When is the best time to book my flights? This is a common question we often get asked at Disney Addicts. Airfare can be the most expensive component of your vacation. The old rule of thumb was to get the best deal on airfare, you should book on a Tuesday, but with the internet that isn’t necessarily true anymore.
Book sooner rather than later
The best time to book your airfare is 3 months to 30 days before your flight. Don’t count on last minute deals.
Prices can fluctuate on a daily basis
Start your research on a flight search engine, like Travelocity. Here you can see what flights are available (Southwest is not on third party booking sites. You have to go to their web site directly). Then go to the actual airline carrier to see if there is a cost difference.
Competition between booking sites is more of an illusion. Expedia owns Travelocity, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Trivago, and Orbitz. So, searching between these sites will get you the same results. Also, Booking Holdings owns Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak, Cheapflights, and Momondo.
Use a flight tracker like Hopper or Google Flights. You can enter in the dates you want to travel and the app will track the flights and notify you when prices go down or up. In addition, it will give you suggestions on when to book. Some flight trackers track the days you want to fly, some can track an actual flight. Just know what you are tracking.
Fly mid-week
Flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday is generally the least expensive, while Sunday is the most expensive for domestic flights. For international flights, it is usually less expensive to fly on a Thursday or Friday.
Check alternative airports
In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are 4 airports that are accessible: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento. In the past, I have found less expensive flights to Hawaii out of San Jose and less expensive flights to Minnesota out of Sacramento.
Also, compare airports that you are flying into. Flying to Disneyland? You can fly into LAX (Los Angelas International Airport) or SNA (John Wayne Airport). SNA is closer to Disneyland, but there are usually more flight options into LAX. But the great news is that you can book transportation from either airport to Disneyland. Check out your transportation options from the local airports to Disneyland HERE!
Flying to Walt Disney World? Usually, the best airport to fly into would be MCO (Orlando International Airport). This is because of the Magical Express transportation. Check out all about this FREE service HERE!
Check the fine print
What are the restrictions with the airfare you are selecting? Many airlines have added a less expensive flight option, but there are a lot of restrictions. For example, airlines have flights were you not allowed a carry-on, only one personal item (like a purse), nor are you able to pick your seat, it would be assigned when you arrive at the airport. By the time you add in the checked baggage fees, you might be paying the same amount as the next level up airfare.
Work with a Travel Agent
Use a Key to the World Travel Agent! This person can also help you navigate the system to help you choose the perfect flight for your vacation!
Happy Travels!
Let’s book your magical vacation today! As an agent with Key to the World Travel, I can help you with everything from Disney Destinations, a cruise, a beach getaway or even a trip to Europe. Contact me today for your free, no-obligation quote at l.brown@keytotheworldtravel.com and follow me on Facebook to hear about the latest Disney updates and travel tips! Or, you can fill out and submit the form below. I look forward to helping you plan the most magical vacation for you and your family.
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
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Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
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