Cheap airfare, help!!!!

[UofISigKap]

Originally posted by HBADPi
www.kayak.com

Thanks for this! I have been using Yahoo's fare finder and Travelocity, but this one seems even better. I fly about three times a year and know way in advance the dates, so this is perfect!!

[trideltrockstar]

If you fly United Airlines, they guarantee (sp?) the lowest price on their website - united.com. It'll be cheaper than booking it through Orbitz, Travelocity, etc.

Originally posted by trideltrockstar
If you fly United Airlines, they guarantee (sp?) the lowest price on their website - united.com. It'll be cheaper than booking it through Orbitz, Travelocity, etc.

Yes and no.

Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Expedia, Priceline and all the other discount airline websites buy their tickets from United and other carriers in bulk, allowing them to set their own prices while charging an arm and a leg for service fees.

Normally Hotwire and Priceline buy their tickets from United in L class (the lowest possible), so you can't make any changes once your reservations are ticketed. But if you're set on your dates and don't anticipate to make any changes to your reservations, they're normally the most discounted prices on the web.

The other websites generally allow changes...with the $100 change fee plus any fare difference.

So really, united.com's guarantee is only based on what the otherairlines.com sites are charging, not Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. etc. In the event that you do purchase a ticket through United and find that, say, Southwest or whoever else, has a lower price -- you do have 24 hours from time of purchase to get a full refund, according to their United Commitment.

OTW
-former United Airlines employee

[kddani]

This thread couldn't have been bumped at a better time.

Trying to plan a cruise in March, need to get to San Juan.

[SDTSarah]

It's impossible to get a flight from Atlanta to San Antonio for under $300 now...and that makes me sad.

[docetboy]

Flights ATL-IAH price out at 175... from there, you can grab a Continental or southwest flight for under a hundred round-trip, or take the 3 hour drive.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by SDTSarah
It's impossible to get a flight from Atlanta to San Antonio for under $300 now...and that makes me sad.

I can't get a flight from Minneapolis to Green Bay for under $250 and they used to be $125 - looks like I'm going to be driving to visit the boyfriend from now on, BLAH.

[SDTSarah]

I wish Southwest would pick up one of Delta's gates. It would make life much easier. I think a discount airliner is going to start flying from Austin to Atlanta, which would be okay.

Visiting the boyfriend costs entirely too much. I wish driving was a realistic option for weekend visits.

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I can't get a flight from Minneapolis to Green Bay for under $250 and they used to be $125 - looks like I'm going to be driving to visit the boyfriend from now on, BLAH.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by docetboy
Flights ATL-IAH price out at 175... from there, you can grab a Continental or southwest flight for under a hundred round-trip, or take the 3 hour drive.

Southwest quit flying into IAH some time ago... but you can hop on a Continental 'Jungle Jet' to SAT.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by SDTSarah
I wish Southwest would pick up one of Delta's gates. It would make life much easier. I think a discount airliner is going to start flying from Austin to Atlanta, which would be okay.

Visiting the boyfriend costs entirely too much. I wish driving was a realistic option for weekend visits.

It's a 6.5 hour drive for us - which is doable, but sucks compared to the cheap 50 minute flights I was getting last semester. You guys are a lot farther apart, I feel for you.

[docetboy]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Southwest quit flying into IAH some time ago... but you can hop on a Continental 'Jungle Jet' to SAT.

Au contraire, Continental flies 757s hourly to SAT....usually full, too.

[BobbyTheDon]

Originally posted by OTW
Yes and no.

Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Expedia, Priceline and all the other discount airline websites buy their tickets from United and other carriers in bulk, allowing them to set their own prices while charging an arm and a leg for service fees.

Normally Hotwire and Priceline buy their tickets from United in L class (the lowest possible), so you can't make any changes once your reservations are ticketed. But if you're set on your dates and don't anticipate to make any changes to your reservations, they're normally the most discounted prices on the web.

The other websites generally allow changes...with the $100 change fee plus any fare difference.

So really, united.com's guarantee is only based on what the otherairlines.com sites are charging, not Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. etc. In the event that you do purchase a ticket through United and find that, say, Southwest or whoever else, has a lower price -- you do have 24 hours from time of purchase to get a full refund, according to their United Commitment.

OTW
-former United Airlines employee

Ok, so the best discount websites in your opinion are Hotwire and Priceline?

I've never flown united before, so you bet your ass I'll be comparing their prices with other airlines. Question though. Lets say I found a cheaper flight with American Airlines, but I found it via Priceline. Will United still hook me up? Or does it have to be directly from American Airlines?

[BobbyTheDon]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I can't get a flight from Minneapolis to Green Bay for under $250 and they used to be $125 - looks like I'm going to be driving to visit the boyfriend from now on, BLAH.

Isn't that so freaking weird? I use to fly to New York, FLorida, or Washington DC for like 150 bucks. But I can't even find a flight to either Memphis, Nebraska or Texas for under 370 bux.

[BobbyTheDon]

Oh yeah. Hey guys. Want to hear something funny? I am the biggest pussy on airplanes. My heart beats so fast during turbulance, and I always do the hail mary about 10 times. I pray on the airplane atleast 30 times. It's weird. When I was a little kid, I use to like turbulance. I wasn't scared of planes at all. Now I'm like " oh crap. this plane is shaking. we're gonna...uhhhhhhh "

I try to alleviate my anxiety by listening to music really loud. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Originally posted by BobbyTheDon
Ok, so the best discount websites in your opinion are Hotwire and Priceline?

I've never flown united before, so you bet your ass I'll be comparing their prices with other airlines. Question though. Lets say I found a cheaper flight with American Airlines, but I found it via Priceline. Will United still hook me up? Or does it have to be directly from American Airlines?

Hotwire and Priceline tend to have the LOWEST fares. However, there's a catch. You can select what day you want to leave and come back, but you need to be flexible with your times because they don't give you an exact time. They'll say something like "early evening" or "red eye". They also don't tell you who you're flying until you purchase the ticket.

I wouldn't buy tickets on Hotwire and Priceline unless you are SURE that you won't be making any changes. Say you're on your trip and you find out that you have to come home earlier or later. They won't let you make a change. You'll have to buy a one way.

You also don't accumulate frequent flier miles on Hotwire or Priceline, either because the ticket's bulk/wholesale. If you buy on Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia -- read the fine print because I know some carriers allow you to earn miles from those websites.

Lastly, United will honor a refund as long as you call within 24 hours of purchase. It can be because you found a lower fare, or it can be because you changed your mind. The reason doesn't matter as long as you call within 24 hours. If, say, you found a lower fare on AA.com and you can provide proof of that lower fare and STILL wanted to fly United, then they'll match AA.com's fare, not Priceline's.

10 years ago I could get out of Hawaii and get a R/T to Vegas for $330. Now it costs almost $400 just to get to freaking California. At least I have miles racked up on United, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, and Aloha!