April 2012 Airfares

[Russ In Mn]

Consolidation in the airline industry, fewer flights and smaller planes has caused this. We paid about $70 per ticket more this year than normal. I don't even mind the higher expense as much as I hate the fact that MBJ is no longer a regularly scheduled non-stop destination from my hometown. The charter company that runs the one and only non-stop (Wed, Sat & Sun) is charging $1,100 per ticket or about $500 more than what I paid with the stop. It's been this amount all year and has never changed. Lowest I saw from MSP over the last year was $540 with an overnight stay in Atlanta or Charlotte or Chicago. Not sure how they mention an overnight (10 to 12 hour layover) as a "scheduled" fare. All of this is for a February flight...

Only 15 more sleeps.....

[Beachin.Ann]

Russ in MN, I got airfare for $531 on CheapoAir last weekend for March 21-28th (leaving out of Minneapolis via Suncountry) and it's even a direct flight.

[SweetSue]

Just for fun I looked at AA.com and found airfare 4/17 thru 4/24 for $309 roundtrip. If you have any flexibility, the cheapest days to travel vary but are often midweek. I also get frequent fare updates from free services such as Airfare Watchdog. I fly from NYC and am usually good at finding cheap flights. I use a credit card that gives me miles so I accumulate air miles quickly. This past December I was able to do my roundtrip for $130 by booking two 1-way flights, using air miles one way and a voucher. Even without the voucher, my trip would have been $230 - still not bad. You still have some time before you have to panic. Watch the fares closely and see if you can find a trend.

Good Luck !!

[Clarity]

That's a good find Sweetsue - Not many April Airfare deals have been springing up lately
I figure end of this month and beginning of March will be the "sweet spot" for mid to late April travel. *fingers crossed*

Luvdaisland – I don’t know if you got your airline ticket yet…

If NOT, here are a few more tips I forgot to mention earlier

Sign up for YAPTA.COM and KAYAK.COM flight price email updates. You can pick the exact flights you want, on the days you want. They will email you the minute the price drops on any of those chosen flights.

I recommend keeping an eye on Bing travel deals too. They post record low priced flights and some unadvertised deals.

There is a "cheap flights to the Caribbean" page (see link below)

http://www.bing.com/travel/deals/che...do?FORM=TRADDS

If there is any record low flight deal to Montego Bay – this is the first place it’s going to pop up. I've seen some amazing deals to Jamaica on this site...unfortunately never from my departure city.

Even if it’s not from your city, you can always take advantage of it by seeing if there is a deal from your city to that city. My friend saved 400$ on her flight to Thailand by booking two separate flights with two different airlines.

Another site I recommend is Airfare watchdog.
Click on this link for cheap flights to Montego Bay and you can sign up for the email update.

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/cheap...y-jamaica/870/

It will let you know all of the cheap flights to Montego bay each week. (This is how I found a really cheap ticket for me and Markus last November.)

And one more thing.
It’s a good idea Clear your cookies from your cache before doing flight searches.
Read this article to find out why.
http://goasia.about.com/b/2011/09/05...er-cookies.htm

Hope that helps!

Can you tell how much I’m HOPING to score affordable tickets to Jamaica for April? I’ve researched this into the ground! Lol!

[marley9808]

Awesome tips, Clarity!

[Delta]

I need the tips cause the flight I want went up 90 bucks in two days. I still have time so I'm hoping to get a good price during the "sweet spot".

[Luvsdaislands]

(I just hate to wait...I am one of those high anixiety folks...I'm scared I will get a terrible seat or it will sell out...just all types of thoughts go through my head, LOL)

SOOOOOO I just booked a one way fare from BWI to MBJ it was $184. Now looking for a return fare, Airtran keeps increasing!!! So I just might go ahead and book the Airtran for $296.... with 2 one way fares, it is the cheapest I have seen since November.

ANDDDDDD What is up with these overnight layovers...this is ridiculous!!! SOOOO you mean to tell me that a 3 1/2 flight is going to take me 26 hours?? CRAZY!!!

[tfw73]

I am also afraid to wait! I'm not going for another five months and I'm getting itchy fingers about booking the airfare NOW. I'm just worried about not getting seats.

[Delta]

See you all have made me nervous. May just go ahead and get it tomorrow. I'm trying to get three cheapest possible since I have to pay an additional 90 for the boy! Gonna pay for one ticket what I would have normally paid for 2!

[Clarity]

Congrats on pushing the button Luvsdaisland! Woo hoo!
I feel you, I hate overnight layovers too but you know it's all worth it in the end!

Delta, I know what you mean about the price hike!!
Take a look at the notification I just received this morning
the price went up 70% that's RIDICULOUS!



I've never seen the price that high! I literally gasped out loud!

I have regained my composure though and I have not lost hope.

I'm still waiting it out, cool as a cucumber.
I'm not falling for their scare tactics and I'm not worried about the seats selling out.
"Sweet spot" soon come.
These prices will drop.