Best time to book flights

[Di]

As someone who is, by nature, a very impulsive person, I have, in the past, booked flights as soon as I've booked my accommodation which results in me paying twice as much as most of my fellow passengers . This time, I'm trying to hold back until the prices get a bit more sensible (have you seen them at the moment ). We've only been doing "independent" for the last couple of years and would appreciate any advice from some of you more seasoned bods. I'm trying to wait until about September/October (we go May/June) but I always worry that by the time I come to book, the flight will be full

Also any thoughts from people who've used either Jet2 from Manchester or Sleazyjet from Liverpool would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks folks

[howard]

In my experience, if you are flying Easyjet, the earlier you book, the less it costs.
I think with charters it might be the opposite, but we have not been on a charter flight for quite a few years.

[Di]

Hi Howard, from what I can remember, Easyjet didn't bring it's prices for 2011 out until about October last year. I'll need to be sedated to hang on that long ;D ;D

[muriman]

In general, what Howard says should normally apply. But I am very annoyed with Easyjet, as when recently booking flights for September, a warning appeared on screen during the booking process that there were only 4 seats (the same number I was booking) left at the advertised price for the inbound leg. I completed the booking. Shortly afterwards, the price had indeed increased (by about £20). But a day or two later, the price had decreased by more than £30 from the price I paid, or about £50 from the subsequent increased price. There was no announced sale or other similar reason for the decrease, and I do not believe that a large number of cancellations could have caused such a change. This is the sort of practice I expect from Ryanair, but not (until now) from EzyJ. So, yes, usually the earlier you book, the cheaper scheduled fares should be, but beware computerised selling tricks of the type I've described. I'll leave it to others to judge whether such methods involve truthful or acceptable practice.

With charter flights, the reverse can apply if the operators want to sell unsold seats; in the past it's often been possible to get "cheap" (ie less expensive) flights by booking late. That's what I usually did 20 or more years ago, but that was in the days when you could roll up at Gatwick on a Friday evening and get a charter seat to Athens from a choice of operators, and be on a ferry from Pireaus by Saturday morning. But charter operators have tended to consolidate flights in recent years and there's the risk of not getting any availability, especially for the UK-bound leg near the end of the summer season. The choice may depend on how flexible you can be about dates, flight times and departure airport.

[Liz]

Di we booked our easy jet flights for this Sept last October when they announced the summer flights -think it was 85 quid with luggage each

[muriman]

Hi, Di, having just re-read your postings I reckon if you are going in May/June (presumably 2012?), and assuming Liverpool is a convenient airport, your best bet price-wise would be to book soon after EzyJ publish their timetable and open the booking process for 2012 - assuming they will operate to Rhodes at convenient times and days in 2012. (If they don't, during Autumn 2011 you would have plenty of alternative choices available for 2012.) It's unlikely that EzyJ's later prices will get any cheaper than the "opening prices", and it's extremely unlikely that the flights will be anywhere near full at that advanced stage.

[Di]

Jun 25, 2011 16:35:57 GMT Liz said:

Di we booked our easy jet flights for this Sept last October when they announced the summer flights -think it was 85 quid with luggage each

Crikey, knew I should have waited last year Our flights to Rhodes this August cost us over 700 quid Having said that, it does include a meal in a tin and a film, so obviously worth the extra . I am going to have to try to be patient (not one of my virtues I'm afraid). On a seperate point, how was the flight and did you manage to get seats anywhere near the rest of your party? Only flown with them once, to Barcelona, and it was like the 100m final to get on the plane ;D ;D.

Muriman, thanks for your advice also

[Liz]

Theres only two of us LOL

we've not been yet so will let you know but for 85 quid and for 4 hours I dont really care ;D
but you can always pay the extra for speedy boarding to make sure you get on first ( ish )

if you register with them they send you a e-mail to say when their new seasons flights/sales etc are anounced

patience is a virtue ...but not one of my strong points either ;D

[Liz]

Must apologise have mislead you Di it was 289 - have just looked back -we've had to change them so was confused but still at 289 was a good price

[muriman]

Liz, was that £289 per person? I've recently booked EzyJ Gatwick-Rhodes return in late Sept-early Oct 2011 and paid about £254 per person return, which is a lot more than I've ever paid previously for travel at off-peak times of year. (Highish prices are obviously to be expected in the peak summer period.) The return leg on 5th Oct was much higher priced than the outward leg.

Those who can get themselves organised earlier in the year, or even by Oct-Nov of the previous year like Di, should get much lower fares, but if you have to change the booking I think you have to pay the prevailing fare at the time of the change (unless you go for EzyJ's new "flexible fare" which is higher in the first place).

[Liz]

It was 289 for the two of us , we had to change our dates so had to pay 100(total ) to change which I didn't think was too bad.havnt flown with them before but I keep my expectations low so I'm easily pleased

[carol]

I am already looking at flights from Birmingham to Rhodes for next September 2012 and they are coming up at £388 each £100 each more than we paid for this year, that is too much we may have to be patient and wait a while I think that is not easy for me as like Di we normallly book ages in advance

[Di]

The flight prices themselves aren't too bad, it's when you start adding on luggage and extras like meals (yes, I know they're a rip off, but they break the journey up and I secretly quite like them - strange but true ). I did a quick check on Easyjet's site last night, and once you've added on luggage, and the airport check in (which according to the site you have to do because you are checking in luggage) it adds another £124 to the price

[emma]

If you get on EasyJet's mailing list, they do email you as soon as the timetable/fares are out. Yes, it was early October last year. I booked the day I got the email and have paid £160 return, including baggage, taxes and speedy boarding, for late Aug departure.

[Di]

I'm already on Easyjet's mailing list, so did get notification last year when the flights came out. Unfortunately, I am also top of the list when it comes to impatient, so had booked with Thomson about a week before