Flight pricing etc - does it get more expensive nearer time?

[Deleted User]

Been trying to book flight to New York for Feb.

Been watching for a while but its gone up by £20 today :-( Bad news.
I guess I should have booked earlier.

In general, do flights get more expensive the nearer the time or is it all flexible depending on demand?

Also, is there any way (before booking) to tell how full a flight is?

chappye

Hi Paul, Im not 100% clued up on whether to book last minute or early, only because we've always got quite decent fares doing either of those options bizarrely!! We were planning on going to New York for my birthday in feb 2013 & id been looking at what prices are like for this feb 2012...best place i found was lastminute.com, could get a 4night stay at 4* Hilton including flights there & back for approx £1400 inc taxes for the two of us.
We've always booked flights, accommodation separately, but flights to New York with Virgin were coming out at £700 odd each, add on hotel accommodation separately & it would turn out very expensive indeed!

dzug1

For long distance (well most really) flights prices do tend to go up as the travel date approaches, though there is always the possibility of a sale. Even if there is it may not apply to the particular flights you want

The availability of lower band fares - or lack thereof - is an indication (and only that) of how full the flight is.

[Deleted User]

chappye wrote: »

Hi Paul, Im not 100% clued up on whether to book last minute or early, only because we've always got quite decent fares doing either of those options bizarrely!! We were planning on going to New York for my birthday in feb 2013 & id been looking at what prices are like for this feb 2012...best place i found was lastminute.com, could get a 4night stay at 4* Hilton including flights there & back for approx £1400 inc taxes for the two of us.
We've always booked flights, accommodation separately, but flights to New York with Virgin were coming out at £700 odd each, add on hotel accommodation separately & it would turn out very expensive indeed!

Currrently looking at about £400 each for flights for Feb 2012. LHR to EWR.

tingtong

[quote=[Deleted User];49371821]Currrently looking at about £400 each for flights for Feb 2012. LHR to EWR.[/QUOTE]

That doesn't seem too bad to me. I would say it's more likely to increase by £50-£100 than drop by £50-£100.

Have you tried using kayak.co.uk for flights ? if you are flexible with dates it will search for a range of days and show you the cheapest available.

richardw

Are you flying at half term?

[Deleted User]

richardw wrote: »

Are you flying at half term?

'Fraid so. Is this best I'm gonna get?

richardw

Demand usually gets in the way of sales/ price falls at school holidays.

[Deleted User]

Yeh. I've booked it now. Dont think it will get too cheap because it is halfterm.

Problem is I am stuck with those dates (need someone to look after my DS).

I see flight prices seem to have gone up loads though. We go to Florida in Sep/Oct and its always about £500 each. Checked for this year and its £750+.

One good thing - by flying now with Continental we've almost got enough airmiles for a free trip to Florida now. Will have to buy a few miles to top up etc. and you get the flight free but not the taxes but in the autumn should work out about £200 each altogether :-)