Hello all and Happy New Year- I am planning a trip for April - LAX to LHR (London) for myself and my 13 year old daughter. I have watched the fares drop from over 1000.00, steadily down (this is Virgin) as the days go by. They dropped to 500, and I was ready to bite. Problem is the latest date out is April 12 for this price. My boss will be out of town, so I can't leave until the 14th, where the fares are still in the 800 dollar range. My long-winded question is this- do the airlines typically reduce the fares as time goes on? They seem to be lowering them each week, and I just wonder if anyone has any experience with getting the timing right. I am sorry for the unclear question- I am just so bummed that two days may cost me money that I could be spending on overpriced lattes in Paris- lol. I know it's most likely a crapshoot, just wondering what everyone's experience has been. Thanks!
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
I noticed several airlines announced a fair sale yesterday and today (I think my alerts were from BA and American). I didn't pay too much attention because I saw they were for travel by April. Since I'm not going before that, I deleted my alerts. Usually the offers are similar as one airline responds to the competition but they aren't always exactly the same. Check other carriers to see if someone is extending their fly-by dates a little further than the others. There is a possibility that there will be a new or extended offer on the sale but it depends on so many things I don't think anyone can predict whether it will or won't happen with any certainty.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
If I got a fare of $500 RT L.A. to London, I would grab it in a heartbeat.
Posted by
OP
MISSION VIEJO, CA
17 posts
Thanks guys- Trust me, I would love to grab it, but I am second in command while the boss is out of town, so I can't. Thanks for your answers!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
689 posts
In response to your question about when airlines reduce fares, I read this in the NY Times this weekend: "Because sales are hard to predict, travelers looking for the best deal should start their searches three to four months in advance, when airlines begin to look closely at which routes may need a sale to fill seats." http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/travel/09pracsave.html?hpw