timing question

I'm sure this sort of thing must have been asked before - but I'm wondering about the best (ie cheapest!) time to book a flight. It'll be to MCO and I'd like to do UC out and PE back. Well, both would be better, but not prepared to stump up the extra cost. I've been playing with some dates - my original plan was 3rd May out, 17th May back, but it's clearly considerably cheaper to fly out on 2nd. Have look ed M & M, but to be honest, I don't think the miles needed is worth the difference and anyway, would like to rack up some miles. I now wonder when the best time is to jump ship and book - if I book now, yes, it'll secure the flights, but how much of a risk am I taking there may be a good deal literally just round the corner? Alternatively, I know this is a very busy route, so specials aren't going to be that readily available and I could miss the boat altogether and have to travel on the dark side. What, in your experience, would be the best way to proceed????

Flummoxed....[?]

[RichardMannion]

Sales do happen on that route from time to time, your best fare set would be out in Z and back in K.

K fares on PE are very reasonable, saying that upper both ways on a Z can be had for ~£1400-1500 at most times of the year (a D with the limos is a few hundred more).

I don't have kids so not sure when the school holidays fall as they will largely dictate the fare seasons for that route.

In regards of when to buy, for the MCO route I have tend to see the sales relate to Economy as PE and Upper are very popular given their price point already (esp with only 14 seats in UC). It is a gamble, but if it were me I'd look at prices now, and then again around Christmas when the sales are on (though you may find they will over extend out until end of March).

Thanks,
Richard

Thanks Richard. My kids are well beyond school age, but I do know that spring break is in April next year, so that doesn't seem to have any bearing on the price. I can get out UC and back PE for £1266 (flying out on 2nd May - flying out increases the price by around £250). Seems quite reasonable, I guess I'm just looking for the extra mile - but it's always gonna be a risk as you say, with so few UC seats.

I know this is a cheek, but would anyone mind going into expert flyer to check what availablity is available at the moment for these dates?

London - MCO 2nd May 08 UC

16 or 17th May MCO - London PE

Thanks muchly [:p]