so you might want to either

watch it the next few days

 

BUT my rule is do not buy airfare until you are for sure going on a trip

Sometimes people say they are going on a trip then something comes up

and if you have the airfare this far out - you are stuck with airfare (well credit)

And you are only allowed to change that current ticket

up to one year from the day you purchased it -for most airlines -
   Make sense?

 

And buy insurance - on the airfare if its this far out in case you do have to

change it and have a valid reason sometimes that insurance will cover

those change fees.

 

food for thought

[DocLC]

if you have tracked airfare from MSP to Florida in general I think that rate is good

Sundays are the cheapest days now to buy airfare so you might want to either

watch it the next few days

 

BUT my rule is do not buy airfare until you are for sure going on a trip

Sometimes people say they are going on a trip then something comes up

and if you have the airfare this far out - you are stuck with airfare (well credit)

And you are only allowed to change that current ticket

up to one year from the day you purchased it -for most airlines -

   Make sense?

 

And buy insurance - on the airfare if its this far out in case you do have to

change it and have a valid reason sometimes that insurance will cover

those change fees.

 

food for thought

This was the same advice my agent gave me.  In addition, by buying the insurance to cover the airfare portion, we only had to pay for that coverage and then can add the cruise fare later once final payment is reached and we still qualify for the preexisting condition waiver.

 

We bought our airfare for Europe nearly a year out as I was able to get roundtrip airfare for next July/August from Los Angeles for under $700 roundtrip on British Airways.  I knew there was no way I could beat that fare after paying nearly $400 more per person this past year.

[FloatMe]

Thanks, All great food for thought.

[amejiajr8]

on February 18 southwest will release their flights schedules for Aug 6th thru Nov. 4th.

[Marc]

If you can fly Southwest, you can book now and then re-book if the price drops with no penalty.

There is a small caveat, though: the price difference when you re-book your flights is only available as a credit that only the ticket holder can use and it must be used within one year of the original ticket's purchase date.

 

Although I still greatly prefer Southwest due to their liberal policy regarding credits, I have lost some price-adjustment credits because I wasn't able to use them in time.

[DocLC]

There is a small caveat, though: the price difference when you re-book your flights is only available as a credit that only the ticket holder can use and it must be used within one year of the original ticket's purchase date.

 

Although I still greatly prefer Southwest due to their liberal policy regarding credits, I have lost some price-adjustment credits because I wasn't able to use them in time.

As have I as use is defined as completing a flight using the credits, not just booking a ticket with them. And it's from purchase date of the original ticket, not the reservation dates themselves, so unless you fly a lot you may not benefit.

[bcarney]

Another tip: check out all the airports within an acceptable driving distance from you.  For example, my "local" major airport is DTW (Detroit).  On our last cruise, when I priced airfare from there it was in the $800-$900 range, and with 4 of us the cost approached the same amount as the cruise.  I wound up locating a tiny airport (MBS) about the same distance drive away with airfare around $450, plus significant savings in parking fees (and the bonus of being able to park within a 2 minute walk of the front door of the airport!).  Security was a breeze - with only 24 or so people on the flight, you basically "high fived" the TSA agent as you got on the plane, LOL.

 

For our upcoming cruise, pricing out of DTW was insane, so I checked out all the other major/minor airports within 3.5 hours drive - Chicago, Indy, Cleveland.  We wound up saving enough flying from Cleveland that we'll be able to drive down the evening before and check out the town, sleep at the hotel, and take a leisurely flight to Tampa - and still have extra money saved vs. DTW.  

[Matt]

There is a small caveat, though: the price difference when you re-book your flights is only available as a credit that only the ticket holder can use and it must be used within one year of the original ticket's purchase date.

 

Although I still greatly prefer Southwest due to their liberal policy regarding credits, I have lost some price-adjustment credits because I wasn't able to use them in time.

Good point.  It certainly does predicate upon flying often enough that you will be able to use those credits.

[DocLC]

Bcarney, excellent point. We saved over a $1,200 by flying round trip to Boston rather than into Montreal. It made sense as we wanted to spend some time in Boston which is where the cruise ended. Thus, we stayed a few days in Boston, drove to Montreal by way of Ben and Jerry's, and then cruised back to Boston. It was a long drive, but worth the savings.

 

In Juky, we're sailing to Europe from Los Angeles even though we live in Northern San Diego. The airfare is nearly half what we'd pay from San Diego and it's one less connection.

[FloatMe]

Another tip: check out all the airports within an acceptable driving distance from you.  For example, my "local" major airport is DTW (Detroit).  On our last cruise, when I priced airfare from there it was in the $800-$900 range, and with 4 of us the cost approached the same amount as the cruise.  I wound up locating a tiny airport (MBS) about the same distance drive away with airfare around $450, plus significant savings in parking fees (and the bonus of being able to park within a 2 minute walk of the front door of the airport!).  Security was a breeze - with only 24 or so people on the flight, you basically "high fived" the TSA agent as you got on the plane, LOL.

 

For our upcoming cruise, pricing out of DTW was insane, so I checked out all the other major/minor airports within 3.5 hours drive - Chicago, Indy, Cleveland.  We wound up saving enough flying from Cleveland that we'll be able to drive down the evening before and check out the town, sleep at the hotel, and take a leisurely flight to Tampa - and still have extra money saved vs. DTW.

 

$800 - $900 would probably keep us taking the cruise. Wow. I may regret booking this early but I couldn't pass up the certainty of a decent price. I also knew the the international boat show is the following week in Ft. Lauderdale, which I'm inclined to think won't help air fares? Upgraded to comfort + for $350. I did look at flights from cleveland and Cincinnati, I think we are pretty fortunate here in Columbus. We seem to have reasonable fares.

[bcarney]

$800 - $900 would probably keep us taking the cruise.

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it was airfare to San Juan, not any of the Florida ports.

[FloatMe]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it was airfare to San Juan, not any of the Florida ports.

That would still be rough. We just did Adventure in April and our flights were in pretty reasonable. We would certainly think about driving a bit to get cheaper fares.

[monctonguy]

I wish we had those options flying from Canada. Every airport here is about the same price give or take $. No competition or options.

 

I often see deals from Cleveland or Detroit or New Hampshire even to Florida for a 3rd to half the price of what I pay flying out of here. If only I lived closer to the border or these cities it would be a great option.

 

Airfare is always more than the cost of the cruise for me for each of the 7 cruises I have done so far. It averages about $700/person. That's booking way in advance., economy class, plus luggage fees, no seat selection and at least 1 if not 2 stops along the way.

 

That being said I have managed to find some half decent flights to San Juan in April..but I have to drive 3 hrs to another airport...overnight it, pay for parking and gas and I think its cause its American carriers I am flying with as to why it is reasonable.

[Matt]

I wish we had those options flying from Canada. Every airport here is about the same price give or take $. No competition or options.

Have you considered driving across the border? I have Canadian friends who live in Ottawa and they drive to airports like Syracuse or Buffalo, where they can take cheaper "domestic" flights.

[monctonguy]

Yes, I did once out of Bangor, ME which is about a 5hr drive.....now those flights are just as  expensive. I would have to drive at least 12hrs each way to get cheaper flights.

 

if l lived closer to the border I would for sure. I don't mind driving and travelling in the US to get cheaper flights!