best time to buy airfare for January 2005?

loangalsal · 08-03-2004

Coming from Minneapolis, and wondering if anyone has experience trying to get the best airfare for winter trips to Playa from Minneapolis. I have my hotel booked for January 2005, but want to get the best deal on flights that I can without risking getting seats on a plane the days we want to travel. Is is too early now? Do rates usually get cheaper from here on or more expensive? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

ranchhand1024 · 08-03-2004

Depends on your comfort level with arrangements and how tight your budget is. If you are locked into a hotel date, you are at the mercy of the airlines. Most charter schedules start around Labor Day and the prices seem reasonable then. Prices go up as the winter season approaches and then drop a few days before flight time if there are any unsold.seats. The lowest price plan is to shop for plane prices at the last minute and then just walk into any hotel of your choice and haggle for a room. It's part of the adventure.

JoanieBlon · 08-03-2004

Have you checked out Sun Country Airlines from Minneapolis? They are currently showing fares of about $470 RT to Cancun in mid-January 2005. This is considerably cheaper than any fare I can get out of Tampa....

mrsy · 08-03-2004

We book by May 15th for our yearly trip to PDC in January.........otherwise prices go very high or you can't get a flight........despite the price of oil this year our flight are less expensive than last year........only $550 apiece round trip from the Northeast.
If you are trying to coordinate your hotel with your flight, I would suggest you do so ASAP.

Michael · 08-03-2004

May has been the time to buy tickets from the West coast for Cancun in December or January. Perhaps this is true across the US. There are occasional exceptions. If ticket sales don’t go as hoped for the airline will reduce the prices closer to the departure dates to fill the extra seats.

After watching this for many years I’ve never seen that happen before the high season for SFO or LAX flights.

Mave · 08-04-2004

I check prices out of Minneapolis fairly often and there are few bargains to be found for January, as that is when everybody wants to get out to somewhere warm. I doubt if fares for that time will be going lower between now and then unless sales fall off considerably. Sun Country or Apple Vacations will probably be the best place to look. Michael was right that the prices in May were about the lowest I've seen out of MSP, but that won't help you much now. If you see a fare you can afford, I'd go for it now.

Mave

oklahomajack · 08-04-2004

I bought 5 round trip tickets for the holidays in June and they have went up 80.00 each since then ($400) extra in a month. I fly Suncountry 2 times a year and steady go up the closer it gets so buy now.

loangalsal · 08-04-2004

Thanks everyone! I think I will buy now to avoid having to change my dates of travel.

SpringLove71 · 08-04-2004

What about the best time to buy tickets for a May flight? Right now I can see a flight that would work well for me for about $470.00, I also check it everyday and there still seems to be plenty of seats. Any info? Thanks!!

Softy57 · 08-16-2004

On the one hand,you might always find something cheaper,on the other hand,it can go up! I booked Mexicana Air in the spring for Jan. Know I got a good deal,cause the charters were 500$ last year,& we wanted 10 days so charter out of question.All others more money & 1-2stops. We have a non-stop. Try a site called "sidestep.com". Another board member reccomended it to me,and tho I booked through Orbitz,sidestep is where I found the best fare.Good luck.
Let the sun shine.

momotarosan · 08-18-2004

you might be better off waiting. airlines right now aren't going to lower the airfare in the short term due to high price of jet fuel. but maybe things might change...i.e. Political stability in Venezuela or Peace in the Middle East.

but then again, maybe not!!!

when I travelled in early July, the lowest airfare from Chicago was about $450...so I decided to cash in my AA frequent flyer miles 30k miles plus $50.

I miss the old days when you could travel RT for under $300

popeye · 08-18-2004

Try: http://www.hobbittravel.com/mexico/msp.htm
$365.00

momotarosan · 08-18-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by popeye

Try: http://www.hobbittravel.com/mexico/msp.htm
$365.00

chances are that the $365 does not include taxes and fees, unless this is a last minutes charter special

Mina · 08-18-2004

I believe that rate for Hobbit Travel is through Nov. 21st only. I already checked on that one :-)

mnlakes56 · 08-19-2004

Worry free/ mlt out of mpls is a good place to look

08-03-2004	#1 (permalink)
loangalsal way into it Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 210	best time to buy airfare for January 2005? Coming from Minneapolis, and wondering if anyone has experience trying to get the best airfare for winter trips to Playa from Minneapolis. I have my hotel booked for January 2005, but want to get the best deal on flights that I can without risking getting seats on a plane the days we want to travel. Is is too early now? Do rates usually get cheaper from here on or more expensive? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

08-03-2004	#3 (permalink)
JoanieBlon añejo Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 1,816	Sun Country Airlines Have you checked out Sun Country Airlines from Minneapolis? They are currently showing fares of about $470 RT to Cancun in mid-January 2005. This is considerably cheaper than any fare I can get out of Tampa....

