When to book

Foxtbh

Hi guys,

I'm flying into New York and out of Miami in September or October.

Currently deliberating about when to book, as at the moment, prices are sky high - 500+ for a return to New York is shocking value for money, given I paid £450 for LA last year.

I've been watching prices for a while now. Whilst the conventional wisdom is to book as early as possible, I decided to wait and also monitor prices.

In February if I had wanted to fly with Virgin in May or June, it would have cost £500 to New York return. However had I booked it yesterday, I'd have paid just £380 with Virgin - so waiting until the last minute on this example would have seriously paid off.

What do we reckon about Sept or Oct? Neither strke me as peak travel periods so I'm wondering if we'll see discounts closer to the time?

£500+ for an economy return to New York just seems excessive - a thought backed up by the fact you can do it for £380 this month...

Thanks!

richardw

BTW Delta have started direct flights from LHR to Miami and they also fly to JFK.

If you are very flexible about when you want to fly, it may be worth waiting, but if you want to fly out at 11am on a Saturday then may be not.

heronbommie

Hi,

I'm currently looking for the same trip LHR - NYC and return MIA -LHR but in July and I would jump at £500, currently £750 plus, although I realise this is peak period.

I'll be waiting until at the latest 6 weeks before travel, if your flexible this may be an option for Sept to Oct?

I think you will have a better chance of discounts than me, good luck.

Foxtbh

Yea, I think July is your problem.

Such a shame that if I could go in 2 weeks time I could get flights all in for £380 PP..

Just makes £500+ to go at an arguably less popular time (Come on, who'd really rather go on holiday in October over May or June?) even less palatable.

Alan_Bowen

May and June are the months of lowest demand, have been for years and seem to be particulary poor this year. That's why fares are low. Business is always better in the autumn and fares rise accordingly. If you have to fly via NewYork do not leave booking to the last minute, fares are generally much higher this year than in the past and they are likely to go only one way, up

Murphy_The_Cat

Foxtbh wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm flying into New York and out of Miami in September or October.

Currently deliberating about when to book, as at the moment, prices are sky high - 500+ for a return to New York is shocking value for money, given I paid £450 for LA last year.

I've been watching prices for a while now. Whilst the conventional wisdom is to book as early as possible, I decided to wait and also monitor prices.

In February if I had wanted to fly with Virgin in May or June, it would have cost £500 to New York return. However had I booked it yesterday, I'd have paid just £380 with Virgin - so waiting until the last minute on this example would have seriously paid off.

What do we reckon about Sept or Oct? Neither strke me as peak travel periods so I'm wondering if we'll see discounts closer to the time?

£500+ for an economy return to New York just seems excessive - a thought backed up by the fact you can do it for £380 this month...

Thanks!

its crystal ball time and if anyone can give you anything othe than well meaning opinion, I'd be astonished.

When you find a price that you are happy with, pay it - or risk paying through the nose, or not going at all !

Looking at historical prices is a futile exercise, as times have moved on.

jackieblack

Foxtbh wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm flying into New York and out of Miami in September or October.

Currently deliberating about when to book, as at the moment, prices are sky high - 500+ for a return to New York is shocking value for money, given I paid £450 for LA last year.

I've been watching prices for a while now. Whilst the conventional wisdom is to book as early as possible, I decided to wait and also monitor prices.

In February if I had wanted to fly with Virgin in May or June, it would have cost £500 to New York return. However had I booked it yesterday, I'd have paid just £380 with Virgin - so waiting until the last minute on this example would have seriously paid off.

What do we reckon about Sept or Oct? Neither strke me as peak travel periods so I'm wondering if we'll see discounts closer to the time?

£500+ for an economy return to New York just seems excessive - a thought backed up by the fact you can do it for £380 this month...

Thanks!

Flights to the USA have rocketed this year, everyone I know has been shocked at how much they've gone up.

Foxtbh

Well I have to say it seems the advice of 'just book as far in advance as you can' is deeply flawed.

When I posted this it was £500+ just to New York and £600 for the into New York and out of Miami I really wanted. A few days later it was down to £475 for into NYC and out of MIA and just checked today and Virgin are offering £466. There are also numerous New York returns on my dates for a smidge over £400 even with traditionally expensive carriers like BA.

Had I just booked I'd have been rather irritated right now. So flights DO go down as well as up..

Murphy_The_Cat

Foxtbh wrote: »

Well I have to say it seems the advice of 'just book as far in advance as you can' is deeply flawed.

Or..............................
I booked the flights for my US Holiday in May, on New Years Eve when they were at a price that I found to be acceptable. From that point on, they have only gone up and are now currently £350 per person more than I paid.

swings, roundabouts, ups & downs etc, etc.

Find a price that is acceptable to you and book it :beer:

p.s 'seat sales' can really skew the book early/book late schools of thought.

Niblet

So pleased I found a live conversation for this! I've been scratching my head ofr days; I need to book flights from london (any) to IAH (Houston TX), my partner and I would like to go at the end of July for 2 weeks. Flights leaving now are £350-450, but to book late July flights today will cost £750++. Reading this thread I guess July is the problem here...

jackieblack

School Holidays......... :eek::mad::D
(All School Holidays - Christmas, Easter, Summer, half-terms...... )