The New York Times Practical Traveler says that recent research suggests the sweet spot is more like six weeks out. But the Times’ own research suggests that’s way wrong and the best fares are had about 24 weeks out.

Throw in volatile fuel prices and some economic uncertainties and it gets even more unpredictable. One thing is clear: if you can find an affordable fare right now for summer travel, buy it.

Well, make way for the new, well-appointed Lexus. All Nippon Airways flew a bunch of reporters from Tokyo to Hong Kong yesterday on the first commercial flight of the much-delayed Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft is quieter than older jets, has bigger windows and maintains higher cabin pressure. It’s also more fuel-efficient.

Don’t hold your breath, though, for a chance to ride in one.  Deliveries to domestic airlines won’t begin until next year, at the earliest. There have been no new orders for the 787 this year, according to Boeing’s website and 26 cancellations. There’s also a rumor that Air India plans to cancel more than half  its order.

Still, Boeing has about 800 orders for the 787. If it is really the aircraft of the future, flying may eventually get a little bit better for all of us, even in coach.

If you haven’t been to Las Vegas lately, have a look at the latest additions to the skyline, as seen from my room at the MGM Grand. It may change again soon — there’s talk of demolishing the unfinished Harmon Hotel because of structural deficiencies.

Fares must be purchased by midnight on Thursday, June 23, for travel between Aug. 23, 2011 and  Nov. 16, 2011. The fares are offered every day except Friday and Sunday. Columbus Day and the Labor Day weekend are blacked out. 

From Bradley International, the $40 fare is available to Baltimore, Buffalo, Newark, Norfolk, Pittsburgh and Washington Dulles. The round-trip fare, with taxes and fees, will total about $120, with slight variations depending on the number of stops.

The $80 fare is good for Birmingham, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Greenville / Spartanburg, Indianapolis, Jackson, Kansas City, Little Rock, Louisville, Milwaukee, Nashville, Omaha, Raleigh/ Durham, St. Louis and several Florida destinations. The total round-trip fare will be about $195.

The $120 fare applies to multiple destinations in the Southwest, including Texas and Las Vegas, as well as New Orleans, but does not extend to the West Coast. The round-trip fare will come out to about $280.

These are competitive fares in the current market. And remember — you can check two bags on Southwest at no charge.

Delta Air Lines came out at the bottom with a 56 percent satisfaction rating and Southwest Airlines on top with 81 percent. This is dramatic, but not surprising. Southwest has consistently been the best-run and most profitable corporation in the industry but, contrary to conventional Wall Street wisdom, that doesn’t mean it has been the most ruthless and cheap.

Quite the reverse. Southwest has some of the highest pay rates in the industry. It has never laid off an employee. I believe the mutual respect between its management and unions translates into better treatment of passengers. It also helps that Southwest has never instituted checked bag fees and that it charges no fees for changing a ticket.

The no change-fee policy came in handy for me lately. I recently changed my return ticket from Las Vegas and paid only $5, the difference in fares. When I booked a trip to New Mexico as a gift for my husband, I chose Southwest even though its fares were not the lowest because I knew I could change the tickets if the timing was inconvenient for him.

If Southwest didn’t exist, we might believe that poor customer service is necessary for airlines to scrape out a profit. But we know better.

The fares are valid for travel Oct. 12 to Dec. 15, 2010 with Thanksgiving week blacked out. For many routes, availability is limited to certain days of the week, usually Tuesday and Wednesday. Although JetBlue will start flying Nov. 17 from Bradley International, no sale fares are offered for Bradley.

There are some decent fares from Boston and New York, however. For example, the $79 one-way fare between Boston and Fort Lauderdale comes out to $179 round trip when taxes and fees are added.

Why do the things in commercial aviation that I hope most fervently will not catch on seem to be the things that always catch on?