Too soon to book flights?

[Tank3434]

So I've been looking at flights the last couple weeks just to get ideas and some really good prices just popped up today from my local airport. Rountrip it's giving me 250$ from PA (a small airport in NEPA) to MCO which is about as low as it gets. Years ago I've goofa as low as 220$ but idk if those prices happen anymore. I'm tempted to just book this because the times also work for us but our trip isn't until December so idk if I'm jumping on this way too soon. I mean anything can happen in the next few months. They can go up I know but they can go down as well. I'm one that also seems to book things super early then ends up kicking myself for one reason or another so I'm really not sure what to do here. Anyone ever buy flights so soon? Is it worth doing it should I wait???

[CleveSJM]

I book as early as I can. If the price is good, then it's time to book. Yapta is a website that can help keep you sane about ticket prices. You might kick yourself if you see you could have saved a couple dollars but piece of mind is worth something.

[Strmchsr]

Flight prices are so incredibly random that if you find a good price you're best to jump on it. Otherwise you end up having to wait until the very last moment to hope for a good deal.

[Pirate Granny]

My rule of thumb is to purchase and NEVER look again.

[Tank3434]

That's a great rule! I decided to wait...seems way to soon for my own peace of mind. Hope I don't regret it.

[minnie-mouse]

Book as early as you can, the prices usually just go up!

[DizneyRox]

Maybe I'm just crazy, but it t seems the airlines go through to strategies...

1. Release airfare at lowest price and just keep going up.
2. Release high and keep dropping.

Seems they are mostly using strategy 1 for the past year or two. Once everyone is used to that, they swap.

I've been buying early and it seems to work best. Once I find a price I'm OK with, that's the one.

[mommy2maddi]

From my experience they tend to go up closer to the time. That is a great price and I agree with the above post that says book it and never look at prices again!

[NJGIRL]

For years I was able to book PHL to MCO for $200 or less round trip.....For the last three years prices have been terrible. Even with the gas prices down (an excuse the airlines have always used) they are up. I am paying much more than $250 this year. In fact we had to book two separate airlines this year to get the cheapest price.

[NJGIRL]

Maybe I'm just crazy, but it t seems the airlines go through to strategies...

1. Release airfare at lowest price and just keep going up.
2. Release high and keep dropping.

Seems they are mostly using strategy 1 for the past year or two. Once everyone is used to that, they swap.

I've been buying early and it seems to work best. Once I find a price I'm OK with, that's the one.

I find the your option 1 also. The only time I have seen prices go down is when too many seats are still not sold......and night flights and flights early in the morning are the cheapest.

[Tank3434]

Ok so the flights went way up the last couple weeks and came back down today...I booked! And I'm NEVER looking at the prices again!!

[MouseHouser]

We usually book early. For our December 2015 trip we will likely book on May 24, which is the first day you can do so for December travel on Southwest.

This strategy worked well last year, as prices were usually higher after we booked.

[MouseHouser]

We're flying in December. The first day to book on Southwest was May 14. We booked right away. I now see the fares for the flights we chose have risen by more than 20%.

With the economy strengthening, I definitely recommend booking early.

This applies to car rentals too. Last year was the first year in the last 4 that rates were higher when we arrived in December than when we booked in May. And so, upgrading was not an option. This year, I see that rental rates are already much higher for December than they were this time last year.

I could be wrong, but failing to book early seems to be a riskier proposition lately.

[manutd1]

We book as early as possible....and only with Southwest.