It's Cheaper To Start Booking Flights Now

Above, a view of Fukuoka from Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer is two seasons away from now, but it is recommended that if you are planning to take a vacation trip this summer, now is the time to start booking your flights if you want to save money.

According to an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

With snow piling up in much of the United States, it might seem a bit early to start thinking about summer. But if you want to take a vacation on your terms, travel experts say now is the time to get the ball rolling. 

Cheaper fuel prices, a strong dollar and an economy on the upswing mean consumers will have a lot of competition booking airplane seats for summer vacations. 

“This is the perfect storm,” says Rick Seaney, chief executive officer of FareCompare.com, which analyzes airfares. 

While experts say expectations of a booming summer travel season will prompt airlines to add capacity, the companies’ computer models will adjust pricing according to ticket sales. The fewer the seats left, the sharper the price increases. 

Expect prices to rise through the spring, says Tom Spagnola, senior vice president for travel service CheapOair.com. Travelers should start booking international flights this month and domestic flights in the next month or two. 

Asia- and Latin America-bound vacationers might find some bargains, while the carriers’ sharing alliances that dominate the business will probably limit the availability of deals elsewhere, says airline industry consultant Bob Mann.

As I reported four days ago, flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo range from $885 to $1,409 (before taxes and fees) according to the Los Angeles Times. But I found a round-trip far for $743 (before taxes and fees) through GatewayLAX. Prices will surely rise as we get nearer to the summer vacation season.

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