J pricing phenomena or is this normal?

[turneeri]

I've booked to travel J with MH next Tuesday (no more long haul cattle class for me!!) MEL - LHR return - I booked in the first week of December as I was told prices were going to increase. Increase they did....in fact over the next couple of weeks the same route doubled in fare so I was quite chuffed that I managed to get quite a reasonable price.

I've just checked the same route online with MH and noticed that the J fares are back to the level that I purchased. I guess this raises a couple of questions....is this normal and are they looking to squeeze a few more people on at the last minute. I'm also assuming that the flight is not full hence the drop in fares.

In future could you leave purchasing tickets right up until a couple of days before travel if you know that the flight isn't full (using the tool flightstats as status indicator)? Or would this be way too risky - what are your thoughts?

 

[awilcockson]

In future could you leave purchasing tickets right up until a couple of days before travel if you know that the flight isn't full (using the tool flightstats as status indicator)? Or would this be way too risky - what are your thoughts?

This could work, or you could end up missing out on a seat altogether. I say buy at a price you are happy with and live with it

 

[ozmille]

I say buy at a price you are happy with and live with it

+1 +

worst thing you can do is keep checking and then feel bad because you "could have saved if only you had waited"