How far ahead do you book

[harro1 256]

Just booked today flying in about 25 days for 12 nights stay.

 

My problem is I don't get enough Holidays every year. Although we get 20 days annual leave a year in Australia it isn't enough.

 

With my job we are generally busy. But we do get very busy alot and that is when you can make more money. I usaully only know 2 to 4 weeks ahead what we have coming up so my flights are booked in this time frame. I have looked ahead and there rarely seems to be good deals by booking in advance.

 

Next pay review I will ask for no raise but more leave days. They won't like it because they make too much money when they charge me out. I guess a lack of more holidays helps me save for a LOS retirement.

 

Edit: I can get cheaper flights by not flying direct but that cuts into the leave time. For $200 Aussie dollars I would rather the extra 8/12 hrs in Thailand than in KL airport. If I were coming for 4 weeks or more than I would brave the stopover and save the money.

Edited October 23, 2010 by harro1

[js007 795]

The other day I booked my ticket for February. I suppose I could have waited, but it seems more real when I have a ticket. I paid $1307 from the midwest USA.

[Sailfast 503]

I think the maximum for many airlines in the USA is 330 days advance ticket purchase. If I am booking an awards flight then I often do it as soon as the tickets go on sale. Otherwise I book 3-6 months in advance based on when I think I'm getting a good deal.

 

I should post on this board when I purchase tickets as the price usually drops the following week.

 

I'm a lucky American. I get 22 paid days off per year and 6 unpaid days off.

 

I can also apply for another 30 days of unpaid personal time, but that's up to them if they need me or not. If I get seriously injured outside of work they will let me take up to a year off under a Doctors orders.

 

After this I could still take up to 10 days off before it would start cutting into raises/vacation time reduction/disciplinary action. For obvious reasons I don't use this time.

[dontcha 53]

I took a chance and booked 3 seperate trips together earlier this year, it seemed like a lot of money to commit at the time but because I booked when a good deal came up it's like I got the flights for 3 trips for the price of 2.

One of the trips was almost 9 months away.

I saved about €900(37000 baht) by booking 3 flights together when they were on special offer

If I see a good flight deal then can determine when I visit.

[Bobshere 7]

JS

that is a good price. I'm in st louis I will book jan for july which airline

Thanks

Bobshere

[js007 795]

JS

that is a good price. I'm in st louis I will book jan for july which airline

Thanks

Bobshere

 

It was one of the cheaper prices I could find. Last year I think I paid $1117, so it's a little more this year. Still, I'll be in Thailand for two months, so it works out to about $22 a day for the airfare portion of my trip.

[Bobshere 7]

It was one of the cheaper prices I could find. Last year I think I paid $1117, so it's a little more this year. Still, I'll be in Thailand for two months, so it works out to about $22 a day for the airfare portion of my trip.

JS

Which city do you fly out of and what airline did you book with?

Thanks

Bobshere

[js007 795]

JS

Which city do you fly out of and what airline did you book with?

Thanks

Bobshere

 

Delta. The flight to Japan leaves out of wither Minneapolis or Detroit, and there's a short layover at Narita. I think I leave this time from Detroit. I've done it both ways and the flight times are about the same. Be careful, though, as some of the connections have some pretty long layover times.

 

I'm not really thrilled with the Delta 747s, but I already have a bunch of Delta FF miles and the price was right. Supposedly, they're refurbishing the economy cabins on the 747s. I guess that won't happen until next summer, though.

 

Continental also has some cheaper flights right now. They waned to fly my to Houston first, I believe.

 

Anyway, I wanted to fly Premium Economy on Thai Air or JAL, but I couldn't justify the extra $1000. So, I'm on Delta.

Edited October 23, 2010 by js007

[ronrat 59]

I paid aug for feb. 864 return from Melb but via singapore. Not fussed about about a 2 hour layover in Singapore as it a full service airline and on an a380. Plus work are obligated to give me leave when I want it.

[GlynRhedyn 32]

I pay what I think is a good price for the flight at the time I want to travel. Last Xmas I left it late and paid a hell of a price then, when my flight was booked, I tried to book my usual place to stay but it was full. I've learned from that and have already booked for Mar-11 and currently looking to book Jun/Jul too.

Glyn.

[PigBoy#1 28]

JS

that is a good price. I'm in st louis I will book jan for july which airline

Thanks

Bobshere

 

I booked last May for March 2011 paid $1037 from MSP. Combo Delta/China. I can get Delta miles on China. I purchased this on Vayama.

 

PB#1

[js007 795]

I booked last May for March 2011 paid $1037 from MSP. Combo Delta/China. I can get Delta miles on China. I purchased this on Vayama.

 

PB#1

 

That's a good price. Every time I check Kayak or one of the similar sites, I come up with different fares and carrier combinations. Sounds like you got lucky.

[Big_Brian 179]

Booked in August for April 2011.

When I found a price, airline, times and dates that I could live with, and could confirm that I could get the time off work, there was no point in NOT booking.

