Wedding Flight Advice

[SarahLovesJS]

Does anyone know any tips or tricks to finding cheaper/less expensive flights? When is typically the best time to buy? Also, do you know how far ahead you can buy?

 

[bee*]

I think you can normally book about 300 days in advance. I just keep tracking the websites or check one of the search airlines like ebookers.

 

[gwendolyn]

Hey, Sarah! I've always had good luck finding cheap flights on Hotwire--a couple of years ago, I got a round-trip ticket from DC to Ireland for $379 after taxes, which I was very happy with. I think it really depends on where you're flying from, where you're going, what time of the year, what day of the week (in my experience, Tuesdays and Wednesday are usually the cheapest) and what time of the day you're traveling (the red eye is usually pretty cheap and oftentimes more empty a flight than other times--again, in my experience), in addition to how far in advance you book.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Hello! Thanks you two! I guess we''re too far out right now. It''d be for June of 09, but in a few months we should be able to book. We''re probably going to be going from Dulles (IAD) to Hawaii I figured probably Honolulu (HNL). And man it''s expensive!

I did some price-checking today and it was cheaper to fly to France in some cases.

I really like the least stops, I HATE stops. I wish there were non-stops.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/17/2008 2:11:02 PM
Author: SarahLovesJS
Hello! Thanks you two! I guess we're too far out right now. It'd be for June of 09, but in a few months we should be able to book. We're probably going to be going from Dulles (IAD) to Hawaii I figured probably Honolulu (HNL). And man it's expensive!

I did some price-checking today and it was cheaper to fly to France in some cases.

I really like the least stops, I HATE stops. I wish there were non-stops.

When I flew from DC to Australia back in 2000, it was cheaper for me to buy the ticket to Aus coming out of LAX, and then book a cheap domestic flight from DC to LA (I think on Southwest). So that might be an option for you?

ETA: Sorry, I think I may have worded that confusingly. It was cheaper for me to get a round-trip ticket from DC to LA and then a round-trip ticket from LA to Australia, instead of buying one ticket just from DC to Australia. Does that make sense? For the longer flights, I don't think they do non-stop anyway (fuel and all that), so coming from DC, you'd probably have to stop off in LA anyway... If it's cheaper to break it up into two tickets, I say do that.

 

[Elmorton]

I like kayak.com

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 5/17/2008 2:14:19 PM
Author: gwendolyn

Date: 5/17/2008 2:11:02 PM

Author: SarahLovesJS

Hello! Thanks you two! I guess we''re too far out right now. It''d be for June of 09, but in a few months we should be able to book. We''re probably going to be going from Dulles (IAD) to Hawaii I figured probably Honolulu (HNL). And man it''s expensive!

I did some price-checking today and it was cheaper to fly to France in some cases.

I really like the least stops, I HATE stops. I wish there were non-stops.

When I flew from DC to Australia back in 2000, it was cheaper for me to buy the ticket to Aus coming out of LAX, and then book a cheap domestic flight from DC to LA (I think on Southwest). So that might be an option for you?

ETA: Sorry, I think I may have worded that confusingly. It was cheaper for me to get a round-trip ticket from DC to LA and then a round-trip ticket from LA to Australia, instead of buying one ticket just from DC to Australia. Does that make sense? For the longer flights, I don''t think they do non-stop anyway (fuel and all that), so coming from DC, you''d probably have to stop off in LA anyway... If it''s cheaper to break it up into two tickets, I say do that.

No it definitely makes sense! I was looking at that actually. From LAX to HNL it was only like $800 so I''ll have to check that when we get closer definitely.

 

[Independent Gal]

Sarah, it is waaaaay too early to book since fares will fluctuate a lot between now and then. It''s worth waiting to get a good deal.

Register for alerts on airfarewatchdog.com I think you can specifically say that you''re interested in flights from DC to Hawaii, and they let you know each week what the fares are like from all the different websites, plus some unadvertised fares, so if you see a really good fare you can grab it.

What Gwen said is smart. You may get a cheaper fare by flying to LAX, and then buying a flight LAX-Hawaii separately.

Another thing to consider, if you''re not going until the summer 09 is that you and your FI could get airmile credit cards with an airline you like. They usually start you out with 10-20K of them, and especially with all the stuff you''ll be buying for the wedding, plus throwing EVERYTHING on that card for a few months, you should be able to clock up enough miles for at least one ticket.

Just an idea!

 

[musey]

I''ve always found that fares are better directly through the airline''s website than through hotwire/orbitz/cheaptickets/kayak/etc.

I use one (usually sidestep or kayak... though I think they merged recently? or something?) to see which airline has the cheapest trip, then go to that airline''s website to book. Usually 10%+ cheaper.

 

[LAJennifer]

Farecast.com is good too. Also, I saw your post that from LAX to HNL was $800. That is way too high (and the reason I''m skipping my annual summer trip to Hawaii). If you wait around for some fare sales, you should be able to do LAX to HNL for about $450. Check the prices again around the end of August (most airlines drop their prices around then).

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

 

[Linda74]

Use www.farecompare.com or www.farecast.com to see what the prices run to your destination month by month....
then use either www.mobissimo.com or www.kayak.com to find the best price....finally check www.travelzoo.com for specials.....
Sometimes searching on a tues. or a wed. yields a better price....

 

[cellososweet]

my best traveling companion ever: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/


it''s for pretty last minute though (some discounts allow you to book a flight up to six months in advance, but that''s pretty much as far out as it goes). They change frequently throughout the day, but there are always email notifications. I helped a friend go from LAX (Los Angeles) to BCN (Barcelona) for $689 round trip last year.

 

[dogmama]

I didn''t initially post for info, but I am filing it all away because it''s so useful. Stupid me only thought of expedia.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[CNOS128]

I just wanted to chime in because usually I really like kayak and farecast, BUT we just got tickets to go from NY to Honolulu, which ended up costing ~$1,000 each (for the one nonstop flight that exists). We booked them about 2 months ago, and the trip is in July. We did see the same flight for a little over $700, but waited too long because we weren''t sure of our plans. Then I looked at Farecast when the fares were about $900, and it told me to wait to buy because fares were dropping. They didn''t!

It was disappointing, because usually I''ve had good luck with those sites. Anyhow, don''t book now, but don''t wait too long, I guess, is the moral of the story. And obviously nonstop is more expensive (but we couldn''t take the extra days for travel).

Good luck!