Air Fare

Ok, air fare seems higher this year, again. Gone are the $99 dollar round trips. So, how far in advance is the best time to get the cheapest deal. I've heard 6 weeks before is about right. Anyone know????

I am not sure it really matters anymore with last minute tickets being the more expensive exception.
The airlines have raised prices and cut back on flights.
I fly primarily out of Philly and all the Las Vegas flights are usually sold out.
A couple years ago round trip flights could be purchased for less than $300.
The cheapest ticketb I recently searched were $470.

I use to get 69 $ each way from Houston to Las Vegas as long as I booked at least two weeks or longer out. The prices crept up to around 109 $ each way. Now if I can catch them at 179 $ each way that is good as they usually run 201 $. I fly Southwest, even with the prices increasing they are still the cheapest for the non-stops and the times I like to fly.

Thats what im finding, SW from Tulsa is 214 each way. I use to get it foe 79 also. dang it! oh well, i guess i'll make it up at the Buffets.

I always book whenever Sales or DING is cheap, on SW. Its been kinda lousy lately.

Nonsense, also check Transportation catergory.
There is some good conversation there about recent Fare increases.

Airfare from Detroit has gone up almost $100 per person and on American it doubled. I always look for a good deal on airfare but I am thinking that there won't be any this year. The seats are smaller, and some airlines they charge now for a window seat.

We flew Delta last time and they told me the seats I had since last year were not available. They were but they impliemented they next to biz class and wanted to charge more. Pity, the airlines don't get it and haven't for a long time..Lower the fares, fill the planes, and you won't go bankrupt...Next thing you know they will charge for the use of the bathrooms..

I don't fly them but Allegiant and Spirit now charge for carryons.

fares really jumped. Fuel is expensive. Seat count is way down. The economy is still in the tank though and a bigger collapse is coming. Fares will come down, but no one will have any money.

I'm sure it's the fuel cost, but the fare from OKC to Vegas is at least 150% higher. Seat count remains high from OKC to Vegas - I haven't seen an empty seat on that plane for about two years now.

Typically, when people speak of seat counts, they're referring not to the percentage of seats occupied, but to the number of seats placed on the market.

During the recession, many airlines scaled back their operations to a degree greater than the reduced demand alone called for. Partly its because airlines have gotten so good at predicting demand, and at predicting how much different classes of passengers will pay for a seat.