Buy now?

I bought my tickets to Europe (trip is May 7) a few months ago when I thought the rates looked good (i've been watching for over a year). I'm a bit bummed, becuase right now they are lower than ever! However, I'm not the type of person who could wait until 2 months before my trip to book anyways, so it's not like I would have ever waited this long either way. You never know, but if i was you, I'd book now.

Buy when YOU think the price is good. Little like buying stock. You never know where the bottom is until it has passed. And, remember, anyone who advises you to wait doesn't have a dog in this fight. That advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

Frank's dead on. 87% chance by statistic that it will go up if your within 3 months. aka "The best prices you'll see is probably right now."

I also like to weigh the pro&cons Pros of waiting - save a couple bucks, Con - potentially have to redo whole trip/fly on flights we don't want/make 8 hr layovers, reschedule, etc. <--Just food for thought! :)

Go for it!

I agree, buy when you feel is right. I bought my tickets about 6 months ago and can't get a comparable flight if I were to buy today. I would have to look at a 13 hr lay over from the west coast at a price just slightly cheaper than what I paid 6 months ago. So, when you feel the time is right, go for it!

There are two issues with cheap tickets -- price and schedule. Almost everyone focuses on price. Ultra cheap tickets often have bad schedules. A few years ago we bought a cheap ticket to Rome that required a six hour layover in Frankfurt. That was awful. There is nothing worse than spending six hours in a dark airport lounge after an overnight flight. The next year we paid an extra $200 and flew directly to Rome after a brief layover in a US city. That extra $200 was more than worth it. I think there are easier ways to save money in the trip than knocking off a couple hundred bucks on an airline ticket.

Prices went up today. Is that normal for a friday or should I take that as a sign that things are getting more expensive?

Ben - Check the "American Airlines Specials" thread started today. Where in Europe are you planning on going?

Hi Ben,
I don't know if it's true or not but I have read that airfare prices are more expensive on the week-ends when more people have time to shop online. I try to look at fares mid-week too.

It's so difficult to say when's the right time to buy...a few months ago I thought that $800. was a good airfare and then prices came down significantly.

Good luck!

Hey Joel, thanks for the suggestion but I have to fly out on the 17th of May and into Venice. My plans aren't very flexible as far as when I can leave due to my current semester ending and my study abroad starting.

I agree with Frank that price is only one factor.Leaving Rome at 7AM might save a few dollars but then you get little sleep and have to head for the airport in a taxi very early.If you fly at 1PM you can have a good nights sleep and take the train.