Budget Travel - Book now or hold on?

I have quite a problem. I'm looking for a flight from Sydney to Cairns for as cheap as I can get for specific dates (non-flexible) for me and my wife. The prices have been getting higher and higher and I regret not booking 3 months ago at almost half the price now. But at that time the trips itinerary was not sure yet. Now it is. The flights I initially wanted one week ago are not available anymore (sold out)

Do airlines add more routes if they are popular? Should I wait and see or just buy it now? Because I'm not flexible with the dates I don't think I have much choice.
Aby help would be very appreciated. Thank you!

What are your actual dates?

Airlines do add things and twiddle with the rates all the time. I couldn't even guess for the route you are wanting. For the routes with which I'm more familiar, it seems rates go up on weekends and back down either Tuesday or Wednesday. It seems there is a sweet spot out about 2 - 3 months. At the last minute, there can be sales OR rates can be just ridiculously high.

You might try asking your question in the more country-specific area. Well, we aren't supposed to double post, but you could as a moderator to move this thread there - "The World - Australia"

Romelle

What are your actual dates?

Airlines do add things and twiddle with the rates all the time. I couldn't even guess for the route you are wanting. For the routes with which I'm more familiar, it seems rates go up on weekends and back down either Tuesday or Wednesday. It seems there is a sweet spot out about 2 - 3 months. At the last minute, there can be sales OR rates can be just ridiculously high.

You might try asking your question in the more country-specific area. Well, we aren't supposed to double post, but you could as a moderator to move this thread there - "The World - Australia"

Romelle
Need to know dates. Airline behaviour does indeed vary by date. For popular date (particularly public and school holidays) you are best to bite the bullet and book as early as possible. Flights do get added but in general the opposite is more likely!

Outside this, yes they will discount 2-3 months out frequently but more availability at less popular times & days. As a general principle in OZ last minute flights are the most expensive so would not be booking more than 2 months out.

One thing you might not have considered is an alternate airport. In the past, I have flown nonstop from Sydney to Townsville (just down the road from Cairns).

My dates are January 1st to the 9th. Prices just keep going up I'm really hoping they add more routes. I checked the Townsville option and it's not bad I really don't mind the 4hr Drive if it will save me some money. I will check on that, thanks. I will also try my luck on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Prices just keep going up I'm really hoping they add more routes.

Perhaps just the wording, but they will NOT add more routes. Actually you don't need more routes anyway, since you are only interested in one route, Sydney to Cairns ;)

You may be hoping for more frequency (more flights), but that is EXTREMELLY unlikely.

Your only hope at this point is that yield management at an airline thinks they have not sold enough seats and will either open new lower class booking fares (cheap ones tend to sell out), or simply lower fares on existing buckets. You can try FlightStats.com (http://www.flightstats.com/go/Home/home.do) and click on flight availability (IIRC you have to register for this feature, but it's free) to find out how many seat are left.

If the planes are already fairly full I would not count on this, as airlines tend to make a LOT of money on last minute fares to travelers who need to go at the last minute (like I used to be when travel was part of work).

I'm not familiar at all with Land down under, so it may be different, as I am somewhat familiar with southeast Asia carriers, and they don't necessarily follow this American / European model.

Good luck.

EmailKid

Perhaps just the wording, but they will NOT add more routes. Actually you don't need more routes anyway, since you are only interested in one route, Sydney to Cairns ;)

You may be hoping for more frequency (more flights), but that is EXTREMELLY unlikely.

Your only hope at this point is that yield management at an airline thinks they have not sold enough seats and will either open new lower class booking fares (cheap ones tend to sell out), or simply lower fares on existing buckets. You can try FlightStats.com (http://www.flightstats.com/go/Home/home.do) and click on flight availability (IIRC you have to register for this feature, but it's free) to find out how many seat are left.

If the planes are already fairly full I would not count on this, as airlines tend to make a LOT of money on last minute fares to travelers who need to go at the last minute (like I used to be when travel was part of work).

I'm not familiar at all with Land down under, so it may be different, as I am somewhat familiar with southeast Asia carriers, and they don't necessarily follow this American / European model.

Good luck.

EmailKid
I'd be buying now, early Jan is not that busy but airlines don't seem to discount as it's school holidays.