TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Booking Airfare: How far in advance?

Reading several threads regarding air travel to BVI brings up question as to how far in advance is best time to book flights to STT or EIS? Does this vary in cost much depending on season?

Not sure where you'll be flying FROM, but Canada, Toronto specifically has price fluctuations depending on season. Christmas/New Years expect to pay a premium, March break as well.
Airfares can and often will be a bit of roulette - do I lock in now, guarantee my dates or wait and see IF it drops...and maybe not have seats for everyone in my group.
Some sites offer price drop guarantees, Flight Network for example that lets you take a lower price and bank the difference for future travel. They will NOT watch flights for you, so you're checking every few days.

In numerous trips to this part of the world, my $0.02 is, if you find your flights on days you want at a price you're comfortable with - pull the trigger. Someone gets a few dollars off the same flight - well nice for them, but I don't sweat it.

Other things to consider: some carriers only post their flights 6 months out, so if you book way ahead, you may have more limited options. As noted, peak weeks are more expensive, and usually get even worse if you book late. Carriers have sales from time to time; take advantage of those.

I use Hopper and ITA matrix for flight info then book directly on the carriers website. Catfight flights still look crappy from DIA.

There was a article today on getting the best price. Booking midweek is far more important then timing when to make a purchase.
G

We are already booked for Feb. 2017. When we see a good fare we grab it! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

There have been some studies done that seem to say that for international flights, the optimum time to book is supposedly about 90 days out. To ME, I always try to book my vacations way ahead of time, so that I have something to look forward to. And there is NO way that I would book my hotel (boat, whatever) and not also have airfare lined up. I am just not that much of a gambler and do not want to take chances with my precious vacation.

It USED to be that some airlines allowed you to get a voucher or credit back if the price on your airfare went down after you booked it. Jet Blue in particular no longer does that, and for most every other airline I know, the only way you ever get money back is if you pay a cancellation penalty, which is normally about $150. So, it's unlikely that will ever happen. The possible exception is Southwest, which I THINK still has such a policy, but they definitely don't fly to EIS and as far as I know, they don't fly to STT either, so again, that doesn't help you.

Which is all a very long winded way of saying the same thing that someone has already said in this thread--watch the prices and when you find an airfare that you can live with, BOOK IT DANNO! And don't look back, because it will probably go down the day after you book!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

we booked feb 2017 already also, price was right so we jumped on it & seats are selling

Curious what kind of rate you found and from where. we are heading down right after the new year and the best I have seen for the times that work for us is $630 from Cininnati to STT

around $700 for straight flight from Newark to STT for 2, might come down a little but not that much or might go up, there is only one straight flight & we want it both ways so just booked it now with peace of mind, the few dollars it might come down & that is only IF IT MIGHT come down not worth the stress anymore, have flown these flights many times & did not pay that much less

We recently (May 2) booked to STT about 12 days before actually flying. From Chicago, fare was $441 roundtrip.

^^That seems like a really good rate. I would believe certain times of the year allow last minute booking(But I usually think of last minute airfare as being even closer to departure date.)