AAA and flight prices

[mom2prince&princess]

This is the first time I have actually checked out flight prices online...usually I just go to AAA and have them book me a flight. Does anyone know if AAA gets better prices for flights than what I can get online or if they use the same sites (travelocity, orbitz, etc)? We are going to Disney April 08, and right now flights are running @ $400, so any deal I can get, I will take. TIA

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

This is the first time I have actually checked out flight prices online...usually I just go to AAA and have them book me a flight. Does anyone know if AAA gets better prices for flights than what I can get online or if they use the same sites (travelocity, orbitz, etc)? We are going to Disney April 08, and right now flights are running @ $400, so any deal I can get, I will take. TIA

You should always book your air travel directly with the airline once you've determined who has the best fares/schedules to suit you. Using a travel agent or a discount website only limits your ability to make changes or get credits later, if you must. Using travelocity, etc to find the lowest fare is a great tool, but PLEASE book directly with the airline, and make sure to read their fare rules so you won't have surprises later.

Good luck!

 

[helenk]

I have found that the "deals" from AAA are never that good. I use travelocity, expedia etc to see what the general rates are for my dates, and then I book directly with the airline. We also have the luxury of having Southwest Airlines but their rates do not show on travelocity or expedia.
Why pay extra $$ to the travel engines when you can do it yourself for less on the airlines own websites?

 

[bettydau]

I love working with my AAA agent, but I found I got a better airline deal doing it myself. Our's are all bought and paid for (15 tickets) for our Jan. '08 trip. There may be better rates that come along, but don't tell me about them! I'm just happy that the air tickets are taken care of.

 

[Maine-iac]

This is the first time I have actually checked out flight prices online...usually I just go to AAA and have them book me a flight. Does anyone know if AAA gets better prices for flights than what I can get online or if they use the same sites (travelocity, orbitz, etc)? We are going to Disney April 08, and right now flights are running @ $400, so any deal I can get, I will take. TIA

If you don't mind saying where you are flying from then you will get alot of info from the folks here on good fares.

 

[FanDumbo]

My AAA travel agent told me to book the airline tickets myself. They don't get any better pricing than you can directly from the airline, and on top of that they charge you a fee to book the tickets. On-line through AAA that fee is $40 per ticket, I'm not sure what it is if you purchase the tickets at the office itself.

Just my $.02

 

[Mousema]

My agent was surprised at the cost of flights I got. She said she couldn't even get them that cheap.

 

[mom2prince&princess]

Thank you everyone for your great responses. I never thought to look directly at the airlines. You would think this was my first time traveling!

Maine-iac~We will be flying out of Hartford, CT (bradley international).

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

My AAA travel agent said relatively the samething (although I wasn't aware of the fee)
I have found in some cases that booking airfare online can sometimes be cheaper than the airline itself over the phone.

ex: spiritair- when I mentioned the quote I got online she suggested I book it online and not thru her- I think it saved me $10 a ticket that year (2004)

I check travelocity the most

I have coupons from my AAA credit card, but not sure how many. At least $40- but maybe I will use for purchasing tickets instead. Already bought my Mom's that way.

I also find my particular locations AAA agent, while friendly to be slow- it takes her 24hrs or up to a couple days to get back to me on vacation inquires of any kind.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

PS- I dont know how far from Hartford you are, but LaGuardia has MUCH better prices and selection (lots of non stops) unlike Bradley. I also noticed the time options were not as appealing out of Bradley.

If you can drive the extra distance I would highly reccommend you look at LaGuardia OR- even closer, but still non stops, Newbergh NY (about 15 min past Danbury CT line) airtran and jetblue both fly out of there.

JFK is further, but something to throw in the pot for comparison.

(My Mom lives in W. Suffield and we are having her come to our house and leave with us)

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I booked everything through AAA because I had a gift certificate, but I did compare their price quote to what it showed online, and the flights were $50 a person cheaper at AAA than what I was quoted online.

 

[mom2prince&princess]

PS- I dont know how far from Hartford you are, but LaGuardia has MUCH better prices and selection (lots of non stops) unlike Bradley. I also noticed the time options were not as appealing out of Bradley.

