Get Home for Christmas: Find Best Deals on Plane Tickets

[JaimeQ]

Okay so this may make me sound crazy but here goes. My hubby who is currently deployed wants me to go home for Christmas. This brings me to my question what is the best sites for getting the best deals on plane tickets??

I have never had to buy a plane ticket so I really have no idea It would be me and my 1 1/2 year old. I don't know what the deals are with children having there own seats.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[chefann]

kayak.com searches most of the fare-finder and individual airline sites for the best deals. Some airlines aren't included, depending on their agreements with those sites (like Southwest). Generally, you'll find the best deals when you search around midnight on Wednesday and Thursday nights (do your search then, not fly then). Different airlines have different rules about when kids need their own seats.

 

[JaimeQ]

Why would doing a search at midnight on a Wed. or Thursday make a difference?

 

[chefann]

It seems weird, but that's when airlines lower their prices. If there are a limited number of tix available at the lower price, you're more likely to get them by searching when they're first listed.

I don't know if it still holds true, but you can often get a lower prive by traveling on Wednesdays, and staying over the weekend. Of course, that theory is shot to heck for Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas this year (since the 26th is a Wednesday).

 

[JaimeQ]

Ok well we were planning on leaving on a Wednesday so that sounds like a good thing I think the leaving part is gonna get us. Since we were planning on leaving on the 28th. Which 3 days after Christmas but then a few days before New Years.

I guess maybe I will be staying up late tonight to search Is that midnight anytime or eastern time?

 

[chefann]

I don't recall. I think it's Eastern - which is good for you.

 

[JaimeQ]

Yea cause then I don't have to stay up so late

 

[KellyTheChef]

Not sure where you are flying out of...and to...but we use AirTran.com for my stepkids flights from Akron/Canton Ohio to Tampa Florida. If you can find a flight with them, they are super cheap! But, their flights are limited so I don't know if it will help you!

 

[JaimeQ]

I'm going from Sacramento to El Paso... so far the lowest i'm finding is $400!! ouch

 

[KellyTheChef]

Try Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets, Cheap Airfare & Discount Travel Deals - Kayak.com and do a search...I think one came up around $250 but I couldn't put in dates for you!

 

[JaimeQ]

It's gonna be around Christmas prob. about the 19th to the 28th... i'm thinking that is why it's costing so much.

 

[finley1991]

mobisimo.com also has cheap fares listed.

 

[chelynn]

We've always found the NWA site to be the cheapest. Probably because we fly out of their hub and into dinky little towns, LOL! But they are always cheaper than the search places like Expedia. We just bought tickets for DH, me, and the two little ones (one on lap) to go to one Grandpa's house, fly back, then leave on the same day for grandparents #2. We are only spending $1600 on all the tickets, all from NWA.