Hope I've got the right section!

Quick details:

I'm a poor MA student waiting on my visa from UKBA (It's been 13 days). I need to be in the U.K. on the 18th, but haven't booked my flight.

Right now I can get the direct AA 173/174, round-trip for about $1100. It's a bit higher than what I'm normally accustomed to paying, but considering I'm at the two week mark, should I book this?

Is it most likely that fares will go up now that we've passed the two week mark?

...or should I be careful and wait for the student visa?

What would you do?

Book it. 14 day window closing creates a fare bump, same for 7 day window

Agree with aajones - fares are not likely to drop.

Not sure when you're looking to return.

Using ITA Matrix - 17 SEP 2014 to 1 JUL 2014:

Lowest was $1054 (with 2 stops) for CLT EWR LHR / STN DUS EWR CLT

A departure on 17 September is only going to get more expensive from this point. Even today you are technically inside the two-week window. What you're really asking is whether you should bet on your visa coming through in the next two weeks, and on that question I have no idea. You should ask them to expedite, perhaps, as you say you have to be in the UK on the 18th.

That's what I felt.

I took everyone's advice but the adventure has been a bit insane. So I used Momondo to book that fare. The cheapest version of this fare was through a site called Hop2. Unfortunately I couldn't get the fare to book. So I tried the next expensive option which was Bookairfare.com. Well they confirmed it, but after 24 hours (and several emails and calls), they demanded more money. By this point, I had already read the reviews online that this was common practice with them and demanded cancellation.

This is the first time I've ever had a problem booking airfares online, and it appears there are a whole bunch of new companies with similar reputations out there. I really didn't want to book with any of them.

Yet the fair looked legit (though it was $500 cheaper than AA, or Iberia was offering). I found it on STA Travel but they want me to be younger than 26 to get it for that price. (I'm a 26+ MA student). Tell me how this isn't age discrimination (I'm just frustrated.)?

So a couple days have gone by, and I'm getting worried. I'm expecting this fare to continue to go up. Then finally I found it on Vayama under FinnAir. I booked it and it was confirmed, then ticketed for just over $1000. Phew. Went to AA, chose my seats and I'm good to go!

Only thing now is to wait on my Visa, and hope it arrives in the next week and half. It's been three weeks, so I'm just holding out that everything is going to come together here in the next few days.

Thank you all for your advice, it helped solidify what I had felt.

FYI, for anyone who may ever be looking in the future, I'd stay away from those no-name travel agents on Momondo. What a joke that was!

I've never heard of Momondo or the other sites. They were all cheaper than buying directly from the airline?

Yes, by like $500.

However, they're an aggregator who links to other sites. I've now been burned twice by them. Once a few years back on a rental car, and then this.

I can honestly say that I'm done with them.

Anyhow, yes, Vayama booked the ticket which would have been $1500 through AA, Iberia, or Finnair (I checked) for $1000. Considering this fare, even when on sale is $700-$800, and I'm only 10 days from departure.... I'm very happy.

Sounds like that is your biggest risk factor. Do you have any form of travel insurance?

Thanks for the info. I learn something new every day, including sites to avoid. Good luck with your trip!