Lowest airfares found six weeks before flight, study says

[klpca]

Like JetBlue, Alaska is also generous with price drops. I use Yapta to check for price drops after I purchase. They send you an email when the fare drops. I received credit twice for our Mexico flights, and once so far on our Hawaii flight. (I'm hoping for more - at 6 weeks!)

 

[hefleycatz]

Just looked at our booked flight for LV (12 weeks out now) on southwest and our fares had went from $214. to $167. Nice big credit in our account.

Maybe at 6 weeks or sooner I'll see another discount.

lee

 

[siesta]

Like JetBlue, Alaska is also generous with price drops. I use Yapta to check for price drops after I purchase. They send you an email when the fare drops. I received credit twice for our Mexico flights, and once so far on our Hawaii flight. (I'm hoping for more - at 6 weeks!)

+1 for yapta

 

[easyrider]

I'd be a nervous wreck if I waited until 6-weeks out!

I am assuming this study was across all destinations and all time frames. I wonder how different the data is when you just factor in the leisure travel vs. business travel. Leisure travel is more likely to be a sub-set of popular destinations, and the bulk of travel on the weekends. Business travel would be more evenly distributed and more on weekdays. To me, that might make a big difference as to when, statistically, the airfares would be lowest.

Kurt

Me Too. I just bought airfare today for next winter and was surprised at how much it had gone up. 50,000 miles per ticket + $84.00 for the cheap seats. wow

Bill

 

[Dori]

Lee, I'm waiting for BUF-LAS for May and the prices went up today! YIKES!. Over $500, whereas last year's fare was under $300. I am really hoping that fares go down from BUF.

Dori

 

[MichaelColey]

I think expecting a lower rate at any ONE particular time is a losing proposition. Fare sales happen at different times (although usually 1-3 months out), and the best ones are typically VERY short term. If you really want to catch a low fare, you have to set up an alert and buy it as quickly as possible when the fare sale happens.

In a similar situation, I find that the lowest rental car rates are USUALLY found less than a week out. But with rental cars, I always book as early as possible and monitor regularly. When a lower rate comes along, I book it and cancel my previous reservation. For our current trip, I had a two week Full Size for about $450. I was able to drop that to $326 a couple months out. I checked the day before our trip, and the lowest rate was about $1200. Conventional wisdom failed (big time) there, but the strategy of regular monitoring worked great.

 

[siesta]

I think expecting a lower rate at any ONE particular time is a losing proposition. Fare sales happen at different times (although usually 1-3 months out), and the best ones are typically VERY short term. If you really want to catch a low fare, you have to set up an alert and buy it as quickly as possible when the fare sale happens.

In a similar situation, I find that the lowest rental car rates are USUALLY found less than a week out. But with rental cars, I always book as early as possible and monitor regularly. When a lower rate comes along, I book it and cancel my previous reservation. For our current trip, I had a two week Full Size for about $450. I was able to drop that to $326 a couple months out. I checked the day before our trip, and the lowest rate was about $1200. Conventional wisdom failed (big time) there, but the strategy of regular monitoring worked great.

michael, if younhavent already check out autoslash.com , it basically does what you do but automatic for you.

 

[MichaelColey]

michael, if younhavent already check out autoslash.com , it basically does what you do but automatic for you.

Yep, I do use AutoSlash.com, but I seldom take their recommendations. I can usually get better deals from coupons and contract codes I find on the web. Also, I prefer to use National (which AutoSlash doesn't fully support), where I have Executive status. With that status, I can reserve a mid-size and pick any vehicle from the Executive Aisle. On our current trip ($326 for two weeks) we found a brand new Suburban (with TV screens in the back!) on the Executive Aisle. Perfect for us. But the AutoSlash emails do remind me to go check rates if I haven't checked them lately.

 

[siesta]

Yep, I do use AutoSlash.com, but I seldom take their recommendations. I can usually get better deals from coupons and contract codes I find on the web. Also, I prefer to use National (which AutoSlash doesn't fully support), where I have Executive status. With that status, I can reserve a mid-size and pick any vehicle from the Executive Aisle. On our current trip ($326 for two weeks) we found a brand new Suburban (with TV screens in the back!) on the Executive Aisle. Perfect for us. But the AutoSlash emails do remind me to go check rates if I haven't checked them lately.

I too prefer National. Emerald Aisle for me as well