Airfares: To buy or not to buy

[demiurgician 0]

Hi Everyone,

I am hoping that those of you who have been doing this longer than we have might have some advice. My husband and I are hoping to travel back to England for Christmas. We almost always fly American Airline (for the airmiles) direct from Chicago to Manchester, and usually pay somewhere between $600-$700. Last weekend when looking at Christmas fares there was a flight available for $630, but unfortunately we hadn't confirmed time off of work yet and couldn't book it. Now that the time off of work is approved the flight has gone up to $875, leaving Dec. 21 and returning Dec. 30. My question is this: Should we book the flight at this amount, or wait to see if it will go back down? We've been doing this long enough to know that flights can go up and then back down frequently, but we've never traveled at Christmas time before. I'm hoping some of you have some insight into what we can expect to pay at that time of year.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

It may go down, but usually the longer you wait for christmas flights the more expensive they get since it's such a popular time to travel

[*julez* 124]

It may go down, but usually the longer you wait for christmas flights the more expensive they get since it's such a popular time to travel

I agree. The prices are more likely to increase as you get nearer your travel date, particularly traveling at the holidays. You might want to check other airlines for cheaper fares. While I usnderstand the whole aire miles thing, I like to find the best price. I've had a lot of luck get better fares through US Air to/from Manchester.

[demiurgician 0]

It may go down, but usually the longer you wait for christmas flights the more expensive they get since it's such a popular time to travel

I agree. The prices are more likely to increase as you get nearer your travel date, particularly traveling at the holidays. You might want to check other airlines for cheaper fares. While I usnderstand the whole aire miles thing, I like to find the best price. I've had a lot of luck get better fares through US Air to/from Manchester.

Thanks for the advice! We are definitely will to travel whoever is cheapest (I'll check US Air), I just hate the thought of book a flight for almost $900 when it might be less than $700 in a week. Conversely, I hate the thought of *not* book a flight at almost $900 when it could be more like $1,200 in a week. I hate the airfare game...

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

so do i - especially when the rhyme and reason of airfares never makes any sense!

[Lansbury 19]

That period is when the airfares are normally at their yearly highest. If you see a good fare book it, the chances of it getting cheaper are a lot less than the chance if you leave it to long the flight will be sold out.

[TracyTN 237]

^^

[ddkm 0]

Try deleting the cookies on your computer and searching on the same site again for the flight. I heard somewhere that this method often brings the prices of flights back down to their "normal" price.

Worth a try at least

[Lansbury 19]

Try deleting the cookies on your computer and searching on the same site again for the flight. I heard somewhere that this method often brings the prices of flights back down to their "normal" price.

Worth a try at least

Depends on the web site. If it is a search engine like Expedia etc yes that does happen, if it is the airlines own online reservation system it makes no difference.

Also the airlines use very sophisticated flight management systems which can adjust the airfare according to apparent demand and sales among a host of other criteria, so fares can fluctuate. Also in economy there can be quite a few (10 isn't unusual) fares with the cheaper ones having a set number of seats available from the outset.