If you can drive the extra distance I would highly reccommend you look at LaGuardia OR- even closer, but still non stops, Newbergh NY (about 15 min past Danbury CT line) airtran and jetblue both fly out of there.

JFK is further, but something to throw in the pot for comparison.

(My Mom lives in W. Suffield and we are having her come to our house and leave with us)

I live in SE connecticut. I just checked out the prices to LaGuardia and WOW there is a difference! I think the flights were close to $150 cheaper per ticket. However, it would be a 2 and a half hour drive, but for a savings of $600, it may just be worth it. Thank you for that suggestion!!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I was amazed- I used to always fly out of Hartford when I lived in West Suffield CT (10 min from airport)

But hey-I'll take NY and cheaper and no stops!! Your flight will be about 2hr 45min!

A AAA agent suggested I throw all the airports into my comparison pot and then go from there.

Did you try Newburgh NY? I think the initials are like SWF
I think I will chose LaGuardia, its futher for me, but we can leave earlier (and start our WDW fun earlier!)
I think first flight from SWF was at 9am and i like the 7:30 ones (who can sleep the night before a trip anyway!)

So glad I could help! I LOVE chatting WDW planning!

 

[mom2prince&princess]

I booked my flights last night. Some coworkers thought I was crazy booking already, but about half of the seats were already taken, and I am a "better safe than sorry" type of person. I was able to get $224 a ticket nonstop from LaGuardia to Orlando vs $697 (ouch!) from Hartford to Orlando. I did try Newburgh, but the price was the best at LaGuardia.


Thanks again!!!

 

[MrMarv]

You'll find that your AAA membership is great for hotel discounts and car rentals, and especially from Hertz.

Their rates for AAA members are terrific, and if the airport you're flying to has lots fo surcharges which can cause the total coast to soar, you can utilize Hertz Local Edition, which consists of offices throughout the city (a la Enteprise, the nation's largest car rental company), and frequently has AAA promotional rates as well, but without those obnoxious airport surcharges.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I booked my flights last night. Some coworkers thought I was crazy booking already, but about half of the seats were already taken, and I am a "better safe than sorry" type of person. I was able to get $224 a ticket nonstop from LaGuardia to Orlando vs $697 (ouch!) from Hartford to Orlando. I did try Newburgh, but the price was the best at LaGuardia.


Thanks again!!!

ROCK ON!!!

 

[Esmerelda]

Tip....never book airfare 11 months out.....!!! yikess......

The best airfares fall within 2-3 months of your travel....I even purchase my airfare for my honeymoon 2 years ago about 2 months out. I got RT 1st class seats for $400 each on American...!!! Talk about a deal....


wait and see what next January brings...
Esmerelda

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I have been watching airfares for quite a while and my trip is almost into the 90 day range and prices have not changed much at all $224 is pretty cheap. Im looking at $215-$270 range.
I do like to wait, but I think I'll be booking very soon- JetBlue!

 

[Maine-iac]

Tip....never book airfare 11 months out.....!!! yikess......

The best airfares fall within 2-3 months of your travel....I even purchase my airfare for my honeymoon 2 years ago about 2 months out. I got RT 1st class seats for $400 each on American...!!! Talk about a deal....


wait and see what next January brings...
Esmerelda

well that depends on when you are traveling and where you are flying from. I have already bought my tickets for next April vacation. Portland Maine is a smaller airport so there are less flights in and out. April vacation is a big travel time here and the airlines know it. I will not find cheaper flights on the larger airlines if I wait and the value airlines each only have 3 flights in and 3 flights out each day so I would rather not wait and take the chance of not getting the cheaper flights because they will go so fast. Yes we could get cheaper flights out of Boston or Manchester but have done that and have decided we would rather pay alittle extra to fly out and in closer to home. We ended up paying $268 each round trip (before taxes and fees) on Delta.

 

[mom2prince&princess]

Glad I'm not the only one who has already booked for next April!

Before taxes and fees the tickets were $198 R/T nonstop. I couldn't pass them up. We have never flown that cheap. I checked the flight out a little while ago and cannot believe how many seats have been booked since i bought ours.