Is anyone else frustrated with airfare$$?

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by lawgs
gail ....

you must have been one of the lucky rapid rewards members to get one of those discount codes...

sure wish we were one of those "lucky" members...wonder how we can get in on being "supplied" a promotion code

was it in a letter or the rapid rewards newsletter???

It was in a special promo sent to, are you ready for this, select RR members. Saved us about 40.00 RT for Two.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

That I'm aware of, RR members don't get special promo rates. The RR program is all about earning points towards a flight voucher. Each leg of a trip (not counting flt transfers) earns 1 point. If you book online, those points are doubled. 16 points earn you a free flight anywhere SW travels with very few blackout dates. So you could potentially earn a free flight voucher after booking (and completing) 4 online r/t flights.

Actually, from time to time, they do send out promo codes.
Look on the reservation screen and there is a box for you to insert the code.

I did not post the code as it is against the rules of this board to post codes that not everyone can use.

 

[VickiVM]

Cool...wasn't aware of RR codes!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Cool...wasn't aware of RR codes!

I saw the box there, but, often wondered how you got the code, now I know.

 

[CarolA]

Gail, you got a great fare. I think for that fare I would just plan a trip to Disney (I have done that before!)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

LOL, Carol, I know what you mean, the thought did cross my mind.
Yes, it is a great fare and I was very lucky.

 

[drise]

Hi,
I just booked USair for 6/8 - 6/13. It was $168.00 on the internet for 1 ticket but jumped to $220 when I put in for 3 tickets. So I called and their phone line said due to high volume if you book on the internet at www.usairways.com/discount you would get 5% off. I did this and plugged in the same flights and again for 3 tickets and it came up $161.00 (the original $168 fare and 5%off) It seems like you have to keep playing around with it.

 

[shelly3girls]

We were looking for a flight for last Dec. Philly to MCO. We started checking prices in June and continued until Sept. Not once did the airfare go below $300 for our dates (I only wanted prime times and non-stop with two toddlers) by Sept it was over $450. We eventually decided to fly out of Atlantic City. Not only did we pay $160 but parking was really cheap and the flights were great 7am there and around 6pm back. I highly recommend AC if your rates are too high, it is a reasonable distance from Philly and I received a discount for ordering tickets online from Spirit Airlines.

 

[puffkin]

Does anyone know how to check on how full the flights are? For instance, on USAirways website, once I select a flight, do I go through to the part where you actually select your seats to see how many seats are left. Can I cancel the transaction from this screen? I don't want to get to this point and not be able to cancel the transaction.

thanks for all the help!

 

[dturner]

I too am frustrated over airfare. I'm in Dallas and the lowest fare to Orlando the last several months is 250.00/roundtrip/person, last year I bought tickets in late July for our September trip and got 137.00/roundtrip/person, yup, 137.00 roundtrip on Delta, was hoping for the same this year. Maybe in the next couple of months, if people are not flying, the airlines will lower airfare again. Let's just all hope and pray that the airlines will lower airfare soon. You'd think if airfare were lower, more people would fly thus the airlines would make more not less money. I know if the airfares don't come down I'll consider driving (18 hours, yuk).

Those of ya'll that can fly Southwest to Orlando are lucky. Since Dallas is the hub for Southwest they don't fly direct to Orlando from Dallas, in fact the only direct flights on Southwest are in state only!! I hate that since Southwest now has the "friends fly free to Disney World" promotion going on.

 

[CarolA]

May I suggest you contact you Senator and US Rep. The reason SW cannot fly from DFW to Orlando is the Wright Amendment and SW has tried to get it repealed, but AA makes more polictical donations!

 

[dturner]

QUOTE:
[May I suggest you contact you Senator and US Rep. The reason SW cannot fly from DFW to Orlando is the Wright Amendment and SW has tried to get it repealed, but AA makes more polictical donations!]

Don't think I (personally) can do anything about it but if there are enough Disney lovers in Texas who want to fly Southwest to Orlando then maybe we have a chance. Texans for flying Southwest to Orlando non-stop come together now and let's help get this Wright Amendment repealed!!!!

 

[CarolA]

Well every phone call and/or letter at your local policitian's office. And doing nothing pretty much assures the status quo. My theory is at least I tried.

 

[n2mm]

Airtran has a new sale listed this morning in the Washington Post. Pretty cheap non-stop out of BWI. I do find that often when one airline has a sale, others will follow. Not sure of your dates. I have noticed a pattern that sales often start late Tuesday/Wednesday. Good luck. Got my May tickets for $176 rt, non-stop, all fees included out of Dulles to MCO, just last week and I leave in 10 days. I usually don't wait that late, just happened like that. Now watching for our July fares.

 

[Sammy]

Arrrghhh!!! I checked Southwest yesterday and could have gotten $74 each way (before taxes/fees) nonstop from Manchester, NH to Orlando.....had to check on a few things and when I went back to book the flights, THEY WERE GONE!! I am so frustrated with trying to play the airfare game! (ok...venting is officially over!)

Sammy

 

[Aisling]

Keep checking daily, twice daily. From what 've seen from watching fares for the last 4 years is that they always go down. But it might be just for a day or even a couple of hours. But the fares do drop. Good luck!

 

[lawgs]

sammy...

right now they are having "technical difficulties" at Southwest's web site....

but check back later this afternoon...


some of their internet one way fares start out at 39$ and 44$ depending on the day of travel....do not know if that is system wide of just some markets ...

here is the paste from their email today


Fly anywhere Southwest Airlines flies*, Tuesday, Wednesday, or
Saturday for $39 to $99 one-way with a 14-day advance purchase!

*Available only on southwest.com.
*14-day advance purchase required.
*Fares shown are one-way and do not include federal
excise tax of $3.00 for each flight segment.
(a segment is defined as a takeoff and landing)
*Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility
charges (PFC) of up to $9 and government-imposed September 11th
Security Fee of up to $5 one-way.
*Purchase through May 1, 2003, midnight Pacific Time.
*Travel May 13 through September 8, 2003, except May 23, 26,
and July 3, 6, 2003.
*$39 to $99 one-way for travel Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
*$44 to $129 one-way for travel on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and
Sunday.
*Available on published, scheduled service.
*Orange County, CA and Houston Bush Intercontinental, TX are not
included in this sale.

 

[puffkin]

Tried the AirTran sale out of PHL. Best I could do for my dates was $178 roundtrip but the times were awful. Leaving late afternoon and returning early AM. Keeping my fingers crossed that USAirways will follow suit soon and discount as well. I don't mind paying a little more for my desired times, but the cheapest I can do now is $272.50. I am keeping my fingers crossed though!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Can someone tell me how it would work if the SWA rates dropped from the price that's I've already paid for my Aug/Sept dates? Can I get a refund and rebook or ??? Thanks!

 

[mareed]

Luckymommyx2,

If the airfare has gone down with Southwest, and you booked online, you can cancel your existing reservation, rebook at the lower price using the funds available from your original reservation, and then the extra will be held under the original reservation number for future use. The funds will be good for a year from the time you first booked the ticket. Hope this answers your question. I've done this many times, and I'll actually have two browser windows open when I do it and cancel in one and book using the funds in the other one. I believe their site issues a caution that the funds from a canceled reservation may not be available immediately, but I've always been able to use them right away. I fly Southwest frequently, and their easy rebooking and low prices certainly keeps me as a customer!