Booking US<->EU flight for next Christmas holidays - prices high already
May 1, 2023, 8:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 66
Booking US<->EU flight for next Christmas holidays - prices high already
I was just checking flight prices for traveling next Christmas, and the prices seem to be already +30% compared to the same dates for 2022-2023 I traveled.
What do you think the best strategy would be to book for next Christmas?
a) Book now because those fare buckets will soon sell out and the prices might become even higher?
b) Wait and see if cheaper buckets open? (and thus not give airlines the signal that we as consumers are still willing to pay that much which drives prices up?)
What do you think the best strategy would be to book for next Christmas?
a) Book now because those fare buckets will soon sell out and the prices might become even higher?
b) Wait and see if cheaper buckets open? (and thus not give airlines the signal that we as consumers are still willing to pay that much which drives prices up?)
May 2, 2023, 11:01 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: DEN
Programs: UA silver; Wyndham platinum; OneKey platinum; Choice Gold
Posts: 85
The problem is, it can go either way: prices might go up or down. Personally, if you are flexible about airlines, dates and airports, I'd be inclined to wait. If you aren't flexible about airlines, dates and airports (eg. you must fly on date a and return on date b and fly from airport x to and from airport y and there's only one or two airlines that serve that route) I'd buy the ticket now to avoid a possible nasty surprise later.
May 8, 2023, 10:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,964
Airlines typically start actively managing inventory 3-4-months out. I would wait until August-September to book.
Even if a fare bucket sells out, they can always open up more seats in that fare bucket, or add a lower fare in the same or in a different fare bucket.
Even if a fare bucket sells out, they can always open up more seats in that fare bucket, or add a lower fare in the same or in a different fare bucket.