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Too Early To book flights for May #33166
01/09/2015 08:40 PM
01/09/2015 08:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 255
Dirty Jersey
gd1147 Offline OP
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I have been watching daily for flights in mid May direct from EWR on UA. The lowest it was was $499 but now has risen to $580. Does anyone have experience if this will go down as the weeks go on? A few years ago we went around the same time and booked in late Feb for $350 each non stop from EWR.

Don't want to pull the trigger and find out we wasted our money that could have been spent on beer.

Thanks all.

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Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33167
01/09/2015 08:45 PM
01/09/2015 08:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,766
Med/ Caribbean
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Unless the airlines pass on the money they are saving on lower fuel, I would say that a $500 return is a pretty darn good deal.

I was paying $500. 20 years ago to get down here.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: sailbynight] #33168
01/09/2015 08:55 PM
01/09/2015 08:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 255
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gd1147 Offline OP
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Thanks. I am looking and it seems as if some of the flights later in the month they haven't released anything but first class tickets for sale yet ($1000 +) so maybe it is too early, but I will use $500 as my measuring stick. Thanks.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: sailbynight] #33169
01/09/2015 09:27 PM
01/09/2015 09:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 297
Ontario, Canada
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SURICK Offline
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As indicated by an earlier posting, airlines are not enjoying the savings that we car drivers are having with lower prices at the pump. I believe that they purchased fuel for a specific time frame and have to renegotiate new prices before we will see savings on airfare. I sure hope that they haven't committed to several years. I would like to see savings this year for sure as airfare for November is way high too.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: SURICK] #33170
01/09/2015 09:59 PM
01/09/2015 09:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
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Dansc Offline
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norwalk, ct
Airlines are currently negotiating their next round of futures for fuel so things should drop bu don't expect much since the hedge is these prices are short lived. This s really a geopolical price drop that wil not last once certain things fall into place,

Nice thing is it is finally revealing how china s a propped up economy that really has no bearing on reality.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33171
01/09/2015 10:13 PM
01/09/2015 10:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,408
Yonkers, NY
fabila Offline
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Yesterday Delta had a non stop flight roundtrip, from JFK for $429 departing on a Wednesday in late October.

Last edited by fabila; 01/09/2015 10:14 PM.
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33172
01/09/2015 10:36 PM
01/09/2015 10:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
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SXMWendell Offline
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I would buy 3 flights a year for the next 2 years out for $580

SXM??? Wendell

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: SXMWendell] #33173
01/09/2015 10:50 PM
01/09/2015 10:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 255
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gd1147 Offline OP
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Wow, I had no idea that $500 was a steal. At this point its now a toss up between SXM and STT and taking the ferry to VIJ. Two awesome places about the same price. Hoping I am wrong and the prices drop smile

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: SXMWendell] #33174
01/09/2015 10:52 PM
01/09/2015 10:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,241
New Hampshire, USA
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WayneB Offline
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Just bought tickets for November at $420/ person RT from Boston. $182 going down, thru Miami on AA. $238 coming back, thru Newark, on UA.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: WayneB] #33175
01/09/2015 10:58 PM
01/09/2015 10:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 483
Long Island, New York
Bobbie Offline
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Wow, I'm jealous. We pay almost $1,000 for round trip Xmas time on American or Jet Blue from NY.


Bobbie smile
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: WayneB] #33176
01/09/2015 11:04 PM
01/09/2015 11:04 PM
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I may be wrong, but all I am seeing is on United out of EWR for May is no flights! We always travel in May and November but I was surprised no flights in May except Sunday 5/3/15. Please correct me if I am wrong or if you see something I don't. Unreal!!! As a matter of fact, there are hardly any flights out of EWR until November. Where is Continental????? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: LBI2SXM] #33177
01/09/2015 11:12 PM
01/09/2015 11:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 255
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gd1147 Offline OP
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From what I know starting in May UA only flies on Sat 2 flights a day non stop form EWR to SXM. And yes sadly these are still UA flights (Airbus) and not Continental flights.

On our last trip our Airbus broke in EWR and they had to switch us to a CO plane and we got a whole new CO crew. Still operating as 2 airlines under 1 name, so much fun.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33178
01/10/2015 07:35 AM
01/10/2015 07:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
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Quote
gd1147 said:
Wow, I had no idea that $500 was a steal.


When you regularly fly from the large cities on the East coast, you usually don't have a perception as to what others pay.

Many people face $700-$1000 airfare with at least one connection and sometimes two. The general rule of thumb, when air gets to a price you can live with, buy it and don't look back.


J.D.
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: fabila] #33179
01/10/2015 08:37 AM
01/10/2015 08:37 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
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Wow! did you book it? We haven't decided yet....

