BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares

Subject: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 09:46 PM

Some stuff I just ain't good at. Searching on-line for the best airfares is one of them. Too much information for me to process and too many websites. Searching for best round trip airfares with flexible dates between Raleigh Durham or Greensboro and LAX. Help!

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: DebC
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 09:51 PM

Go to kayak.com or Yapta.com . Great sites. Yapta will even track your fare once you buy it to see if you are eligible for a refund if the fare drops. I was able to bank away $$$ with jet Blue that way.

Deb
(who flies way too much!)

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST,999
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 09:52 PM

THANK YOU, JANIE. I am relieved to know it's not just me. I can't help--but believe me I wish I could. Best wishes. Someone will come along who can direct you; count on that.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 11:04 PM

Once you get what seems to be the best deal, check Southwest. I don't think they deal with the discounters, and their free baggage can make a difference. For example, right now they are offering a web fare for mid-April for $260, round trip, RDU-LAX-RDU, taxes etc. included.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 02:20 AM

Kayak works well. Let me know if you're gonna have some time out here to visit, now!

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: open mike
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 03:53 AM

they should have great services for the disabled...deaf, dumb, etc. If you just take a black board and chalk you can communicate with others.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: open mike
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 03:54 AM

i have had good luck with travelocity and expedia, but not recently. I have heard good things about south west and their baggage rates.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 04:21 AM

southwest is also very good if you need to reschedule...it is my airline of choice now for this reason.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: DebC
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 08:57 AM

Domestically in the USA I fly ONLY Southwest and Jet Blue if I can because they allow free checked bags. Going to Europe, I usually fly US Air, but you get one free checked bag on International flights.

I have a guitar that gets carried on so I have to check my suitcase. The legacy carriers (United, American and the evil Delta) are nickel and diming us a-plenty. Talk about class warfare...it certainly is evident with the airlines.

BTW-my non-stop Jet Blue flight for early Feb. from Boston to SF was $271 round trip.

Deb

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Janie
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 09:34 PM

Thanks, Guys and Gals. I have never figured out how to really use the discounter and travel sites when my dates are really, really flexible, i.e. can make the trip anytime within a 2 or 3 month time frame, and the timing depends on the airfare. What I want is "tell me when the flights are cheapest and I'll build my trip around that. Sounds like I might be better off simply going to the the Southwest and Jet Blue websites. Yes?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 09:38 PM

Simple, Janie. Come to Juneau, Alaska- we have only ONE airline. It's expensive but simple. :(

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 11:48 PM

I use Travelocity or Expedia to find which airline has the best rates for the trip I'm taking. Then I go to that airline's Website to buy the tickets. I don't trust the discounters enough to actually buy tickets from them, but they're a good source of information. I've never found Travelocity or Expedia to have a rate cheaper than an airline's own Website.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: artbrooks
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 01:00 AM

Did a trip for herself earlier this evening. I used Southwest's "month-at-a-glance" calendar to come up with the best deal...it shows you the lowest fares, day by day.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: DebC
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 09:34 AM

The discounters are not valid. Kayak does have fare tracking and as I stated above, both Kayak and Yapta sends email alerts regarding tracked fares. I use these two sites exclusively and have found their fares to be accurate. They also include all taxes and fees in the final tally.

Deb

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 01:43 PM

My experience matches Joe's. I've gotten better fares at the airline's site than at the discounters'. But not every time.

Another tip: I used to assume that car-rental rates were pretty similar at the same airport.

Wrong. I once saved $100 just by comparing at the websites. What's more, it was easier to return the car after my one-way drive, since the more expensive place wanted me to take it to the local airport and find some other way home. More economical company number two let me drop the car at a nearby office, besides saving me $100.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 07:58 PM

Wait a minute! You're going to the warm-sunny without ME?!

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 25 Jan 13 - 09:49 PM

OK third try ...(recognized guests cannot post htnl in the lower kingdom)

Travel on Tues and Wed are frequently lowest for local.
Check into their local office at odd hours early...early 1 to 4 am.

Some random fares for February:

Raleigh Durham to LAX 339.00USD RT all txes included
www.cheapoair.com

Raleigh Durham to LAX 235.00 USD RT all txes included
www.cheapflights.com/flights-to-los-angeles/raleigh-durham-intl/

Raleigh Durham to LAX 342.00 USD RT TAX incld
m.onetravel.com

Raleigh Durham to LAX 302.00 USD RT TAX incld
wwwaa.com

299.00 USD
www.united.com

254.00 USD
www.southwest.com

297.00
www.delta.com

349.00
Jetblue.com

Trick For Cheaper Flights (today's Wall Street Journal)

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323539804578259740155116054.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Travel


Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Bon Voyage - gute Reise

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 05:14 AM

Wow, American fares are dear! You need Ryanair. (It's a nightmare to fly with them, but their fares are a lot cheaper for flying around Europe than the above fares for flying around America.)

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: artbrooks
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 11:45 AM

Perhaps so, JTT - but keep in mind that it is about 2200 miles from Raleigh, NC to LA...or about the same distance as London to Damascus. And isn't it Ryanair that is notorious for charging for everything except the chair you sit in?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Janie
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 12:09 PM

Really do appreciate the help. Am in the early planning stages and was already stymied. Not so much now.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 02:12 PM

I haven't flown anywhere in 7-8 years, and I always needed to go on specific dates.... which meant planning as far in advance as possible and picking cheaper times when possible. I think the options and tedious tricks are a lot worse since I last traveled by air. I don't envy those who need to fly on a regular basis.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm dumb. Help finding airfares
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 13 - 10:44 PM

On some international flights the national carrier will cover the visa cost

For a UK member (NZ excepted - they are free) the cost can run 500 BP... for a visa to India.

We have become complacent with the increased EU travel....try going to Russia without prior permits. A UK rejection of the EU would result in bankruptcy for the "chunnel " investers.