Monday, September 20, 2010

Purchasing a Flight

For those who may have run across this blog looking for pointers, you may find a few, but that's not my intent. My intent is to vent. See, we're planning a trip to Walt Disney World in early November and have decided to go ahead and purchase our flight. This is sort of a battle, while at times I'm ready to just say, "buy it now!", Seam isn't and vice versa. So we find ourselves in limbo. I've always been told there are certain periods of the week to fly because airfare is typically cheaper...those days are primarily Tuesdays and then Wednesdays, then of course it's imperative to return on either a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday (Ya know, Saturday night stay and all). This has always worked in the past and, by all accounts, it's still the case (unless you're going to Vegas)...right now, we'll be leaving on a Tuesday and returning the following Tuesday. The problem has become this...we recently found out that since most travelers purchase airfare on the weekend, it's best to avoid that because prices are generally higher. So then the question is...WHEN TO PURCHASE?!?!? It's like a lottery! So far, we've found the prices fairly consistent...$199 per person roundtrip. Albeit a GOOD (if not GREAT) price, we're thinking we may luck out and get it cheaper. See, the thing is, BEFORE the recession, I actually found roundtrip airfare/nonstop on Delta for around $135 per person...UNHEARD OF...supposedly. So I believe, in the back of Seam's mind, he's remembering this and thinking, "let's just wait one more day." The problem is...purchase airfare at a good rate and be happy or wait?

Now, if you ask me...I say PURCHASE NOW (even though I'd like it cheaper, so we can spend elsewhere) but that's only because I'm already giddy thinking about the trip...like a little school girl...and that's truly pathetic. Ok, so I don't care. However, if we purchase now and then it drops...we just have to grin and bear it. Then, when travel time comes, we'll be looking at people boarding the plane, thinking...assholes who got an amazing deal! I guess it doesn't matter because I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

**Oh, I forgot to mention, we're not only hotel, but airline snobs (thanks to my mom =P jk, kinda)...I'd rather pay more money for a nonstop flight on American Airlines/Delta/Continental/United than save some cash, have a layover and fly a value airline a la ATA or AirTran (are they still in business?). Hey, at least I admit I'm a snob!

1 comment:

Keelie said...

Unfortunately, yes, Airtran is still in busines. My mom and I flew with them to Savannah when I was 7 months prego and it was the worst experience of my life! So I'm curious--what did you get the tickets for and how did you decide when to buy?