Good airfare strategies?

[Homeslice]

So we all know 3 weeks in advance is supposedly the "deadline" for good fares...........But lately I've been noticing there's no difference at all anymore. Seems like they fluctuate daily, and there's no big "drop" at the 3-week point anymore. One time I scored a hella cheap ticket the day before........I guess they were desparate to fill that flight? I have also heard that on Wednesdays the airlines cut fares cuz of low demand, and then raise them back up Friday??.....And then theres airlines like SW that have these sudden price cuts that only last 1-2 days, but I forget what day they usually announce those.

Anyone have any good tips? I don't like sites like Hotwire because I want to know exactly what it's giving me before I book.

[101lifts2]

I have always found the lowest fares on www.kayak.com

I booked a Chicago Trip over Chirstmas...LA to Ohare for 328 total. This was a few weeks ago.

[derf]

The last few times I flew I had figured ou what day I wanted to fly, and wen on orbitz the day I wanted to travel.

Philly to Phoneix $199 round trip.

I also get my rental cars that way. My last rental was $13 per day.

[Angee]

I have to fly my kids 4 times a year. We only use Southwest because they are great with children flying alone (my younger is 7 flying with his teenage brother). Friday and Sunday have been the cheapest days for me. I toggle around and find the cheaper leaving flight with the least layover time, and then toggle the returning flight as well within a couple of days. I just forked out $584 today for their Christmas flights to see their father. I book directly on the SWA site because I haven't found it any cheaper to use those "booking services" online, and they won't book the kids at all.

[LeeNetworX]

You are correct about there not seeming to be any more a cutoff point before a flight's departure, where fares will get much higher. Example - my brother had a business trip scheduled here in ATL last week. He originally looked at buying airfare about a month ago, then the trip was cancelled. Less than a week before, it was on again. When he purchased airfare, it was $75 cheaper than from the few weeks prior. So odd.

Maybe it is related to the steadfast decline in oil costs we've seen the last couple of months? Dunno. Just thinking out loud here.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by LeeNetworX

You are correct about there not seeming to be any more a cutoff point before a flight's departure, where fares will get much higher. Example - my brother had a business trip scheduled here in ATL last week. He originally looked at buying airfare about a month ago, then the trip was cancelled. Less than a week before, it was on again. When he purchased airfare, it was $75 cheaper than from the few weeks prior. So odd.

Maybe it is related to the steadfast decline in oil costs we've seen the last couple of months? Dunno. Just thinking out loud here.

From what I understand the airlines bid for their fuel prices covering a period in time around a year or so, therefore rising and falling of oil prices have impacts only so often... I'd guess the change has to do with not being able to fill the seats...

[PiZdETS]

From what I hear fares are controlled by computers measuring demand, fuel prices, cancellation rates and everything else in real time to try to balance a good price with a profit. It's fairly complicated, some passengers tell me the cost to fly to certain places change constantly from week to week but we also have season long specials where the rate is constant to a destination.

[azoomm]

www.itasoftware.com

They are the guys that write the software for everyone else. Go in as a guest - then call the airline to order directly. There really doesn't seem to be a pattern anymore for actual days of the week that save you money. It's just a matter of stalking the prices...

[Moni]

I have gotten really good deals on www.spiritair.com

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Moni

I have gotten really good deals on www.spiritair.com

I see they always have screaming deals down to FL from MI.