Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

fazzer698, although I can't offer any advice regarding the best time to purchase tickets, if you think that your son is likely to fly UA/US for most of his flights, I do have an unorthodox suggestion for a frequent-flyer program for him to join. If he signs up for Aegean Airlines' "Miles and Bonus" FFP, he can credit UA/US/CO flights to the program and very quickly gain Star Alliance Silver status, which would give him free checked baggage on his flights. Aegean grants Silver status after 4,000 credited miles (and Gold status after 20,000 credited miles), and offers 1,000 credited status miles just for signing up. Most UA/CO fares earn 100% of flown mileage, but deeply-discounted fares earn only 50% of flown miles. US flights earn 100% of flown miles. A free domestic roundtrip ticket in the U.S. can be obtained by redeeming 25,000 Aegean miles (subject to availability, of course).

Here's a link in case you're interested:

http://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/home.aspx