Silly purchasing air ticket question

[mylilnikita]

Hi. I have never purchased airline tickets just by themselves before, only through package deals. When Southwest decides to announce the November rates-please let it be soon-anyway, I am going to buy the airplane tickets seperate as paying air through my Dream Maker package is too expensive and I dont want any lay overs during my flights. I am going to buy the tickets at ticket counter, can I use Visa check card, or if I use cash will they be suspicous? Help. Thanks.

 

[CarolA]

They will take anything, but the BEST rates usually are internet deals they you have to be online.

Yep, cash is one of the indicators so you might get searched. No big deal.

 

[safetymom]

If you use your Visa Check card it is considered a Visa purchase not cash. I have paid cash many times for my families tickets since 9/11 and it didn't create any extra searches.

 

[Chuck S]

Be aware that even though they advertise "deals" Southwest MAY no longer be the cheapest airline to fly from your city. I was pricing SAT to MCO for early next month - and was waiting for SWA to release the flights. Even with the "specials" tickets are over $300 per person using the least expensive promotional fare at their website. Delta is $260pp - add the cost of a rental car and we're driving instead of flying. Our airfare is usually in the $150 to $180 range. It is about a 20 hour drive from here, we stop one night on the road each way.

 

[mareed]

Another thing with Southwest is that you usually can only get the lowest fare by having time to wait for their weekly internet specials. They run special to certain cities each week on Tuesday through Thursday. If you have a couple of months to wait, they'll probably run the special to the cities you need, but if you don't have that much time ahead of your flight, you may end up paying more. I believe for the last couple of years, I've always been able to get flights from Houston, TX for just under $200 including all taxes and fees.

At times, they'll run special good all week long that are just as low-priced as their weekly internet specials, but not always.

Another thing I noticed when they extended their schedule out the last time, was that the prices were higher for about a month or so, and then they started running the special prices again. So, if the prices aren't what you're expecting right when they extend their schedule, you may want to wait a bit.

 

[ducklite]

Some Visa check cards have daily limits on them, and you might exceed it.

I could be wrong, but I think if you are purchasing the tickets in advance you can pay by check, provided that you have proper ID, etc. That would not trigger a search flag.

Anne

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

beware of using your check card. They secure double against your debit card and don't release your secure ment till your purchase has been completed. This happened to me when I bought my tickets from American Airlines. I had to talk my credit union into dropping the additional securement against my check card. It nearly got me in alot of trouble.
This is what I did the last time. I reserved it on the phone the operator puts a 24 hour hold on the reservation. Then I went to my local airport. Went to the AA counter and paid cash for my tickets. This effort only cost me 5 dollars more per ticket and i did not have to have a securement against my debit card.
I dont recommend having the counter people do anything more than taking your money though. Most of them don't have a clue.

 

[safetymom]

Kimberlyfamilyfv, they may do that with your debit card. I just used my Visa check card yesterday to purchase a ticket. All they took was the correct amount for the ticket.

I have used it many times for car rentals and to purchase tickets without a problem.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Same experience with my debit card as Safety Mom. It is about the only card I use.