I have never read any logical explanation of what happens on the DL website when checking or booking fares. I have had a fare disappear right while I am booking "We are sorry. This fare is no longer available". I have had an entire itinerary disappear. I have been able to find an itinerary and fare I like online, but no one at the Delta Medallion desk can find it. I think the whole thing is managed by illiterate elves that live in the woods and push buttons to see them glow.

If I am planning an expensive trip I probably check fares frequently about 6 weeks out, sometimes a bit earlier. I watch not just from my own city, but from other locations as well. My ticket to Istanbul on Wednesday was purchased in August for $486. It is from JFK to IST. I will pay another $180 for a R/T flight from MCO to JFK. The flight from MCO to IST booked directly with DL has not been under $1000 for months, and usually is about $1200. So I let DL price-match with Turkish Air, and position myself to take advantage of the price-break. Last year it was Chicago. I generally save between $300 to $500 by selecting a different city of departure. It is very inexpensive to reach those cities from MCO.

Actually, the entire trip is free because we had a couple of vouchers when we agreed to take later flights on previous trips, but these are the prices I would have paid for these routes and dates.

I do not think Delta is pricing itself out of the market. When I bought my first ticket to Istanbul 50 years ago I paid $500, which was $14 more than I paid two months ago. When I compare the cost of air travel to almost everything else in my life, it continues to be a huge bargain. If it were still as expensive as it was in 1963, I am sure there would be far fewer fliers, airlines, airport terminals etc. Perhaps, however, the US would have developed a viable train system?

Pick your budget, watch the web sites, or use a fare warning system. Buy when the fare is within your budget. Never look at the fare again. It works for me.