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33180
01/10/2015 08:59 AM
01/10/2015 08:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
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I would wait since there are quite a few seats left on those Saturday flights with most of the "Economy Plus" seats empty.

I have gotten into the habit of checking one way fares since a lot of the time one leg is the culprit. If the price is low I grab one leg. I then just have half to worry about.

For example I checked May 16th/23rd for fares and it was $583 for the n/s r/t..but..it was $207 for the EWR-SXM leg. I would grab that in a heartbeat and cut my needs in half.

I did the same for my SXM trip starting this Sunday...booked the return n/s 1st when it was cheap...and then booked the SJU connection down when the fare dropped a tad.

I should also add that the n/s flights "disappeared" when I returned for a 3rd time in 10 minutes to check seats...so not seeing a flight doesn't mean it's not there...restart your computer or clear your cache/history and they will magically reappear.

Last edited by boucharda; 01/10/2015 09:01 AM.
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: boucharda] #33181
01/10/2015 09:26 AM
01/10/2015 09:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 973
Jersey City, NJ, North of SXM
mscottc Offline
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I bought tickets several months ago for May, United EWR/SXM RT, $422.50 p/p. However when I purchased, it was for flying down on Monday the 4th, returning Thursday the 14th. A few weeks later the Thursday return was cancelled, as usual with NO notice from them. I managed to get us on the Saturday the 16th later flight, which was listed as a lot more expensive with no additional fare on my part. As Boucharda says, the flights are pretty wide open, so I'd imagine fares my come down. But it's always a crapshoot.


[Linked Image]
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: mscottc] #33182
01/10/2015 09:51 AM
01/10/2015 09:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
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That's the ONLY good thing when an airline cancels or does a major change...you can usually get any available flight in exchange.

Do you research first and get the flight number you want and after they suggest routing you through Botswana say "How about flight #333?

I've done this a few times and it worked every time...

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33183
01/10/2015 10:21 AM
01/10/2015 10:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
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It depends on where you're flying from. The NY area is by far the cheapest place to fly to SXM from.


Carol Hill
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: mscottc] #33184
01/10/2015 10:39 AM
01/10/2015 10:39 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,303
NJ
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I booked our May flights last June for $442.50/each. We leave on Saturday May 9th and return on the 16th. I keep checking them thru different trackers and haven't seen the price get any lower than that. We paid $480 (?) last year (2013)for a Friday to Friday and I booked around the same # of months ahead. I would keep checking Kayak or the other sites and when you get a price you like; buy it. They have 2 Saturday flights on United now. I actually booked the later flight back in June (10 am) and they switched me to the 9 am flight, which was more expensive back in June. I'm still on the later flight out of SXM at 2:20 pm as there is a 1:15 flight also scheduled. When I look at the seats available on both flights; it doesn't appear that there are a whole lot of them open.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: boucharda] #33185
01/10/2015 05:05 PM
01/10/2015 05:05 PM
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Posts: 423
Denver, Colorado
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Quote
boucharda said:
I have gotten into the habit of checking one way fares since a lot of the time one leg is the culprit. If the price is low I grab one leg. I then just have half to worry about.

For example I checked May 16th/23rd for fares and it was $583 for the n/s r/t..but..it was $207 for the EWR-SXM leg. I would grab that in a heartbeat and cut my needs in half.

I did the same for my SXM trip starting this Sunday...booked the return n/s 1st when it was cheap...and then booked the SJU connection down when the fare dropped a tad.


I think this is a very good tip, I started doing the same 2 years ago since there is little or no RT discount when flying to SXM. It has saved me some nice money that last several trips. The other trick I do, I look FF ticket legs separately, if I find one of the legs cheap, I use FF miles for one leg, purchase the others.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: mdldgl] #33186
01/10/2015 05:38 PM
01/10/2015 05:38 PM
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Posts: 190
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Booked Delta for late Feb JFK-SXM NS RT $376

Sign up for alerts from Kayak & the other fare watchers

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: mdldgl] #33187
01/11/2015 09:31 AM
01/11/2015 09:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 973
Jersey City, NJ, North of SXM
mscottc Offline
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I've done the same mdldgl. However now that I'm a Chase United card holder, paying with their card gets me bags free each way, and priority boarding for $95 bucks a year. So that option is gone for me. And I'm gather I'm not really losing all that much, as I understand milage benefits are becoming less and less valuable.


[Linked Image]
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: mscottc] #33188
01/11/2015 09:49 AM
01/11/2015 09:49 AM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 255
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gd1147 Offline OP
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Same thing here with UA being the airline of choice for FF program reasons. Oddly enough the price has changed every day since I posted this question for my desired trip. Was $500, then $525 then $580, back down to $521 today. I wish there was a way to understand this madness!

