Got any great tips for buying cheap air?

[Miscrapper]

We still need to buy air tickets for our trip in October. Cheapest I can find is around $260.00 and that's for a not so great flight. I cannot figure out how they price this stuff either. I can fly form Grand Rapids and sit in the Detroit airport for 2 1/2 hours for $260.00 before flying to Orlando, but if I want to fly direct from DTW (because I can drive there in 2 1/2 hrs) it would cost me $313. That seems crazy!

Also we may change our trip until November and I actually got a better quote for a trip right before Thanksgiving coming home Thanksgiving day than the prices I am getting in October.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Miscrapper
We still need to buy air tickets for our trip in October. Cheapest I can find is around $260.00 and that's for a not so great flight. I cannot figure out how they price this stuff either. I can fly form Grand Rapids and sit in the Detroit airport for 2 1/2 hours for $260.00 before flying to Orlando, but if I want to fly direct from DTW (because I can drive there in 2 1/2 hrs) it would cost me $313. That seems crazy!

Also we may change our trip until November and I actually got a better quote for a trip right before Thanksgiving coming home Thanksgiving day than the prices I am getting in October.

Pricing is based on market demand.
The best way to find reasonable fares is to check Travelocity, Orbitz and each airline's website. Some airlines do not post their fares on Travelocity, SWA comes to mind on this one. I don't think Airtran does either.

 

[caitycaity]

airtran is on orbitz. thats where i first heard of them.

 

[Poorman]

Great air site.


http://www.itasoftware.com/?

 

[milmore104]

I look at all the airline sites and then I try expedia, orbitz, travelocity. Try Travelocity I found some great prices on this site for flights to Orlando. Also you might want to try looking at a flight to the nearest "hub" city and then form there to Orlando. You might get a better flight! Also if your dates are not set try playing around with the dates. You might find a better rate just a day away. And one last thing try Jet Blue. They have some great fares to Orlando.

 

[erikthewise]

By all means check the sites others have suggested. My guess is that you're not likely to see much in the way of price decreases for October. Have you checked out prices from Toledo? Are you willing to drive to Chicago or Indianapolis, possibly staying over the night before? That could help a lot on the pricing. We're from Dayton and are staying overnight in Indy to get a great price, though it's only a 2+-hour drive for us. Postponing until November may also help.

Are you flying by yourself or taking a family? If it's just yourself, maybe you can afford to gamble and wait for a price drop. With a family, you don't want to find yourself facing $400 tickets if you wait too long, so I'd try to grab the best available deal pretty soon.

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

I use the keyword fare watcher on aol. fare watcher is run by travelocity. It lets you pick up to 5 airports. You simply fill out your preferences and how much you are willing to spend if the cost of airfare becomes equal to or below the price you are willing to pay the website sends you an email informing you of the fact. If this happens check when the cheap flights are available then go to the regular website and check there for the same times. Often but not always the rates will be about 5 dollars cheaper. This is how I find the cheapest available price. I hope this helps you.

 

[Twizzle]

I work for an airline and I would like to tell you about the many probles people have with these companies.

Once you have made your res. and give them you credit card inf. they sent you tickets or a paper stating all your flight info. Then when you arrive at the airport to check in and the agent tells you that there is a problem with your res. and that you have to buy new tickets in order to go on the fligh. This is when you get mad at the agent because it seems to be the fault of the airline because we (the airline) let these companies sell tickets.

What the real problem is, is that when you make res. your payment is made to that companie and then in return the should send that payment to the airline. 9 time out of ten this does not happen.

So please go the the web sites of the airlines, most of the will have syber specials.

 

[madge]

Originally posted by Twizzle
.

What the real problem is, is that when you make res. your payment is made to that companie and then in return the should send that payment to the airline. 9 time out of ten this does not happen.

So please go the the web sites of the airlines, most of the will have syber specials.

just a quick thought on this--I have used Orbitz and Expedia without a problem. My brother works for Continental airlines and encourages me to check Orbitz.

As far as the OP is concerned--check www.sidestep.com some of the airlines that don't participate with travelocity often show up there good luck!