Have you booked your Airline Reservation earlier than normal to avoid rising fares

[emeryjre]

I booked several airline reservations last week to try and avoid rising fares
Am I the only one concerned about the possibility of fare increases

 

[DebBrown]

My son was getting ready to book tickets for the summer when the war started. We had to wait three days to pool our United miles for him and he was a bit freaked out. The prices did increase a little bit every day. You can assume fuel costs will go up.

 

[Zenichiro]

Yes, I locked in what I could for this year and next spring with United miles and AA miles. It will definitely go up soon.

 

[MrockStar]

Yes we booked our Maui and Big sky Montana trips 4 and 1 month ago! Hurray.

 

[PrairieGirl]

Yup, snagged a pretty decent fare too!

 

[Patri]

Yes. Decent price right now.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Yes I have in recent months. Now, however, the challenge has become the airlines changing schedules and aircraft. American Airlines seemingly has changed their entire fleet schedule this past week as all of our flights (May to Ireland; Sept to Alaska and Oct to LA) have had changes that required additional work on my part to keep half-way decent travel & connection times.

 

[dioxide45]

I just booked tickets because we needed to book flights. I wasn't trying to book early to save money in advance of increasing fares or anything. Just booked what we needed to book to fly to where we were going to fly.

 

[DebBrown]

Yes I have in recent months. Now, however, the challenge has become the airlines changing schedules and aircraft. American Airlines seemingly has changed their entire fleet schedule this past week as all of our flights (May to Ireland; Sept to Alaska and Oct to LA) have had changes that required additional work on my part to keep half-way decent travel & connection times.

That's been a challenge for us too. We bought tickets separately on United: DH and I on one PNR and my kids on their own. They have changed flights repeatedly, once putting us on separate planes.

 

[Timeshare Von]

That's been a challenge for us too. We bought tickets separately on United: DH and I on one PNR and my kids on their own. They have changed flights repeatedly, once putting us on separate planes.

That is probably the worst, when you have to juggle logistics with other travelers in your group. This past fall I had a set of flights to Portugal . . . I was flying in from Milwaukee while my sister was traveling from Tennessee . . . and we were both on FF miles bookings. I think they changed our flights 2 or 3 times before we finally made the trip into Lisbon.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I had already booked most of our flights for travel this year, but do still need to book a couple of short flights for Oct and Nov.

Right now I am trying to figure out if we keep our flights for later this month or cancel. My wife is concerned with all the chaos and lines being reported due to the partial shutdown.

 

[sponger76]

I did book flights recently for Thanksgiving week as a hedge against fuel prices making them much more expensive. If fares somehow get cheaper, I'll change to slightly different flights and get a credit that I'm sure to use toward something else. In the meantime, I'm just waiting to see what the inevitable schedule changes will be.

 

[DeniseM]

We booked our flights to Hawaii for October before this all started too - thank goodness!

 

[easyrider]

We book out as soon as flights become available using air miles.

Bill

 

[stmartinfan]

We’re searching for flights into London and back from Edinburgh for late June departure. Hoped to do business class, but prices are about $7000! Even regular fares are $1500. Obviously Americans are doing Europe this summer. I know it’s a bit late to be buying but just got the timing worked out.

 

[SmithOp]

Feel lucky to have booked our May Hawaii trip in January. Airfare, car rental, TS all booked.

 

[AnnaS]

I wish I would make up my mind if I will visit my sister this May in Bonita Springs.....& will I keep my December reservation in WDW....decisions. If air is not reasonable, that will take care of that thought.

 

[joestein]

I have a trip planned to Florida in June to look at retirement communities. When I checked the airfare about a month ago - I thought it was around $119/PP one way. I guess it could have been $199/PP.

Now I just booked it this week - it went up. I think the base fair went up to $324. I actually spent a bit more and got comfort +. But definitely sorry I didn't book earlier.

 

[pedro47]

My only concern rights now are the long line at the airports because TSA have not been paid for two months.

 

[melissy123]

I actually realized I had forgotten to book a flight for June. Prices were not that bad yesterday still and then jumped higher today. Booked a reservation with miles for now….

 

[AnnaS]

I was also browsing dates for May to Bonita Springs, FL to visit with my sister. Checked again this morning and return flight is almost double. Yikes. I need to decide fast - going/not going.

 

[davidvel]

In our experience fares are still driven mostly by supply and demand, not airline costs. I think airlines are bumping fares for now, but they will come back down regardless of fuel cost. Historically, airlines will absorb the increase fuel cost at a loss, and then make profit when things change.

Looking at some flights just over 2 months out that are nearly double the cost of what they run average. But these planes have 80+% seats empty. No way they can keep these seats empty, and fares will come down. You will always pay significantly more than the best price if you buy more than 3 months out for domestic flights.

 

[Patri]

I have a trip planned to Florida in June to look at retirement communities.

You? You are way too young. Or are you helping parents?

 

[AnnaS]

Decided to book - played around with dates since not checking in to a hotel. Staying with my sister. Used a few points and rest in cash. No thinking about it now. Hopefully I will decide soon for my December reservation.

 

[heitmullerj02]

Glad i booked HI in January and I thought airfare was high then ($200) more than usual & no points left. I thought airlines negotiated their fuel prices a year out? Are we being taken advantage of? Probably anything to get $$ out of the consumer.