Memorial Day weekend 2016 - when to book flights?

We have just booked a week at the Royal Islander La Plage, where we stayed 2010, and I'm starting to look at flights from the DC area to SXM for Memorial Day weekend, returning the following weekend. I'm seeing AA around $600, Delta around $900 and United over $1000. If you've traveled to St. Maarten in late May, when did you book your flights? My gut is panicking and telling me to book now, but I wonder if the prices will drop after the new year. Any advice will be really appreciated!

When it gets to a price you can live with. I would pull the trigger on anything in the $600 range myself.

That's about our SXM vacation time as well, and we usually book in October. We were watching flights and delayed booking in Oct. this year but just pulled the trigger and booked two nights ago. Two people, each with a bag, no other frills, on JetBlue - PWM (Portland, ME) to SXM - $1,101.02 was the total bill.

In the past 8 years we've kept Air to around $1K or less, and when we've booked it, we've never seen it go down appreciably in the ensuing months leading up to our trip.

This time Airfare has been around this $1.1K price all during Oct. We were getting the feeling that it isn't going to get much cheaper, and since everything has to go up sometime we stopped the waiting and resigned ourselves to the fact that we'd be paying the extra $100 or so.

Ultimately our delaying did cost us even a little more. While we were waiting to choose and lock in airfare, our destination, Club Orient, was apparently filling up for early June, so much so that they had already kicked in their new flex pricing, and on four of our 11 nights the Minisuite prices rose 5% (about 30 Euro total)

We book ours in June for our May flights going and early July for our return flights in June. Miles or cash. That's when we do it.

We booked United in June for our trip next may for $821.00 each for 2 of us 1st class. The best we have seen so far. Going from EWR to SXM Start looking now <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />

Flights from NY/NJ are a whole different price category than anywhere else.

To the original poster, if you can live with the price, book it and don't look back. It's all you can do!

Carol,

It still generally works out better to book early, even out of NY, particularly for prime dates. We paid about $880.00 For two and right now those same flights were almost a thousand each last week. In my experience out of NY, if you know your dates, the earlier you book the better off you are.

Pat--you obviously know that market much better than I do. I was only pointing out that DC is a much different market than NY/NJ. We here in Florida would love to have the pricing and different schedules available from NY. DC folks are in a whole different other league, in terms of price and possible connections--and the 'other league' is the minor leagues. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

As long as arrival, departure and connections are ok, $600 looks pretty good. Its possible to see $450's but it is more probable to see $850.00. I'd sleep pretty good at $600.00. US/AA always seemed to me to be cheaper than Delta that always looks high to me.

I booked Westjet from Thunder Bay Apr 10 to May 3 $450US each..They have policy to refund if lower price happens up to day of departure .I'd look for a US airline that did that too.

Just curious, why would you pay Westjet in US dollars if you are living in Canada.Their rates are always quoted in Canadian dollars as they are a Canadian airline.

Well, jeez, you can LOOK, but you won't find it!!! There are no US airlines currently flying to SXM that offer price refunds if the price goes down--unless the reduction in price is over the change fee, which is normally $100 to $150...

I converted to US so would be familiar to my American friends.Of course I paid in Canadian

Thanks everyone - we'll book ASAP vs. waiting around. It look like there are plenty of seats to choose from, and even decent biz class prices, so perhaps for an extra few hundred we'll fly down in style!

Don't forget to factor in the free checked bags. Makes the cost difference between coach and business/first class closer.

MandT,

I just finished booking AA flights for next September because I wanted specific flights and wanted to use accumulated FF miles.

I agree with the idea of seeing and grabbing a flight when the price looks reasonable, regardless of how early it may seem, but remember, once you book with any airline, and particularly with AA for anytime AFTER Easter and before high season begins again, check your reservations frequently for changes. They're supposed to notify you, and my personal experience is they always have, but many here say they don't receive any warning of changes. It really pays to be proactive where your reservations are concerned.

Good luck with booking, and if the AA Business Class is remotely close, it's worth the extra money, IMHO. Have a great trip.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the reminder on this. We do travel heavy. You should see us take a cruise - 2 large suitcases, a duffle bag of shoes and misc. items, plus an overstuffed garment bag. For SXM we go a little lighter, but will definitely be checking bags!

That, and a couple of glasses of wine!

We have our flights booked! AA, and got business class for just a few hundred extra. What a treat this will be. Thank you all for your advice and encouragement.