When to book air? Early as possible?

Beachcombers · April 7, 2004

We're wondering if there is any advantage (in terms of price) to booking air as early as possible, or waiting for possible seat sales closer to our sailing date.
Any opinions, comments, advice would be appreciated.

<html>[img]http://www.angelfire.com/ks/sets/signatures/dogpiano.gif[/img]</html>

krob · April 8, 2004

I booked our air about 1 month after I booked cruise (sailing on 4/10 - booked air in January). I watched the prices everyday and finally booked through cheaptickets.com I wound up paying about $380.00 per ticket. Last week prices for the same flight were posted at double that.

PhoenixCruiser · April 8, 2004

In our Sunday paper, they track the week's lowest airfares, I watched that for several months. As soon as I found one that matched, we got it. Unfortunately, the price where we have most of our frequent flier miles is still over $100 more than the ones we purchased.

I suggest signing up with Travelocity, they will track current fares and email you when the price changes.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;6;26;17;1;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

vossjemi · April 8, 2004

I'm booked for a cruise in jan/05, but haven't booked air yet. Some airlines don't even have prices that far out yet, so I'm waiting til some, like southwest do, so I can decide where it is cheapest to book.

As far as airfare deals, I recommmend smarterliving.com. You can sign up for the weekly e newsletter out of your favorite airports and get the deals for that weekend and beyond. It is wonderful. Also, if it doesn't have your airport as a newsletter, just look at the lowest fare deals on the website on tuesdays, as most airport deals are listed there even if a newsltr doesn't come from that airport. Good luck!

Carnival Festivale 8/95
RCI Navigator of the Seas 1/24/04--SEE MY REVIEW AT [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=7683004077"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=7683004077[/url]
RCI Brilliance of the Seas 1/14/05
WE CAN'T WAIT TIL WE SAIL AGAIN!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2005;1;14;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

cruisetmc · April 10, 2004

I usually price out air at the same time I price out cruises, which is normally 4-6 months ahead of time. Then I try to get the air purchased as far in advance as I can.

NCLSouthward/83
Carnival-Mardi Gras/84
Sensation 9/99
Monarch of the Seas 11/01
Carnival Spirit 12/03

Got2Cruise · April 10, 2004

What if you wait until close to your sailing date and then the flights you need are already booked up? I wouldn't wait too long. . .especially if you are like me and prefer nonstop flights.

Got2Cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;7;11;23;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
till we sail ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS,

megalyce · April 10, 2004

Air is tricky...book too early and you might pay too much, book too late and it's a long walk to the port!

I usually monitor flights using [url="http://www.orbitz.com"]www.orbitz.com[/url] they have the "Deal Detector", which allows you to set your ideal price between two cities and then recieve an email when the price has reached or dropped below your "target price".

Carnival Imagination 4/00
Holland America Veendam 3/03

When to book air? Early as possible?

Recommended Posts

Beachcombers

Link to comment

Share on other sites

krob

Link to comment

Share on other sites

PhoenixCruiser

Link to comment

Share on other sites

vossjemi

Link to comment

Share on other sites

cruisetmc

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Got2Cruise

Link to comment

Share on other sites

megalyce

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Archived

Announcements

Features & News

New Photos

Forums

Activity

Gallery