Soooo Depressed

[GrammieMame]

I was fooling around in the internet yesterday and Orbitz had a round-trip Denver to Orlando flight, Easter week, for $138 to $190. Since I fly my daughter and 2 grandchildren, I was overjoyed, but decided to wait and call my daughter last night to check times. When I got back on Orbitz this morning to book, the fares had just flat disappeared. Couldn't believe my eyes. Now I'm back to $450 - $500 x 3. Just looking for a little sympathy. How often do you check for fares? Since it's Easter week, I wonder if I should book now or wait and see what happens with prices.

 

[safetymom]

When you see those fares again you should buy them. Some of the real good fares don't last long, sometimes only hours. If they are low for a week that you know will be busy why chance it. If they go down even more, you could ask for a voucher for the difference you paid.

Also be sure to get seat assignments, those without assignments are the first to get bumped.

 

[safetymom]

P.S.- I usually check several times a day when I am trying to get a good air fare. I figure it is worth my time to do this.

 

[SeaSpray]

If I buy plane tickets online, from orbitz.com, will they give me seat assignments??? Thanks in advance, booking plane tickets online is all new to me!

 

[safetymom]

I am not familiar with Orbitz but most of the others do. If you get your eticket and you don't have a seat assignment you can always call the airlines. They do hold seats back for assignment at the airport but you are always better to have them ahead of time.

 

[Ms. Diz]

What a disappointment Grammie. When I saw $125 roundtrip for our airfare I grabbed it. Then a couple days later some friends wanted to fly down, but by then it was gone. Good luck!

 

[hercamore]

Keep checking, there has be lower fares than $400 pp. from your area. It's not that far to Florida, we leave in Mn. and fares are cheaper than that.

 

[apagano]

Easter 2002 is barely on the radar screens for the airlines right now. The fares will fluctuate many, many times between now and next spring. One thing that is important to remember is that the vast majority of people have no idea where they are going to be this Thanksgiving, much less next Easter. There is no need to worry about jumping on airfares so far in advance.

As for seat assignaments, most websites will give them to you on request, but you still have to check in at the gate.

 

[safetymom]

You should always try to get that seat assignment before you show up at the airport. That means you have a seat on the plane. The flyers without a seat assignment are usually the first to be bumped. If you buy your seats when the plane is close to full there may not be any seats to assign. Then you would need to get to the gate or counter early, they have some seats that they can assign at the airport. They are used to seat families together, etc. But don't show up at the last minute without a seat assignment and assume you have a seat on the plane.

You still need to check in at the counter or the gate with your seat assignment. You will then be issued a boarding pass.