Airfare sticker shock

[zmom]

Just called ABD to get airfare quote for our May trip to Germany. Since I don't expect it to go I like the idea of them refunding it if cancelled. I've been tracking airfare for the past few months and it's been pretty steady. When I price on United for business class for 2 people I am getting $7500 for both. ABD quote came back at $20,000 . Ummm no thank you. For a few hundred more I can get fully refundable fare on my own.

 

[pjacobi]

The last time I flew United, there were 4 classes:

Economy
Premium Economy (slight bigger seat, more meal choices)
Business (much bigger upright seat)
1st class (seat converts to full flat bed)

Perhaps there may have been some confusion over business seat vs. full flat bed.


-Paul

 

[zmom]

After I called and told them how insane that was they were able to find flights for same price I was getting . My blood pressure is better now haha

 

[Grifdog22]

Just booked air with ABD for England/France in May ABD (Heather) got air round trip for less than half what I was pulling up for just the return trip, and my pricing was economy light, she booked at economy which includes a bag per passenger and more flexibility. $3500 round trip for us pp , $770 round trip for us pp through ABD this morning. I'm pretty darn happy with that. I considered that great pixie dust.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The last time I flew United, there were 4 classes:

Economy
Premium Economy (slight bigger seat, more meal choices)
Business (much bigger upright seat)
1st class (seat converts to full flat bed)

Perhaps there may have been some confusion over business seat vs. full flat bed.


-Paul

United has been upgrading their business class to the Polaris product, which includes a full flat bed.

 

[OppR2nist]

We're heading down to Universal in Feb., and the flights were so expensive, we decided a 26 hour train ride is better.

 

[neurosx1983]

Just booked air with ABD for England/France in May ABD (Heather) got air round trip for less than half what I was pulling up for just the return trip, and my pricing was economy light, she booked at economy which includes a bag per passenger and more flexibility. $3500 round trip for us pp , $770 round trip for us pp through ABD this morning. I'm pretty darn happy with that. I considered that great pixie dust.

$770 for economy to London Paris round trip sounds actually more like a normal fare and not quite pixie dust. 3500$ is waaay high for economy. We found round trip to London next month for around 2600$ in business class from Newark.

ABD should pretty much always quote what you can normally find online (google flights,kayak, the airline websites) because they use published air.

 

[Grifdog22]

$770 for economy to London Paris round trip sounds actually more like a normal fare and not quite pixie dust. 3500$ is waaay high for economy. We found round trip to London next month for around 2600$ in business class from Newark.

ABD should pretty much always quote what you can normally find online (google flights,kayak, the airline websites) because they use published air.

It would appear you are comparing travel in off season to high season and a different kind of “round trip” than USA to England and then France to USA return. Glad you are happy with a straight R/T at that price.

 

[neurosx1983]

It would appear you are comparing travel in off season to high season and a different kind of “round trip” than USA to England and then France to USA return. Glad you are happy with a straight R/T at that price.

Just pointing out that paying $3500 pp for coach ANYWHERE is nuts, whether it’s straight r/t, open jaw, etc. Especially since you’re going to London and Paris which from the US is probably the busiest international route- hence better pricing.

 

[Grifdog22]

Just booked air with ABD for England/France in May ABD (Heather) got air round trip for less than half what I was pulling up for just the return trip, and my pricing was economy light, she booked at economy which includes a bag per passenger and more flexibility. $3500 round trip for us pp , $770 round trip for us pp through ABD this morning. I'm pretty darn happy with that. I considered that great pixie dust.

And just found Virgin/Delta cancelled my flight and proposes rebooking 27 hours later...we are forty days out from departure....

 

[sayhello]

And just found Virgin/Delta cancelled my flight and proposes rebooking 27 hours later...we are forty days out from departure....

I hope you tell them that's unacceptable! Work with ABD travel to find a good alternative, and have ABD *insist* that Virgin/Delta accept whatever itinerary you come up with. Or get a refund and go elsewhere. You have a ton of rights in this case that Virgin/Delta will not inform you of! I was on the line for a LONG time with Delta when they totally messed up my original flight to Paris, and they ended up giving me exactly the flight I wanted, without me paying any more for it, even though it was more expensive. They have way more power to fix this then they will let on to unless you insist.

