Optimum time to book

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irv

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I have had a scout around the site but haven't found the definitive answer (probably because there isn't one) In your experience how far out is the optimum period to book your flight. Going to Canada /USA in September 2015 returning in October (7 weeks). From what I can gather can't book flights till 355 days out so this means have to wait till near November to book return flights. However should I wait, is there a period in your experience that sees airlines offering the best fares ie upon initial booking periods or 6 or 8 months from flight date. Or is it simply the rules of supply and demand (which I think I is the likely answer.)

I look forward to your input
 
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Hard to say. Just happened to be checking out airfares for June 2015 SYD-LAX and spotted the fact that fares almost doubled between 18 and 20 June. Quickly booked flights and was pretty happy with the result. So this was 10 months out.

Sales can happen any time but I can't imagine the cheapest seats would be released at day -355. Flying on points though...
 
I'm going to LHR in August 2015 so I'll be looking out for good fares between now and early next year. The only issue is that I won't have the money to book the fares until early December. So I'm continually keeping an eye on the fares so I can get a good indicatation of how much it is going to cost me when booking sale fares ($1811 return was an awesome sale fare, hopefully it is offered again sometime between Dec-Feb).
 
I'd start monitoring sales from November 2014 onwards, if you haven't seen a sale within 6 weeks of departure simply grab what you can. Signing up to the various airlines email lists is also a good way of hearing what is going on.
The days of old with early birds are pretty much gone (unless you get it linked with some sort of holiday package through a TA).
 
I'm going to LHR in August 2015 so I'll be looking out for good fares between now and early next year. The only issue is that I won't have the money to book the fares until early December. So I'm continually keeping an eye on the fares so I can get a good indicatation of how much it is going to cost me when booking sale fares ($1811 return was an awesome sale fare, hopefully it is offered again sometime between Dec-Feb).

I wouldn't be expecting one like this, but two weeks ago I booked a MEL-LHR-MEL flight with Etihad for November 1 this year (so about 10 weeks out) and paid a staggering $1271.
 
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