To the frequent flyers!

[reppu]

Quick question for you frequent flyers: Is it better to buy now or wait? I'm going home for Christmas, but Dad thinks there might be better deals closer to the holidays, when airlines are trying to get rid of tickets. Add in the recent economic crisis, and he thinks that airlines will be begging people to fly. So should I wait? The lowest price I've found so far (Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 flying from Nagoya [NGO] to Atlanta [ATL] at any time, any class) is about $1500 on Northwest. Even though I hate Northwest with a burning passion, I can't argue with that price.

So, Frequent Flyers, buy now or wait?

Comments

[bistrot.livejournal.com]

Wow I'm surprised you even found that low (wait nvm...I've only been checking United because I have FF miles with them). The prices just racketed up these last few days it's been pretty insane. You can find better deals closer to dates sometimes, but that always has a risk too. I try to buy ahead of time as normally I do get good deals with a lot of time left in advance but right now with the economy as it is.... either way is a gamble?

[reppu.livejournal.com]

I know, it's totally risky. I figure I won't save more than $200 at most, and I'm wondering if that's worth it, ya know? I hate gambling with airlines, because they are so unpredictable. @__@

I totally have United miles too, but their price is nearly $2000, and that's leaving from Tokyo, so I'd have to get there and back, making it about $2200. :(

[shinimegami21]

isnt it that when you get closer to the time to fly, the ticket gets more expensive? o.o I would say buy now. :/ That is a damn good price for going home for the holidays!

[reppu.livejournal.com]

I totally thought $1500 was expensive. Of course, all the travel agencies are quoting about $2300, but what happened to the $900 tickets? Did they disappear? ;__;

[shinimegami21]

word! what happened to them 900$ tix? *sigh* such a shame... and 1500$ is expensive, but doable!

[mermaidkween.livejournal.com]

I just did a search and I was so shocked to see Air France offering the trip for like $17,000. WTF.

[kashewmoo.livejournal.com]

If I were you, I'd book your flight in advance. I'm heading to Boulder, CO on the 27th of December, staying there until the 11th, and I'm looking to buy my ticket already, too, because it's far too big of a gamble to wait. Considering that NGO isn't a major airport, I don't think you'll find something much less expensive than that.

[analineblue.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine fares going down, myself. In fact, I was sort of thinking the same thing the other day, wondering if I should wait, and then...the flight I was looking at went up $50 overnight. :P $1500 is a pretty good deal too, so... I'd buy now. :D

[photoash.livejournal.com]

From what I keep hearing 1500 is normal price now the whole 900 thing is gone >_> I know that domestically while flying for work lately it's been very expensive... I'm going to use the train for my new england travel between cities because i was seeing prices of like $400-$500 to fly one way between boston and philidelphia booking 2 months in advance O_O so i took the $175 train ticket instead!!

I think you should totally buy the $1500 especially going out of smaller airport in your city instead of Tokyo... I don't think airfare is going to drop between now and christmas maybe after christmas/new years but not before this is some of the most busy travel time around the world no reason to drop fares yet!

I think if you wait you'll end up paying more to go out of tokyo >_>

[asahifirsa.livejournal.com]

I checked and the cheapest I found was pretty much the same price you had. Only thing I can suggest is try with two tickets. See if you find a cheap ticket to anywhere in the States and a cheap flight inside the States.

What you can try is ask a travel agency to reserve a flight for you (usually you can reserve them for 3-7 days) and keep checking. Fuel is getting cheaper so airlines are slowly lowering their fuel tax and that can be quite a bit on long distance flights. On the other side if you wait too long prices might explode even more.

Oh, did you check the airlines websites for JAL and ANA? Might be worth a try.

[nolan-ash.livejournal.com]

I think your family should celebrate Christmas in Jan or February when everyone won't be fighting to get those specific dates.

Generally speaking, I think rates are only going up. Unless you're willing to wait until the night before you hope to fly out to buy the tix, I'd buy sooner rather than later. Fuel aint getting any cheaper.