Ticket Buying 101, please

Is there a consumer-oriented Web site that explains how
to shop for airline tickets to get the best price, etc.?
My mother-in-law is traveling between Washington and
Los Angeles in June and my wife wants me to buy the
tickets now, four months in advance! What a ridiculous
notion...isn't it?

--
Charles Packer
http://cpacker.org/whatnews
mailboxATcpacker.org

"Charles Packer" <mailbox.DeleteThis@cpacker.org> wrote...
> Is there a consumer-oriented Web site that explains how
> to shop for airline tickets to get the best price, etc.?
> My mother-in-law is traveling between Washington and
> Los Angeles in June and my wife wants me to buy the
> tickets now, four months in advance! What a ridiculous
> notion...isn't it?
>

No, not too early to "shop"....

There are all sorts of permutations and alternatives, involving a number of
airlines and flexible travel dates and times of day for such a trip.

Flights to LA may begin at IAD, DCA or BWI, and end up at LAX, BUR, Orange
County and other area airports.

On some days of the week fares are cheaper, so while shopping, entering
flexible dates can save money. AA (and others) will allow you to "shop by
price". WN has a number of different fares and costs can certainly vary by
date of purchase. Multi-stops or plane changes reduce fares in many cases.

There are no hard and fast rules, but websites like Orbitz (which doesn't
carry WN (Southwest) will give you some rough ideas as to the spectrum of
choices available.

It's not unlike shopping for a new car, a variety of terms available, but
even broader price flexibility when it comes to air fares.

Then there's the issue of "non-refundable fares", and cheaper tickets
usually fall into that category...no changes, no alternatives and no refunds
for non-use (or substantial change fees).

It can be fun (or aggravating), and it almost never fails that a day after
purchasing a ticket, you'll see a better deal.

All it takes is time and lubricant (to make the screwing you're likely to
feel you've undergone less painful.

Buying a ticket for a mother in law is always easier than for Mom. Your MiL
can always be booked on the 4AM out of a rural grass strip in a Ford
Trimotor hauling livestock.

TMO