NEED cheap airline tickets FAST!

[natenapril]

I am having the worst luck finding airline tickets from Raleigh NC to Detroit Michigan.She will need them for this weekend and I need a good website to help her find them.
My Dad found out on Monday he needs to start Chemo treatments again on this coming Monday. He will need them 1 week for the next 6 months. He wanted to get away this weekend before stating treatments and wants to come visit us. We just got stationed here and he wants to go to the FORD museum and now my sister wants to surprise him an come visit too! But I can't find any good deals! And I really want to make it a good weekend for him.

So please give me your best websites and tricks to score last minute airline tickets for 2 (My sister and niece will both need tickets but my nephew is only 10 months and will be a lap baby). THANK YOU in advance! I really want to make this a great weekend. Although now I have to super clean my house

 

[dzorn]

You can try Kayak but last minute tickets are not usually cheap.

Denise in MI

 

[natenapril]

You can try Kayak but last minute tickets are not usually cheap.

Denise in MI

I know so that stinks. I think I have tried every "common" website and just can't think or find on google any other good ones! Ugh. I really wanted this to happen but everyone has a budget! Thanks!

 

[ancestry]

Last minute tickets are not inexpensive. To get anything near a reasonable price usually the tickets need to be bought at least 14 days in advance and sometimes over 30 days.

If you are going to buy the tickets no matter what I would give in and purchase the best price that you can find.

Also, don't be fooled by many of the third party sites. If you buy the tickets be sure to buy them from a very reputable seller or preferably directly from the airline.

I've heard horror stories about people using some underhanded 3rd party discount sellers.

 

[Mkebound]

Kayak.com will compare prices for all available websites.

Hotwire.com will sell tickets at a discount, but you have to accept a day long window (you don't know when your flight will be) and you don't know who your flight will be on.

Priceline.com still sells ticket on a "name-your-price" system, but you don't know if you'll even get the tickets, who they will be on, or what time of day they will be.

Good luck

 

[natenapril]

Last minute tickets are not inexpensive. To get anything near a reasonable price usually the tickets need to be bought at least 14 days in advance and sometimes over 30 days.

If you are going to buy the tickets no matter what I would give in and purchase the best price that you can find.

Also, don't be fooled by many of the third party sites. If you buy the tickets be sure to buy them from a very reputable seller or preferably directly from the airline.

I've heard horror stories about people using some underhanded 3rd party discount sellers.[/QUOTE/]

I didn't know it would be this expensive though! Holy cow! It's about 350 per person Thanks for the advice on third parties!

Kayak.com will compare prices for all available websites.

Hotwire.com will sell tickets at a discount, but you have to accept a day long window (you don't know when your flight will be) and you don't know who your flight will be on.

Priceline.com still sells ticket on a "name-your-price" system, but you don't know if you'll even get the tickets, who they will be on, or what time of day they will be.

Good luck

I am going to have her try the priceline and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[Mkebound]

It would be helpful to know what you consider a "cheap" ticket to be, and what you window of dates are.

I see a ticket from FAY to DTW leaving Saturday 7/16 and returning next week Tuesday 7/19 for $331 on USAir

I'd consider this a pretty good fare for one a few days notice.

 

[Diegosmom]

If she doesnt care what time she travels you could try priceline. I think they can go 12 hours before your time and 12 hours after (although I am not sure so make sure you check the policy). I used it once years ago and we got a great price but not so great times...

 

[dzorn]

It would be helpful to know what you consider a "cheap" ticket to be, and what you window of dates are.

I see a ticket from FAY to DTW leaving Saturday 7/16 and returning next week Tuesday 7/19 for $331 on USAir

I'd consider this a pretty good fare for one a few days notice.

Yep I don't think you will find it much cheaper than that.

Denise in MI

 

[kellydizfan]

Try Travelzoo.com also.

 

[SaraJayne]

$350 on a few days notice is a GREAT deal. The further out you buy tickets, the cheaper they will be (generally, there are exceptions).

 

[SandrA9810]

Buy directly from an airline, if the price changes, you can get an adjustment. I've seen flights on Southwest go down to a $100 on day before, with prices previously high as $330.

You could also look into standby policy for flights. Although with a 10 year old that might be harder (since she couldn't fly by herself). I'd try it with an airline that has several flights between those destinations.

At $700 for two people, it'd make more sense for a long hard drive for the weekend. It can be done in a day if need be, but I guess it takes a certain kind of person to be able to do a 12-14hr drive in one day.

 

[FoodLover]

Since they are going over a weekend, be sure to check "Last Minute Packages" on Travelocity. These are weekend getaways that will include either a hotel room or a rental car BUT sometimes the airfare is so much cheaper that you can just "throw away" the hotel or car if you don't need it, and still come out ahead.

To find these, go to Travelocity.com and down at the bottom of the page, find the link for Last Minute Packages. This will open a window in the middle of the page where you can search.

Better yet, try http://us.lastminute.com which I believe is operated by Travelocity and sells the same last-minute packages, but is a little easier to navigate.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[nicki.momof3]

use bookingbuddy.com

it has great deals

 

[ancestry]

$350 per person on a few days notice is a great deal! I wash thinking they were going to be $600-$800 dollars. I would grab them for $350!