[samfreeland 64]

Just booked today flying in about 25 days for 12 nights stay.

 

My problem is I don't get enough Holidays every year. Although we get 20 days annual leave a year in Australia it isn't enough.

 

With my job we are generally busy. But we do get very busy alot and that is when you can make more money. I usaully only know 2 to 4 weeks ahead what we have coming up so my flights are booked in this time frame. I have looked ahead and there rarely seems to be good deals by booking in advance.

 

Next pay review I will ask for no raise but more leave days. They won't like it because they make too much money when they charge me out. I guess a lack of more holidays helps me save for a LOS retirement.

 

Edit: I can get cheaper flights by not flying direct but that cuts into the leave time. For $200 Aussie dollars I would rather the extra 8/12 hrs in Thailand than in KL airport. If I were coming for 4 weeks or more than I would brave the stopover and save the money.

any sick days up your sleeve.

[soi pig 0]

Booked with Singapore Airlines back in March for November 4. Paid $941 for Melbourne-Bangkok return but have got a 2 hour stop in Singapore, no real drama.

The same flights now are over $1400. Always cheaper to book 3 months in advance i have found with Singapore Airlines and there service is second to none.

You can get there cheaper with Jetstar but i wouldnt fly with those dogs if it were free.

[som nam na 0]

Same as you harro1 can only really commit about 4 weeks before which drives up the cost. Agree 100% with the direct route philosophy time saved is valuable

Edited October 24, 2010 by som nam na

[mykl 72]

I've never had a problem getting flight/hotel reservations four to six weeks ahead from Inchon to Swampy. There is a slight high season price bump on the flight but nothing outrageous.

[ttk 236]

I try and book 90+ days in advance since that was how far ahead NW would let you select seats. When I went to select seats with Delta, it seems they have changed this to something farther in advance.

 

This trip I got a great deal on DL but usually wind up using an agent (ThaiFly).

[Sun Tzu 0]

I'm sure that there is an optimal time to book say 3 months for particular routes and if you book further ahead than that then you don't really get that much more in the way of reductions.

 

Has anyone had any luck in booking last minute or just turning up at the airport and checking the prices on the day of departure. In slow season there are many flights leaving half full so you would have thought that the airlines would want to drop their prices in the day or so before the flight. But they don't seem to do so with Thailand flights.

[jacko 8,822]

I'm sure that there is an optimal time to book say 3 months for particular routes and if you book further ahead than that then you don't really get that much more in the way of reductions.

 

Has anyone had any luck in booking last minute or just turning up at the airport and checking the prices on the day of departure. In slow season there are many flights leaving half full so you would have thought that the airlines would want to drop their prices in the day or so before the flight. But they don't seem to do so with Thailand flights.

I have a feeling that if you are at the airport a few hours prior to departure the scheduled carriers will think you are desperate and gouge you.

The budget carriers may offer bargains to fill 'em up!

[ozboy 31]

Just booked today flying in about 25 days for 12 nights stay.

 

My problem is I don't get enough Holidays every year. Although we get 20 days annual leave a year in Australia it isn't enough.

 

With my job we are generally busy. But we do get very busy alot and that is when you can make more money. I usaully only know 2 to 4 weeks ahead what we have coming up so my flights are booked in this time frame. I have looked ahead and there rarely seems to be good deals by booking in advance.

 

Next pay review I will ask for no raise but more leave days. They won't like it because they make too much money when they charge me out. I guess a lack of more holidays helps me save for a LOS retirement.

 

Edit: I can get cheaper flights by not flying direct but that cuts into the leave time. For $200 Aussie dollars I would rather the extra 8/12 hrs in Thailand than in KL airport. If I were coming for 4 weeks or more than I would brave the stopover and save the money.

 

 

I fly from Perth via K/L and only have 3.5 hours layover and the prices with Air Asia are fantastic,but mainly have to book early I booked in august for may next year.

[fluffy 0]

I pay what I think is a good price for the flight at the time I want to travel. Last Xmas I left it late and paid a hell of a price then, when my flight was booked, I tried to book my usual place to stay but it was full. I've learned from that and have already booked for Mar-11 and currently looking to book Jun/Jul too.

Glyn.

how much did you pay for March? I just booked my flight now with travelpack from Manchester for March £539, the same site showed £590 yesterday for the same dates, couldnt believe my eyes!

[ttk 236]

I have a feeling that if you are at the airport a few hours prior to departure the scheduled carriers will think you are desperate and gouge you.

The budget carriers may offer bargains to fill 'em up!

 

Just for fun, I checked on what my flight on 1 Nov would be if I booked on Oct 30th.

 

Over $3000 Delta SEA-NRT-BKK vice the $947 I paid in July.

[Anfield 8]

Normally about 8 weeks before I want to go but this time I have booked a flight for next March as

I decided the price was ok

[harro1 256]

Just checked my flights to see if the price went up in the last 2 weeks. Came down by $200 fuck it.