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Message
Does it pay to book flights 6 mo. in advance?
Posted on 12/5/24 at 8:48 pm
Posted on 12/5/24 at 8:48 pm
I don't fly very often but we are planning a trip to NoCal in late May. Should I book now or closer to the travel dates? Probably flying to Fresno or Bakersfield to start our roadtrip.
10
Posted on 12/5/24 at 8:50 pm to Cool Hand Luke
I’d go ahead and book if you find a decent price that you’re okay with. Waiting until the trip is a gamble I’ve lost and won on. Just a dice roll if the flight you need starts to fill up you could end up paying a lot more by waiting.
Posted on 12/5/24 at 10:05 pm to jkylejohnson
Thanks, I'm good with the price posted now, didn't know if it mattered or not.
Posted on 12/6/24 at 5:48 am to Cool Hand Luke
If you're good with the price, book now. You should also expect a schedule change or two given it's 6 months out. You can use this to your advantage to change your flight to an even better timed flight for free when that happens.
Posted on 12/6/24 at 7:18 am to Cool Hand Luke
Book it when you can afford it and you like the price
Posted on 12/6/24 at 1:36 pm to CenlaLowell
SWA will always give points back or offer a future flight credit if the price of your fare drops at any point prior to travel.
I’ve been very successful at getting $ or points back.
I’ve been very successful at getting $ or points back.
Posted on 12/6/24 at 1:39 pm to Cool Hand Luke
Just plug it into google flights or something like that. If it says that’s a normal or good price for that fare, buy it. If it’s marked as crazy high for the fare, put a price alert and wait a month or two. Once you hit 2-3 months out, just pull the trigger even if it’s listed as high.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 1:25 pm to bluestem75
quote:
SWA will always give points back or offer a future flight credit if the price of your fare drops at any point prior to travel.
Does it happen automatically? Or do they only do this for customers who notice and complain?
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:08 pm to Cool Hand Luke
I generally grab my flights as soon as I know I’m going somewhere.
You could look at the available seat maps online and hold-out for a price reduction.
If you’re flying first/business class, there aren’t many tickets available compared to coach, I’d especially grab them now.
You could look at the available seat maps online and hold-out for a price reduction.
If you’re flying first/business class, there aren’t many tickets available compared to coach, I’d especially grab them now.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 10:16 pm to Willie Stroker
You have to manually "change" to your exact same flight, but it takes about a minute. You can occasionally check and/or set a Google flights alert which will email you if it drops
Posted on 12/8/24 at 4:32 pm to Cool Hand Luke
Ask people who wanted to go to Vegas for the LSU game. The flight tickets skyrocketed.
Posted on 12/8/24 at 5:49 pm to LSUlefty
While I get what you are saying, I doubt there will be a stampede of people booking tickets to Fresno.
Posted on 12/8/24 at 6:33 pm to Cool Hand Luke
The point is, don't wait.
Posted on 12/8/24 at 10:00 pm to Cool Hand Luke
My experience has been that 3-6 months is the sweet spot.
Posted on 12/8/24 at 10:21 pm to Cool Hand Luke
I hate flight shopping. Last week was going to pull the trigger for flight at Mardi Gras 3.5 months out. Told myself I’d wait til the next day…. Next day, the ones I took screenshot of magically disappeared at that price and now several hundred dollars higher. Not the first time it has happened, I think they track you and then jack with the rates. So I’m still waiting to see if they will reappear or come down in price for the times I need. 500$+ now to fly to Orlando, ridiculous
Posted on 12/9/24 at 9:28 am to LSUlefty
quote:
The point is, don't wait.
Which statistically is wrong.
quote:
Best Time To Book International Flights
According to Expedia’s study, the data shows that you ideally want to book around 60 days out, and no earlier than four months in advance for international travel. The study found you’ll save an average of 10% by booking sixty days in advance instead of further out.
Google’s flight price study analyzed two types of international flights. For flights to Europe, Google found that the best deals were found 129 days out—but could be anywhere between 50 and 179 days before departure. Flights to Mexico and the Caribbean didn’t require as much advance booking. Statistically, the best day to book flights was 59 days out, but the lowest fares were found anywhere between 37 and 87 days before departure.
quote:
Best Time To Book Domestic Flights
While you don’t need to plan too far out, you also don’t want to wait until the last minute to purchase domestic flights. The Expedia study found that the sweet spot to book is around 28 days before departure, where travelers save an average of 24% compared to those who wait. The Google study found prices bottomed out 44 days before departure. However, both studies agree that you don’t want to wait until the last minute.
Forbes
Posted on 12/9/24 at 12:07 pm to Cool Hand Luke
quote:
Fresno or Bakersfield to start our roadtrip
Unless you have people to visit in the Central Valley, Sacramento may be a better starting point. It's heavily serviced by Southwest, but also Delta and United. Its small enough to be civilized.
Posted on 12/9/24 at 1:09 pm to Tree_Fall
We are starting our road trip at Yosemite. That is why I picked Fresno.
Posted on 12/9/24 at 4:59 pm to Cool Hand Luke
Book flights when you are comitted. Most airlines will provide the difference or a credit to your account if the flights dip below what your purchased them for.
Essentially, lock in your flight price now, then if they drop in price... you can get it credited or refunded. If they go up in price, you are still locked in at what you paid for them.
Flights go up in price way more often than they drop in price.
Essentially, lock in your flight price now, then if they drop in price... you can get it credited or refunded. If they go up in price, you are still locked in at what you paid for them.
Flights go up in price way more often than they drop in price.
Posted on 12/10/24 at 9:13 am to Cool Hand Luke
Yosemite start.
Good reason for Fresno.
Go to Yosemite website today and check when lodging, access, etc. open up for your daes. Book as early as you can.
Good reason for Fresno.
Go to Yosemite website today and check when lodging, access, etc. open up for your daes. Book as early as you can.
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