buy tickets at airport?

[monalsw]

has anyone ever bought their tickets at the airport, some time before the trip?

we live about 30 minutes from the airport and i'm near there alot; can you go in and buy your tickets? how do the prices compare to buying on-line? sounds kind of old-fashioned, doesn't it?

thanks for any info!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by monalsw
has anyone ever bought their tickets at the airport, some time before the trip?

we live about 30 minutes from the airport and i'm near there alot; can you go in and buy your tickets? how do the prices compare to buying on-line? sounds kind of old-fashioned, doesn't it?

thanks for any info!

You might be better off purchasing online. The rates are often cheaper.

 

[safetymom]

You are better off purchasing online. There may be special rates that aren't available at the airport. When they had city ticket offices then they could advise you of different prices but in most cities they have gone away.

You have the time to sit and look at all the airlines with times, fares, restrictions when you are at home that you wouldn't have at the airport.

 

[seashoreCM]

One reason you find great deals on the Internet is that the airlines can quickly advertise flights that are not filling up well, even tickets purchased the day of departure, using email. Whereas buying a ticket at the airport (also over the phone or from a travel agent) is most expensive close to or on the day of departure.

You can buy tickets at the airport in advance, and get the same low fares you could have gotten over the phone or from a travel agent.

One advantage of buying a ticket in person is that you don't have to wait for a confirmation and wonder whether evertying was done correctly.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[airhead]

I still have 333 days to go,but I thought of just going to the airport and buying my tickets. I'm not too keen on the idea of buying them online. I will probably check the prices on line,and then buy over the phone. Actually,I've always bought my tickets
by phone and then gone to the airport and picked them up!

CJ

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by airhead
I still have 333 days to go,but I thought of just going to the airport and buying my tickets. I'm not too keen on the idea of buying them online. I will probably check the prices on line,and then buy over the phone. Actually,I've always bought my tickets
by phone and then gone to the airport and picked them up!

CJ

You're (probably) paying more because you're not booking online and (probably) also paying more for getting actual tickets.

Buying on line and getting electronic tickets gets you the lowest price.

That said do what works best for you. The extra charges are probably a very small cost of your vacation.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by airhead
I still have 333 days to go,but I thought of just going to the airport and buying my tickets. I'm not too keen on the idea of buying them online. I will probably check the prices on line,and then buy over the phone. Actually,I've always bought my tickets
by phone and then gone to the airport and picked them up!

CJ

CJ,
While that is an excellent way of doing it, you might miss out on an internet only fare that way. Since the advent of etickets and internet purchasing, that is the only way I will do it. Your credit card is secure and your ticket is right there to be printed and.....it saves money!!!!

 

[safetymom]

I agree online is the way to go. When you are sitting at your computer looking at the prices and flights you are not rushed to make a decision. Also a lot of times there are web fares that you can't get on the phone.

Most times when talking with agents they are not required to tell you the lowest prices unless you ask them for the lowest price. Also they usually look at the first screen and tell you what is available. They are usually not allowed to spend a lot of time with customers because they are required to answer so many phone calls in a hour. Sometimes when the phone lines are busy the airlines offer a 5% discount to book your ticket online.

That is why I got my degree in Travel and Tourism because I was tired of getting agents that would tell me about 3 flights when I could see there were many more flights that would suit my needs better.

Since you have time why not sign up for a newsletter from your airline. They usually will tell you about specials. Sign up for fare watching at Travelocity because sometimes you can get great fares that way.

Also E tickets are great!!!! You don't have to worry about losing them. I had to buy paper tickets for an upcoming trip for an additional $20 and I wasn't very happy. But where I needed to go that is what the airlines required.

 

[airhead]

But I'm always worried something will malfunction and I won't get my printer to work or aol will shut down. There's lots of things that could happen then what will I do??????
thanks for the encouragement!!

CJ

 

[safetymom]

If right after you buy the tickets, the power would fail, your computer wouldn't work, you would lose your internet connection you could always call the airline and they could give you your record locator number. That is the information for your e-tickets. That would also be your receipt.

You could go to the airport if you wanted if all your systems failed after purchasing the ticket and you would be fine. They look up your name in the system and print out your boarding pass if you are flying that day. If you wanted a copy of your itinerary and receipt they could print it for you so that shouldn't be a concern.

Doing it your way by getting a paper ticket if anything should happen and you lose that ticket in the meantime it is a production to get it replaced not like the eticket.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by airhead
But I'm always worried something will malfunction and I won't get my printer to work or aol will shut down. There's lots of things that could happen then what will I do??????
thanks for the encouragement!!

CJ

LOL, that is something to worry about, BUT, they will send you an email confirmation or you can, with most airlines, request a snail mail confirmation. They don't charge you for this.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by safetymom
If right after you buy the tickets, the power would fail, your computer wouldn't work, you would lose your internet connection you could always call the airline and they could give you your record locator number. That is the information for your e-tickets. That would also be your receipt.

You could go to the airport if you wanted if all your systems failed after purchasing the ticket and you would be fine. They look up your name in the system and print out your boarding pass if you are flying that day. If you wanted a copy of your itinerary and receipt they could print it for you so that shouldn't be a concern.

Doing it your way by getting a paper ticket if anything should happen and you lose that ticket in the meantime it is a production to get it replaced not like the eticket.

Excellent points Safety MOM.

 

[airhead]

.....I'm buyin' online !!!!!!

 

[safetymom]

You will be fine. Please let us know how it went after you get your tickets.

 

[airhead]

....I have a ways to go before tickets for my dates are released!
I'm looking every day and when they are released I WILL buy online!!

thanks,
CJ

 

[safetymom]

You could be several days away if they release good rates at the 330 day mark.

 

[airhead]

That's tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That would be great!! Ok,so I buy online and I get a print out
that will be my ticket???

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by airhead
That's tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That would be great!! Ok,so I buy online and I get a print out
that will be my ticket???

Exactly!!!! Just make sure you read everything first. And...if they offer to send you an email confirmation in addition to the printing, request it.

 

[CarolA]

If you buy at the airport be prepared for LINE. The airlines have cut back dramatically on the number of live people behind the counter. (They like for you to use thier kiosks and check your OWN luggage!) Some airports won't sell tickets for future travel during high volume times (early morning, late evening).