Peter Greenberg: Best Time to Buy
By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2008-09-23
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When is the best time to look for airline tickets, to get the best price to Orlando, Fla., for departure 12/20/08 and return 12/27/08?
-Eileen, Orland Park, Ill.
Normally we recommend waiting to get your tickets until about 40–45 days before you'd like to depart. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, and you've hit on one of them, Eileen.
For very busy travel seasons, such as Thanksgiving weekend and the Christmas season, which runs roughly from Dec. 20–Jan.1, it usually pays to reserve your ticket much earlier.
The reason is that while fare wars will usually send ticket prices to their lowest point about 45 days out, this generally doesn't happen during a popular travel season like the ones mentioned.
So in your case, Eileen, making your reservation sooner (now) rather than later would be a good idea.
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