08-04-2004	#8 (permalink)
loangalsal way into it Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 210	airfare Thanks everyone! I think I will buy now to avoid having to change my dates of travel.

08-04-2004	#9 (permalink)
SpringLove71 way into it Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 158	What about best time for flights in May? What about the best time to buy tickets for a May flight? Right now I can see a flight that would work well for me for about $470.00, I also check it everyday and there still seems to be plenty of seats. Any info? Thanks!!

08-16-2004	#10 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,700	I'm torn On the one hand,you might always find something cheaper,on the other hand,it can go up! I booked Mexicana Air in the spring for Jan. Know I got a good deal,cause the charters were 500$ last year,& we wanted 10 days so charter out of question.All others more money & 1-2stops. We have a non-stop. Try a site called "sidestep.com". Another board member reccomended it to me,and tho I booked through Orbitz,sidestep is where I found the best fare.Good luck. Let the sun shine.

08-03-2004	#2 (permalink)
ranchhand1024 beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 345	Depends on your comfort level with arrangements and how tight your budget is. If you are locked into a hotel date, you are at the mercy of the airlines. Most charter schedules start around Labor Day and the prices seem reasonable then. Prices go up as the winter season approaches and then drop a few days before flight time if there are any unsold.seats. The lowest price plan is to shop for plane prices at the last minute and then just walk into any hotel of your choice and haggle for a room. It's part of the adventure.

08-03-2004	#4 (permalink)
mrsy beachaholic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: at the beach Posts: 305	We book by May 15th for our yearly trip to PDC in January.........otherwise prices go very high or you can't get a flight........despite the price of oil this year our flight are less expensive than last year........only $550 apiece round trip from the Northeast. If you are trying to coordinate your hotel with your flight, I would suggest you do so ASAP.

08-03-2004	#5 (permalink)
Michael añejo Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Silicon Valley, California Posts: 4,162	May has been the time to buy tickets from the West coast for Cancun in December or January. Perhaps this is true across the US. There are occasional exceptions. If ticket sales don’t go as hoped for the airline will reduce the prices closer to the departure dates to fill the extra seats. After watching this for many years I’ve never seen that happen before the high season for SFO or LAX flights.

08-04-2004	#6 (permalink)
Mave beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 431	I check prices out of Minneapolis fairly often and there are few bargains to be found for January, as that is when everybody wants to get out to somewhere warm. I doubt if fares for that time will be going lower between now and then unless sales fall off considerably. Sun Country or Apple Vacations will probably be the best place to look. Michael was right that the prices in May were about the lowest I've seen out of MSP, but that won't help you much now. If you see a fare you can afford, I'd go for it now. Mave

08-04-2004	#7 (permalink)
oklahomajack life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: enid oklahoma Posts: 587	I bought 5 round trip tickets for the holidays in June and they have went up 80.00 each since then ($400) extra in a month. I fly Suncountry 2 times a year and steady go up the closer it gets so buy now.

08-18-2004	#11 (permalink)
momotarosan very sparkly Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34	you might be better off waiting. airlines right now aren't going to lower the airfare in the short term due to high price of jet fuel. but maybe things might change...i.e. Political stability in Venezuela or Peace in the Middle East. but then again, maybe not!!! when I travelled in early July, the lowest airfare from Chicago was about $450...so I decided to cash in my AA frequent flyer miles 30k miles plus $50. I miss the old days when you could travel RT for under $300 Last edited by momotarosan; 08-18-2004 at 12:13 PM.

08-18-2004	#12 (permalink)
popeye life=playa Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 788	Try: http://www.hobbittravel.com/mexico/msp.htm $365.00

08-18-2004	#14 (permalink)
Mina way into it Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 120	I believe that rate for Hobbit Travel is through Nov. 21st only. I already checked on that one :-)

08-19-2004	#15 (permalink)
mnlakes56 beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Just N of mpls Posts: 345	Worry free/ mlt out of mpls is a good place to look

register to remove these adverts