Best day of the week to book a flight?

[Callalily]

I've read so many conflicting information on this topic. Many say to book on Tuesday into Wednesday morning, other information tells me it doesn't matter. Also read not to book more than 81 days before your trip, but if traveling on specific days, one runs the risk of unavailability.

It's such a racket!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I once heard a travel agent say that she thought the airlines set fares with a dartboard

She said that when I was able to fly roundtrip from Portland to Minneapolis for $198 after weeks of seeing only $550 fares. The price dropped by more than half overnight.

It's a gamble. You just have to keep checking back, because the fares depend on how easily they're able to fill up the planes at the higher prices. However, if a flight is TOO empty, they'll cancel it at the last minute and pack the passengers onto other flights.

Right now, I'm trying to fly to Hawaii for a convention in June, and I'm seeing very high prices. I'll have to keep checking every week.

(As for the taunt that airlines have slashed services because customers care only about price, only an idiot would pay more than they had to for flying under today's cramped, stressful conditions.)

[Callalily]

4. I'm thinking the same thing . . . about the dartboard.

I've got alerts on several services, so I'll see how that goes.

Good luck on booking a decent fare for your Hawaii trip!

[ginnyinWI]

2. supposedly, if you book on Orbitz

They have some sort of price guarantee where they will refund you if the price drops. I have never received a refund, but that's what they claim.

[Callalily]

3. Yes, I've heard this too

about Orbitz. I've booked through them, but now I really prefer to book through the airlines themselves.