# How far in the future is it optimal to buy plane tickets?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-future-is-it-optimal-to-buy-plane-tickets/409044
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 22, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-future-is-it-optimal-to-buy-plane-tickets/409044 "2007-06-22T19:48:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2007, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-future-is-it-optimal-to-buy-plane-tickets/409044/21 "2007-06-25T05:15:46Z")
Another vote for checking different departure airports. I live in the Bay Area, and when I travel for work or pleasure I have three to choose from. I always check all three, and there are substantial differences in price, with no one airport being always cheaper. It depends on the competition on the routes in large part.
One thing to be concerned with - Seattle to Portland is quite a ways, and you should think about how tired you will be when you arrive. You may not want to drive right after a trip of that length.
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### Author:  [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-future-is-it-optimal-to-buy-plane-tickets/409044/22 "2007-06-25T05:35:40Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole]
What’s a gross misdemeanor? I don’t mean to derail the thread but you’ve really got my curiosity piqued now.
[/QUOTE]
From the Washington State website:
> [@](#):
>
> Gross Misdemeanor - Any crime other than a felony or misdemeanor; punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a maximum term fixed by the court of not more than one year, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than $5,000, or by both.
So, not as bad as a felony, but worse than your standard misdemeanors (which are punishable with up to 90 days in jail and $1,000). I’d rather not go into more details, in the hope of keeping some meager degree of esteem on these here boards. 😃 (ETA: I never served any time and paid a small fine - around $200 if I remember correctly.)
**Voyager** I don’t have a car so I wouldn’t be driving anywhere unless I rented one. I’d either stay in Portland or take the Greyhound or Amtrak. I know how tiring the trip is!
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2007, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-future-is-it-optimal-to-buy-plane-tickets/409044/23 "2007-06-25T06:02:05Z")
[QUOTE=MerryMagdalen]
I’d rather not go into more details, in the hope of keeping some meager degree of esteem on these here boards. 😃
[/QUOTE]
Understood, but I’m dying to know what it takes to get barred from Canada (as I have a misdemeanor conviction myself for drug parapharnalia). Could you PM me?
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