Optimum time to buy plane ticket to Paris

As a very general rule, two to three months advance purchase is plenty - but that's too general.

First thing is to get an idea what the options and fares are and watch them for awhile. Are you checking a day or two earlier and a day or two later? Are you checking different departure and arrival airports? Are you checking multiple airlines? Did you set up fare alerts for the options so you can see if there are any changes to the fares? Are you watching the direct flights (or flights with least connections and overall travel time) to make sure they don't fill up and leave you with a less comfortable flight?

Once you start getting a feel for fares, watch closely. If you see a great fare sale, take advantage of it before it sells out. If not, keep watching until about twelve weeks out then pick a ticket and book it.

Sometimes you can do best by waiting (especially in October/November) until inside of six weeks. When you're locked into a tour, however, you lose a lot of flexibility - and options for saving.

Seats left to sell is the biggest driver of fares. If you buy too early, the airline hasn't had a chance to get worried about empty seats. Fares can also be affected by the price of oil (fuel is a big part of the expense for airlines) and value of the dollar. I keep an eye on the news, sometimes you can predict a movement in one or the other that will affect the price you end up paying.

Thanks Brad! Yes, I've set up price alerts and am looking a day or to on either side of my arrival and departure dates. I'm eager to have everything paid for, but I suspected it might make sense to wait a while to see what happens with fares between now and the trip. Thanks again!

I agree that you have plenty of time before you have to buy.

2014 is a transition year in the airline industry. Rack Rates on flights for Summer, 2014 are no better than this past Summer--record high prices. The airlines are getting better at limiting European flights to keep the demand high and prices high. Throw in the merger between U.S. Air and American Airlines, and the near future of the airfares are up in the air.

I would say you're doing right by signing up for the airfare price drop notifications. I recently caught a one day sale at a $300 savings (30%), and later saw the same fare on another one day sale @ $200 off. Airfares on my itinerary are back up to the high levels.

There may be some airfare sales after the first of the year as the airlines regroup. Just be ready to buy when the prices drop. FYI: I've noticed the absolutely lowest airfares to be on FareBoom.com.

@ Keith,

welcome.

look at your travels this way. YOur first trip is like a shakedown cruze where you learn the ropes so to speack and then after that you get an idea on how things work out for the next time. Same with the when to buy and how much. ONce this trip is history, you have a data point as to cost and when you bought the ticket.

happy trails.

Fall sales are often announced in August.

There is no best time. Sort of like buying stock. Actually think that $1200 is not unreasonable. Unless very lucky you will only know the low price when it is behind you. The days of sub $1000 from somewhere other than the east coast probably are gone forever. You have to decide what is an acceptable price to you and buy when near it. Personally I would buy no later than 1st quarter, 2014. The airlines only have sales when they have surplus seat to sell. Right now the airlines are working very hard through mergers, reduction of capacity, etc., to not have those surplus seats. This is the typical risk/reward question that people do not play very well. What is your best upside reward - $200, $300? And downside risk?? $200,300, less flexible schedule, more connections, poor choice of seats? What happens if the August sale doesn't materialize? And, if it is critical that you save an extra $200 then are easier ways to save 200 than watching airline tickets.

I have never been able to make the fare watch work other than to serve as a tease. My experience is the hot fare is released about one or two am and by the time I get the notice and log on at 6 am, the fare is gone. I think a lot of brain cells are lost fussing over airfares. And, remember, everyone who is telling you to wait, self included, is not putting any money on the table.

For me, I would buy by the end of March and not look back.

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great advice. I do plan on having a ticket purchased by March. I think the waiting until summer or after would make me too anxious, especially given that this is my first trip abroad alone and that the tour itself will have been paid for and booked. I'd rather spend the couple extra hundred dollars for peace of mind knowing I have a seat. I just kind of wanted to get an idea if 1200 was reasonable or should I be expecting a plane ticket say below 1000. I should also mention the 1200 is for a roundtrip non stop ticket from my home city. So thanks everyone.

Seems like the airlines I see the most for the flight to Paris is AirFrance and/or United. Any good or bad experiences with either?

Strongly recommend that you book your flights so that you arrive 2 days before.. it really helps settle you with the jet lag and feel ready to go go go.. plus the tour start and stop cities usually have so much to see that can't be covered in the 2 days you are with the group. Same.. if you can afford to book a few extra nights at end of tour .

On the one RS tour I took a family missed the first day of their tour and half the second.. our start city was Rome,, they had just over one day to enjoy it.. what a shame. Their flight was supposed to land the day before the tour start.. but was delayed and they missed the first day.

Also if checking luggage an extra few days at the start city lets your luggage have a chance to be found and sent to your hotel.

We flew Air France in April and I absolutely loved it! The food is good, wine with your meal, the best brownie I think I ever ate! Seats are comfortable enough, attendants helpful. My husband & I are traveling to London for a week then taking the Eurostar to Paris for another week, flying home from Paris. Price was a little higher than some others but nonstop flights to London and then home so it was worth it, in my opinion. I highly recommend Air France. Have a great trip!

I see the best fares around 2-3 months before departure day. I watch and see how full the planes are getting and what seats are left.

Been on a couple RS tours and do arrive two days before the tour begins. You'll enjoy it much more with less jet lag.