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Message
When to book airfare....
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:37 pm
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:37 pm
I think there was/is a poster SyracuseTiger or something like that that use to post airline fares and tips. I fly 3 or 4 times a year for work and typically book when I know when and where I'm going. I have a family trip in late May that I need to book for 5. Is there a certain time out that provides the best fares? Obviously, late booking is higher but I think sometimes booking too early can be high as well. To those that fly a lot, how far out from the date of travel do you typically find the best fares?
TIA.
TIA.
2
Posted on 2/5/26 at 8:42 pm to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
CuseTiger.
Look at Google Flights (I like ITA Matrix better, even though they use the same data), and set an alert, that's about all you can do if your dates are fixed (you lose versatility to move the trip up or back by a day.) Do any searching outside of Google Flights in a private window.
Booking super early penalizes you, especially if you're searching through airline websites, because then they can place a very high reliance that you need those specific dates for an event. They'll drop a cookie on your computer to track how often you search, which fares you click on, if you clicked on basic economy or premium economy, etc.
Look at Google Flights (I like ITA Matrix better, even though they use the same data), and set an alert, that's about all you can do if your dates are fixed (you lose versatility to move the trip up or back by a day.) Do any searching outside of Google Flights in a private window.
Booking super early penalizes you, especially if you're searching through airline websites, because then they can place a very high reliance that you need those specific dates for an event. They'll drop a cookie on your computer to track how often you search, which fares you click on, if you clicked on basic economy or premium economy, etc.
Posted on 2/5/26 at 9:00 pm to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
quote:
I think there was/is a poster SyracuseTiger
Still here
Lemmy had good advice. I tend to look at Google flights to get a decent idea of pricing then book direct with the airlines.
quote:
I have a family trip in late May that I need to book for 5. Is there a certain time out that provides the best fares?
From where to where? Specific dates or flexible on timing? Pre covid it was usually 2-3 months out so you're right around the start. I would start browsing now and if you see a flight you like, book a regular economy ticket. You can always rebook a regular ticket and get a credit back if the price drops
Posted on 2/5/26 at 10:52 pm to CuseTiger
I knew it was the big Orange. Sorry for using the full Syra-Cuse.
Flying to EWR May 16 back the 19. Have minimal points with AA and many more with Delta. Charlette is a nightmare and our kid has been stranded overnight a couple of times. I've only been stranded in ATL once, a year and half ago, or so, when everything went down nationwide.
Also, what is your opinion on using points verses paying full or partial fare? I run into this with hotel points. 20k-30k points for a room might be good but sometimes that same room is 85k points. At 85k I'm just paying for the room and booking points. What is your dollar to point; break point on using points?
Flying to EWR May 16 back the 19. Have minimal points with AA and many more with Delta. Charlette is a nightmare and our kid has been stranded overnight a couple of times. I've only been stranded in ATL once, a year and half ago, or so, when everything went down nationwide.
Also, what is your opinion on using points verses paying full or partial fare? I run into this with hotel points. 20k-30k points for a room might be good but sometimes that same room is 85k points. At 85k I'm just paying for the room and booking points. What is your dollar to point; break point on using points?
Posted on 2/5/26 at 11:13 pm to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
ATL only seems to have problems during the summer when the thunderstorms kick in (flew in/out of it about 230 times.)
I find that people blow points on $220 flights to Vegas, etc., when they could use twice the points to get to Ireland or Colombia, or somewhere interesting. Same thing with hotel points. I've booked fantastic rooms in Paris that normally cost $1200 a night with the same amount of points I could have burned booking the Courtyard in Baton Rouge or Addison which is a $200 room during an event.
It helps to set your 36 month travel goals to determine if you're going to need the points for something else. Devaluation of points seems to have gotten as bad as it's going to get, but that's also the reason I care more about Chase/Amex points than brand specific points, they're more versatile. Case in point, I'm taking GF to Ireland this year, and won't burn points, because I'm probably dragging four people to Japan the following year, where the same amount of points (essentially) will pay for $2k (per person) economy tickets instead of two $600 tickets to Shannon.
I find that people blow points on $220 flights to Vegas, etc., when they could use twice the points to get to Ireland or Colombia, or somewhere interesting. Same thing with hotel points. I've booked fantastic rooms in Paris that normally cost $1200 a night with the same amount of points I could have burned booking the Courtyard in Baton Rouge or Addison which is a $200 room during an event.
It helps to set your 36 month travel goals to determine if you're going to need the points for something else. Devaluation of points seems to have gotten as bad as it's going to get, but that's also the reason I care more about Chase/Amex points than brand specific points, they're more versatile. Case in point, I'm taking GF to Ireland this year, and won't burn points, because I'm probably dragging four people to Japan the following year, where the same amount of points (essentially) will pay for $2k (per person) economy tickets instead of two $600 tickets to Shannon.
Posted on 2/6/26 at 12:34 am to LemmyLives
Lemmy,
I get what you mean. I've had hotels that want over 100k points for a $120 stay (I'm paying, no points) versus a $400 night for 45k points (I'll use points for that).
What is your point versus cash break point? Or does it depend on the trip?
I get what you mean. I've had hotels that want over 100k points for a $120 stay (I'm paying, no points) versus a $400 night for 45k points (I'll use points for that).
What is your point versus cash break point? Or does it depend on the trip?
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