Sayhello

 

[aggiedog]

Read my "perils of international travel" thread. We've had that happen for several trips now, and haven't always gotten a notice about it. A friend of ours didn't know to check, got to the airport, and found out her flight to Iceland had been canceled weeks prior.

 

[jina]

it's been pretty crazy. I booked airfare on my own in November for our upcoming June trip but purchased insurance just in case we have to cancel. So far of the 4 flight legs, 3 have required rebooking due to the airline canceling the flight or changing the schedule where we would miss a connection, each time as a 1 hr+ wait to get to an agent but at least we were rebooked. The prices were much lower then. We were able to get Air Canada Signature (lie flat business/first) class for around $3000 per person when we booked in Nov. Now it's $11,000 per person. Economy was $1500 back then so we decided to splurge on Signature.

 

[sayhello]

it's been pretty crazy. I booked airfare on my own in November for our upcoming June trip but purchased insurance just in case we have to cancel. So far of the 4 flight legs, 3 have required rebooking due to the airline canceling the flight or changing the schedule where we would miss a connection, each time as a 1 hr+ wait to get to an agent but at least we were rebooked. The prices were much lower then. We were able to get Air Canada Signature (lie flat business/first) class for around $3000 per person when we booked in Nov. Now it's $11,000 per person. Economy was $1500 back then so we decided to splurge on Signature.

Airfare is seriously horrible right now. My airfare to *New England* was priced at well over $700!! Fortunately, I was able to book it through the Chase Ultimate Rewards site, so saved a few bucks.

I just booked a ticket to Southern California for in July, and was seriously happy when I found a ticket for $500! Until yesterday, all I was finding was in the $900 range!!

Sayhello

 

[Grifdog22]

We just booked air from Washington DC to Auckland NZ and then back from Queenstown. Like the original posting from zmon on this thread, the original quote I got from ABD was really high. We found some on our own, called into ABD and they booked it at $1900 pp round trip. That's three connections over, three back. Glad to have this done.

 

[jimmymc]

I think ABD doesn't consider cost when looking up possible airfare. It's much easier to book on your own, plus I get better benefits with my credit card than what ABD offers.

 

[sayhello]

I think ABD doesn't consider cost when looking up possible airfare. It's much easier to book on your own, plus I get better benefits with my credit card than what ABD offers.

ABD can book whatever airfare you want them to. And if you give them your credit card, and ABD charges it correctly, it should be exactly the same as if you booked the ticket yourself. ABD just acts as a Travel Agent. Also, if you want them to do the research, you can give them whatever parameters you want (look for cheapest flights, shortest flights, direct flights only, a specific airline, etc). You just have to tell them. I always see what ABD can come up with, and if they can do it cheaper, then I'll usually go with them. But I always do my own research, also, so I can compare.

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

ABD can book whatever airfare you want them to. And if you give them your credit card, and ABD charges it correctly, it should be exactly the same as if you booked the ticket yourself. ABD just acts as a Travel Agent. Also, if you want them to do the research, you can give them whatever parameters you want (look for cheapest flights, shortest flights, direct flights only, a specific airline, etc). You just have to tell them. I always see what ABD can come up with, and if they can do it cheaper, then I'll usually go with them. But I always do my own research, also, so I can compare.

Sayhello

Yes that is true, I don't think I was clear. If you just tell ABD your dates and cities, then they'll find something where the time lines up but not necessarily look for the best price. If you give them flight numbers then they will definitely book those for you.

 

[sayhello]

Yes that is true, I don't think I was clear. If you just tell ABD your dates and cities, then they'll find something where the time lines up but not necessarily look for the best price. If you give them flight numbers then they will definitely book those for you.

And if you give them your dates and cities and say "Please focus on the best price", they will look for those for you.

Sayhello

 

[pjacobi]

And if you give them your dates and cities and say "Please focus on the best price", they will look for those for you.

Sayhello

Airline prices can change in a milli-second, so there is only so much they can do.

If you really want the lowest price, you have to do it yourself. Then re-price everyday and rebook if the price changes.


-Paul