My best personal successes with airline ticket purchasing generally occur about two to four weeks from their earliest publication date and I always purchase directly from the airline. As already stated, AA for one and perhaps others as well, offer the 24 hour hold option and we've frequently taken advantage of this while finalizing our other plans.

I can't speak for anyone else but personally I am far more comfortable dealing directly with the service provider, in my case again, the preferred carrier being AA, as opposed to a middle man such as Travelocity or the like, but to each his own and whatever works. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />