Ever use Priceline for airline tickets?

[odc146]

We have a trip planned June 14-June 26, 2009. We fly from Northern CA. Tickets are so expensive from CA. I was thinking about trying priceline, even if I have to take a red eye or something. Has anyone ever used priceline? What type of prices did you name, and how were the flight times. Just looking for any input. Thanks

 

[Flashbaak]

My advice is to be careful. I did it once, and never again. When you put in your dates of departure and arrival, they can select flights for you any time that day.

What happened to me was, I put in that we wanted to arrive a certain day, and the flight it selected had us arriving close to midnight that night. Of course they don't give you the flight until you agree to everything, so by the time you see your flight times, it's too late to change. We were supposed to be flying in for a job interview on the date of arrival, so obviously arriving at midnight that night wasn't going to work. And trust me, they WILL NOT change it for you, not for an extra fee, not for anything. They do mention several times that you can't change the flight, and believe me, they are serious about that.

All that to say, if you're really really flexible, go for it.

aak

 

[mykidsand_i]

I have had some very wonderful deals and great luck with priceline, but I've also had some "not so great" experiances. As far as flights go- you can either expect to spend the entire day just traveling, you may have a long lay over, OR you may be rushed from one plane to your next connection.

I've used priceline for flights 4 times...three of the four have worked well for us. The one time that was bad, was only because of a long layover.

If you plan to use priceline, I'd add an extra day (or even two) to your trip- because with priceline, you may spend 1 entire day traveling there and one entire day traveling back home.

My best advise is, don't worry if you don't get an accepted offer, you have time at this point, so you aren't rushed to get the low price you want.

I just booked our next trip using priceline for our flights- I got a great price AND our flights are quite nice as far as time goes! We leave early- but we also get there before 1pm! That was just luck!

 

[LadyyRedd]

I did it once and won't again. Be prepared that you could possibly waste a whole day of travel on both ends of your trip because of flight times. That's what happened to me. They can pick any flight that DEPARTS from 6am - 10pm. They won't pick a red-eye unless you say it's ok. And you have to agree to a minimum of 1 connection if they choose.

NOw....if I could build in a travel day on each end of the trip, I Might do that.

Kimya

 

[mum of two pirates]

Both times we leave at 6am and dont get there tell 7 or 8 at night anyway.So maybe I will try priceline next time. Do they have to get you there in one day? and home in one day might not be to bad sence we are coming from geg anyway. Mum

 

[mlynn]

We have a trip planned June 14-June 26, 2009. We fly from Northern CA. Tickets are so expensive from CA. I was thinking about trying priceline, even if I have to take a red eye or something. Has anyone ever used priceline? What type of prices did you name, and how were the flight times. Just looking for any input. Thanks

I also say be carefull. A few years back all the women in my family (19of us)went to Keywest. Well I got my sister and me a great price through price line. Well my mom went on Price line after I told her the price I got. So she went on and got a flight that was so bad. She had to fly from Philly to Ohio change planes to Ft Lauderdale. It was on 2 different carriers and the flights were so close together that she almost missed her flight in Ohio. They lostall luggage(she was with my SIL and my godmother.) Her flight home was even WORSE!! So just watch what you book.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Both times we leave at 6am and dont get there tell 7 or 8 at night anyway.So maybe I will try priceline next time. Do they have to get you there in one day? and home in one day might not be to bad sence we are coming from geg anyway. Mum

Not necessarily. The window of flights is from 6am-10pm. Most likely, with Priceline, you are more likely to get the undesirable times because those are what are left.

Kimya

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We have a trip planned June 14-June 26, 2009. We fly from Northern CA. Tickets are so expensive from CA. I was thinking about trying priceline, even if I have to take a red eye or something. Has anyone ever used priceline? What type of prices did you name, and how were the flight times. Just looking for any input. Thanks

I use Priceline often for hotels but have never used it for flights. There are so many variables with flights that I have always felt like I would not get a good value with Priceline bidding. For hotels, I usually won't bid unless I feel like I can get at least a 50% discount off the best fully refundable price.

You have to assume that you would get the worst possible flight when bidding with Priceline. From CA to Orlando, that means you will leave in the morning (as early as 6 AM), make one stop with up to a 3 hour layover and arrive at MCO as late as 12:30 AM. On the return, assume you will depart as early as 6 AM and arrive at your home airport at 1PM or leave MCO at 1 PM and arrive at your home airport about 9 PM.

You have a lot of time before your June trip and I would continue to shop for the best price directly form the airlines until a couple of months before the trip. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[richmond282]

You don't have to name your own price on priceline. You can choose your flight times and things if you don't. My coworkers and I got a round trip flight from East TN to Chicago for $280 w/o naming our own price.

 

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

My advice is to be careful. I did it once, and never again. When you put in your dates of departure and arrival, they can select flights for you any time that day.

What happened to me was, I put in that we wanted to arrive a certain day, and the flight it selected had us arriving close to midnight that night. Of course they don't give you the flight until you agree to everything, so by the time you see your flight times, it's too late to change. We were supposed to be flying in for a job interview on the date of arrival, so obviously arriving at midnight that night wasn't going to work. And trust me, they WILL NOT change it for you, not for an extra fee, not for anything. They do mention several times that you can't change the flight, and believe me, they are serious about that.

All that to say, if you're really really flexible, go for it.

aak

I agree with the other posters about the flight times being at odd, undesirable times. We've used Priceline twice and both times the flight times were certainly less desirable, but if you factor in the price you've paid versus what the other airline passengers have (probably) paid, I'd say it's worth it.

As for not being able to change your flight, we had a different experience. We used Priceline in February '08 for a flight to Vegas and the flight home from Vegas departed at, like, 11am and we wanted to get on the one that departed at 11pm instead. The flight was through Delta. We called Delta directly to see if we could change the flight and they said that we could call up to 24 hours prior to the original flight time and they would allow us to change flights, provided there were seats available on our desired flight. We were charged $50 per person to do this, however. You'd have to factor that in when considering whether or not to use Priceline.

Good luck whatever you choose. You've got some time to think about it so maybe just wait it out and see if the flight prices get better as you get closer to your travel dates?