How far in advance should plane tickets to Italy be purchased? (please help)

I want to go next spring - but won't find out my work schedule for spring of '08 until the end of february '08.

The worst thing about my job is the schedule. I'd like to buy the tickets ahead of time though and not wait this long.

Does anyone know if the AlItalia will refund or exchange tickets (work is such a P.I.T.A) just in case?

Re: How far in advance should plane tickets to Italy be purchased? (please help)

you can still get something then.... actually DH and i booked our tickets in late June for an August trip and got a good deal online.

Sometimes the closer you book to the actual datse of yourtrip, the better you do...sometimes it's the opposite. it all depends. you'll definitely be able to get there, so i wouldn't worry too much.

Re: How far in advance should plane tickets to Italy be purchased? (please help)

I booked in June for our August trip. I started looking in March and the tickets were over $1000 - I was waiting hoping prices would come down and they didn't. I finally booked at about $1150 a ticket on AlItalia - not sure if they're refundable or changeable.