Help - Unknown travel dates
May 9, 2013 | 12:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 2
Help - Unknown travel dates
I will be attending a 10 week training program in the Washington DC area this summer, starting in July. I would like to return home (Illinois) on one or two of the weekends during the training program. The problem is that I won't know which weekends that I'll be able to return until the program starts.
Should I be concerned about the cost/availability of booking a flight with short notice (1-3 weeks)?
If so, is it possible to buy tickets with open dates - pay now and select the dates on short notice?
Should I be concerned about the cost/availability of booking a flight with short notice (1-3 weeks)?
If so, is it possible to buy tickets with open dates - pay now and select the dates on short notice?
May 9, 2013 | 12:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 6,095
If you don't have a carrier preference and are ok flying into MDW, you could take a look at Southwest, which have no change fees (although fare differences are collected). They fly out of IAD, DCA, and BWI in the DC area.
May 10, 2013 | 11:27 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 2
Following up on gobluetwo's comments, I checked fares with Southwest. Surprisingly (to me) their rates are the same whether its 4 months from now or tomorrow. Is this the norm? The others seem to ramp way up if buying on short notice.
May 10, 2013 | 12:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 6,095
Of course, I live so far from MDW that I swore never to do that again.
May 10, 2013 | 5:05 pm
#7
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,933
You should be concerned, but there's not really anything you can do about it. You can buy an open ticket with changeable dates, but it will be *very* expensive.
I agree you should just book a low cost carrier (Southwest, JetBlue, etc.) 1-2 weeks ahead of time when your dates are firm. The other option if fares are high is to try Priceline for last minute air travel.
I agree you should just book a low cost carrier (Southwest, JetBlue, etc.) 1-2 weeks ahead of time when your dates are firm. The other option if fares are high is to try Priceline for last minute air travel.