The volatility of airfare...book now or wait?

[Lovely_Star]

Hey guys,

We're planning a trip to Oahu in September for our wedding anniversary. I've been pricing flights for our dates even though it's eight months away. Current rates for a non-stop flight roundtrip from EWR to HNL on Continental is $700pp ($650pp if we open a FF credit card). I'm wondering if they will go down or should we just jump on these rates now?

[thereuare]

I find airfare to be a bit of a crapshoot as their rates often seem to move from one day to the next with little rhyme or reason (although i know there is some reasoning behind their sophisticated computer programs which determine pricing).

Historically rates are a little higher at the beginning of September vs. the end of the month... when in September would you be traveling?

[Lovely_Star]

Thanks Thereuare,

Our dates are 9/10 - 9/18

[thereuare]

As i said it's a crapshoot, i think this is a 'fair' price... you might not have the cheapest seat on the plane, but there will certainly be others who have paid more than you did. Part of whether you book now or not will depend upon how flexible you are with your dates... should these dates go up in price, can you start/end the trip one day sooner/later to get a better deal on airfare OR are you locked into these specific dates... the former gives you more flexibility for a better deal, the latter you're locked-in. Also, should rates go up, are you willing to fly with a stop-over/connection to save money? (yet another factor influencing your decision)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Lovely_Star]

Hey Thereuare,

Once we lock in our hotel, we won't have any date flexibility. I think it's a "fair" deal too. I've played around with our dates using earlier months like Feb, March, April and price is the same. Thanks again.

[pujianping]

Hi, just wondering whether you have nailed down your ticket yet, since I might be traveling the same time at same destination, I am appreciated if you could provide an update. Thanks.

[Lovely_Star]

Updating a trip from two years ago, we jumped on those fares. ,

[thereuare]

What fares did you jump on... bidding on PRICELINE and won OR booked the going rate thru conventional booking channels? (if bidding, can you please add the details of your purchase (bid price, routing, stopovers, times, carrier, etc)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Thank you.

[Lovely_Star]

I did not bid through Price.line or HOTWIRE I booked directly through united.com and I don't remember the details because thus was two years ago.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the follow-up.

The flight information was really only important if booked thru PRICELINE or HOTWIRE and would have still been visible in the 'my account' section of either site, but as you booked direct that is all the information we needed.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Thank you.