Originally Posted by
thaitraveller
I habitually book trips far out - often at the maximum booking window (planning too far in advance is my greatest weakness interview answer). In part this is to capture good seating. But this means you pay a premium - often higher than tickets booked a week ahead of the flight.
In most cases, your seating options will be meaningfully the same if you book a flight five weeks prior to departure instead of eleven months. At best, you're handing UA an interest-free loan; at worst, you're overpaying substantially for your flight
and giving UA an interest-free loan.
With the exception of holiday periods or the occasional fare sale, there is rarely any reason to book UA tickets far in advance.