When is the best time to buy tickets?

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bambbbam2

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Is there a general rule about when to buy tickets.. is it *really* in advance, or should you hope for a last minute price plunge?

Or does it depend on the route?

And why in Oz can't you buy cheap, stand-by type tickets? Why can't I wait at the airport on Apex and get a cheap fare? Surely they would make more money out if this as it is a better yield?
 
I'm talking mainly domestic here - especially Qantas... international flights use a similar pattern, but do have bigger movements due to sales etc. Virgin and Jetstar do similar as well, but I don't follow their pricing structure as closely as Qantas.

If you know where you're going, then normally in advance as far ahead as possible is good. That will get you a standard priced fare in the discount category.

Otherwise, wait until the sales happen, and jump in then. This will normally get you an even better fare.

Even though we have competition now from 3 domestic carriers, the prices are still pretty similar. Sales do happen, but you can't really predict when they will happen - or that they'll cover the dates you want to fly. Also the discount fares tend to be limited so you have to know what you want and book it quickly.

You don't see too much price movement happen esp. in Aust domestic flights. The airlines tend to keep prices pretty similar. Obviously once they sell a certain number of tickets on a flight they've made their money and don't care about the rest of the seats.

The issue with discounting by allowing standby is that it gets people used to rocking up to the airport for a cheap flight. The same people who would buy a higher priced trip off the airlines website now gets a cheaper one... so in fact the airlines lose profit... (Hint, if you have to fly, you're gonna go no matter what the cost is in most cases)

Some examples:
I want to fly Qantas from Syd - Mel
Thursday 31 March:
Most cheap seats are sold. There is one flight @ $69 + tax, and another 2 or 3 at $83 + tax. The average price is $107 - $126 for super saver tickets with some going for the late $100's.
Fully flexible is $327+tax, Business is $521 + tax.

Now, instead, change the date to Thu 21 June.
There is a lot of availability for $69+tax, plus somes seats at $83+tax.
Super saver is mostly at $107, with some at $126, and some peak flights ( ~6pm) around $200.
Fully Flex and Business are the same prices as above.

So, you can see that the prices are relatively the same -- but that there are more discount tickets available if you book earlier.

If I took the same flight tommorrow (This is a bad example .. due to Easter Monday flight traffic meaning most flights are pretty full), there are no red-e-deal tickets available, but still super savers starting at $107 with most around $150 or $180 + tax. These prices won't go down before the flights happen...

Sometimes you will see some last minute sales ... but that only seems to happen when a flight is pretty empty and they need to sell seats. Don't count on this happening too often -- Qantas especially seems to have their yield management on domestic flights well controlled and rarely need to do this.
 
Mal's correct; generally the earlier you purchase, the more opportunity you have to save money on fares.

I'm in the situation that I have a regular schedule of ongoing travel. Later this week I am travelling to SYD & BNE (from MEL) on four sectors for a total cost of approx $280. These were booked on 28th December, so QF have had my dough for a few months.

My schedule has regular journies booked until mid June. I'll be awating sales that normally occur in May for my upcoming July/August travel.

If not, I can still simply purchase fares a month or so before at the prevailing rates.
 
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Early as possible is especially true for busy travel periods (school holidays, christmas, etc).

However if not 100% sure of travel date/route then need to take account of possible change fees and cancellation cost.

One impact in recent times has been when changes to surcharges are announced/widely tipped. Depending whether the change is increase or decrease this may affect preferred timing. Last year I avoided several hundred dollars of increased surcharge by getting tickets finalised just before the increase came into effect.
 
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