do you book your flights 5-6 months in advance?

[love2travelchic]

I usually book way in advance so I can get Direct flights at a reasonable price as they usually the first to go and if not the cost usually requires an arm an a leg...lol

[yooper bill]

Hey Homebrewer, I like the charter out of MKE. May I ask how much for Feb?

[poolguywindsor]

Oh, I thought that said 5 to 6 days ahead sometimes I do that!

[jesswade]

I always book airfare first, but I put the hotel on "24 hr hold" - airfare seems like the least flexable and can be the most expensive.

jcjcnj - what airport do you fly out of jersey & what airline was that if you don't mind me asking - great price!

[Callaloo]

Prices are ridiculous! Nonstop in high season (we are looking to be in Negril from end of December - January) is pricing us at least $2000US roundtrip from NYC/NJ. Our accommodations are booked as they are often the fastest to go, but that airfare is a killer.

We are praying it goes down as we get closer to our vacation. We are hoping to book by October.

[Homebrewer]

It was a lot, flights are only on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturdays. Wednesdays are cheaper but the prices vary for different dates. Ours was $860/each but in the past I've gotten price adjustments when it dropped as much as $200/each.

Hey Homebrewer, I like the charter out of MKE. May I ask how much for Feb?

[Dwest]

I have a tendency to keep checking starting now for next spring. HOWEVER in January Air Canada has sales posted one day in the globe and mail and also westjet has a sale then. I've been successful but you have to be ready to pounce because they sell out in one day. I would make my hotel reservations before that though...a little backwards I suppose but I'm pickier where I stay versus exactly how I get there. I tend to figure out the cheapest days to fly and base my room reservations on that.

[goldilocks]

I've booked a couple of months out, one month out, and once the day before (had to rush home, throw some stuff together, catch a bus to Logan and sleep in the airport for a 6:00 a.m. flight) I sign up for price alerts, plan to fly on off days (usually Wednesdays) and have booked one way flights on different airlines. many strategies!

[Ras Walleye]

Once I have my dates picked out and hotel booked, usually 6 to 9 months in advance. With a price range in mind I start searching for airfare. I use Kayak, Vayama, and ITA Matrix. I also set up price alerts and fly mid week. I search at odd times and different days. The best fare I ever found was with a random search on a Saturday night. I caught a one day sale for half what they were the day before and after. When I find a price in or near my target I buy and don't look back. When possible I purchase through Orbitz because of their rebate policy.

[SLP]

I try to book early but this year found that the flight would cost just over $1000 (via Toronto). I will wait because I know the prices bounce around after the summer.