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33189
01/11/2015 10:17 AM
01/11/2015 10:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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Quote
gd1147 said:
Same thing here with UA being the airline of choice for FF program reasons. Oddly enough the price has changed every day since I posted this question for my desired trip. Was $500, then $525 then $580, back down to $521 today. I wish there was a way to understand this madness!


Prices for air, hotels, and rental cars can change by the minute, not just the day. There is no way to understand it but it does pay to check often.

Like I said, when it gets to a price you can live with, BOOK IT!


J.D.
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: ruralcarrier] #33190
01/12/2015 09:19 AM
01/12/2015 09:19 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 408
Brick, NJ
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Booked our trip from May 1 to May 30 First class in June on United for $910.00. each for 2 it is now $1215.00 <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: JanBob] #33191
01/12/2015 04:46 PM
01/12/2015 04:46 PM
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Posts: 255
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gd1147 Offline OP
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People actually buy first class tickets???

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33192
01/12/2015 07:46 PM
01/12/2015 07:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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always, not necessarily cash,sometimes mileage but always fly first or business <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33193
01/12/2015 08:16 PM
01/12/2015 08:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
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Quote
gd1147 said:
People actually buy first class tickets???


Exactly...I thought they were ALL bought with FF miles

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33194
01/12/2015 08:17 PM
01/12/2015 08:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,569
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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Yes. We have bought the when price is very low and used low miles other times.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: SXMScubaman] #33195
01/13/2015 07:46 AM
01/13/2015 07:46 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline
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VIRGINIA
We bought our late February tickets last night for $530 Dulles/Reagan to SXM. The prices started to move all over the place the last few days so we grabbed them. From Virginia is this a decent price this time of year??

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: BEERMAN] #33196
01/13/2015 09:11 AM
01/13/2015 09:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Yes, you did well. I would say the average price on those flights is maybe $600.


Carol Hill
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: Carol_Hill] #33197
01/13/2015 10:01 AM
01/13/2015 10:01 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline
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Is that average for all times of the year? We can sometimes find STT flights for high 300 in summer,but usually pay in low to mid 400,

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: BEERMAN] #33198
01/13/2015 10:18 AM
01/13/2015 10:18 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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SXM is much more expensive than STT. For one thing, there are approximately $100 in taxes on a SXM ticket. And for the DC area, the only nonstop is that United flight, so especially for that United flight, they can get a big price for it.


Carol Hill
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: gd1147] #33199
01/14/2015 02:22 PM
01/14/2015 02:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 408
Brick, NJ
JanBob Offline
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Brick, NJ
3 Rods in spine and 4 Disks replaced. Have to fly 1st because of the extra seat room.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: JanBob] #33200
01/14/2015 05:01 PM
01/14/2015 05:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 188
South Jersey
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Plus includes free booze for killing pain. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: boucharda] #33201
01/14/2015 05:31 PM
01/14/2015 05:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 277
Massachusetts USA
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Quote
boucharda said:

I have gotten into the habit of checking one way fares since a lot of the time one leg is the culprit. If the price is low I grab one leg. I then just have half to worry about.



I've always thought that booking two one-way fares was *always* more expensive than one round trip but, based on this thread, I just got converted.

I couldn't find the combination of legs that I wanted for my trip from BOS to SXM coming up in June. I could get a R/T down via MIA and back through CLT, or vice versa but I could not get a flight via CLT both ways. I still don't understand why but I ended up booking two one-ways via CLT and saved about $50 in total for the two of us to boot.

Thanks for giving me the kick to do this!

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: tmsxmsails] #33202
01/14/2015 06:58 PM
01/14/2015 06:58 PM
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Posts: 13,141
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem Offline
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Booking a return(both going and returning) fare always used to be less expensive, but now they break the fare down into two different segments, so this is no longer the case. For some reason the fare to return home always seems to be more expensive. I guess they figure since you eventually have to get back home, you have no choice but to pay what they ask! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />




Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: islandgem] #33203
01/14/2015 07:02 PM
01/14/2015 07:02 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Actually, I THINK the reason why the return is more is that you have the SXM departure tax in there.


Carol Hill
Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: LBI2SXM] #33204
01/14/2015 09:59 PM
01/14/2015 09:59 PM
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Posts: 336
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We just bought a pair of first class tickets on American for next November, TPA to SXM for $732.11 each.

Paid more for economy tix when we took our entire family for Thanksgiving last November.

Re: Too Early To book flights for May [Re: freedomfighter] #33205
01/14/2015 10:17 PM
01/14/2015 10:17 PM
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Posts: 255
Dirty Jersey
gd1147 Offline OP
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I sucked it up and pulled the trigger today for $521 coach and so far half upgraded with miles. Can't wait to get back.

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