How late can we book a Xmas flight?

kade9

Hi,

My wife and I are tarevlling back to Florida to spend Christams with her family. We're looking at flying out 23 Dec and returning 30 Dec.

If we leave it until the last minute to book flights, are we likely to get a really good deal? Or does that money saving approach not work with Christmas flights?

Cheers

kazwookie

You can book as late as seats are still available on the planes, once the planes are full that is it.

But it is always a question as to what everyone else is doing, you may miss the 'boat' if you leave it too late, on the other hand there may be loads of deals and seat available on planes right up to a couple of days before the flight.

HXDave

kade9,

my personal advice is to book flights for Xmas & NY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

2 reasons for this:

1. Xmas is probably the busiest time of the winter period, and chances of getting seat availablity at last minute is slim, especially to warmer climes.

2. Most airlines work the same way now, where they sell the cheaper seats first, and then as each plane is getting fuller and fuller, the prices increase and increase, meaning last minute availability, should there be any, will always be at a premium.

yes, there are seat sales that come online every now and again, but do you really think the airlines need to do this at peak season, when the aircraft just fill themselves up so quickly.

anyway, thats my advice, use it as you wish.

Regards

Dave

richardw

kade9 wrote: »

If we leave it until the last minute to book flights, are we likely to get a really good deal?

Or does that money saving approach not work with Christmas flights?

No, that old fashioned rising price thing factor called demand gets in the way.

Doesn't work with any period where demand can be very high.

ailuro2

Your wife will tell you how busy FLA is at Crimbo due to (almost) everyone and their brother having 2 weeks off and fancying some guaranteed sunshine - so that's going to be the Caribbean, Canaries, Goa or perhaps south africa....

in terms of tourist destinations that are very accessible you're then down to Florida or Canaries - that's a lot of people on the plane you're wanting to fly on...



Book as early as you can, hopefully you won't need to book accommodation too, which tends to be as expensive, if not more costly than peak season in July / August.

As people who are travelling on hols for our third consecutive year I never saw the prices drop as it got nearer the time.;)

Doshwaster

I would say the chance of getting a good late availability deal to the destination of your choice is approximately zero, especially to somewhere like Florida. It's more likely that you won't find a single seat left available and be stuck at home in the cold.

Book it NOW! It may seem expensive now but the prices will only get higher over the next few weeks.

Alan_Bowen

You have 2 chances of getting cheap flights on the days you mention, slim, and nil. The cheapest connecting flights to Miami on those days are around £750, BA is looking at more than a £100 more. If you want to travel, book now.

kade9

Thanks for all the advice!