Ugh. Helping someone book a flight..

[disneysnowflake]

I was asked by a relative who doesn't have internet to get a flight for 4 people out of Pittsburgh to Orlando in mid October.

Most of the flights are $200 or more roundtrip.

I did find a Southwest Airlines flight at $158 round trip.

I let my relative know about this flight and she seemed upset with me because that was too much. I didn't think that was bad at all.

I checked airline websites, cheaptickets, orbitz and travelocity. The cheapest was southwest's website.

I'm not sure how she's going to get to WDW this October. She's already paid off her trip. She just needs to find a cheap way to get there. Maybe she can take a moped.

Do you think $158 rt is decent? I do, but maybe I see things differently.

 

[wee-haggis]

I was asked by a relative who doesn't have internet to get a flight for 4 people out of Pittsburgh to Orlando in mid October.

Most of the flights are $200 or more roundtrip.

I did find a Southwest Airlines flight at $158 round trip.

I let my relative know about this flight and she seemed upset with me because that was too much. I didn't think that was bad at all.

I checked airline websites, cheaptickets, orbitz and travelocity. The cheapest was southwest's website.

I'm not sure how she's going to get to WDW this October. She's already paid off her trip. She just needs to find a cheap way to get there. Maybe she can take a moped.

Do you think $158 rt is decent? I do, but maybe I see things differently.

I'm not sure what your relative is expecting from you (not your fault that its more expensive than she thought).As for the price,in this day and age its not that bad although I think you might be lucky to get a Ding that could substantially bring it down in price. Where we live,to get $158 one way ..is a deal

 

[disneysnowflake]

I know. I live over 4 hours away from a major airport. I can either drive 4+ hours to the airport, or I could drive 20 miles to a commuter airport. Right now commuter flights are starting at $302 roundtrip up to $450 for the best times depending on the day.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I have a question about Ding.

If I download Ding to my computer then would I have to do the transaction online right then, or can I call the person wanting tickets and she can call Southwest to book?

I've just never booked flights online for other people before, and I've never used Southwest.

 

[traci]

yes that is a good deal - atleast i think so...$79 one way...who can complain about that? i was happy we got tickets for $200 roundtrip (american)! right now southwest's best deal for us one way is $100. i am glad i want ahead and booked our rate when i did. now it's done and momma doesn't have to check daily on rates!!

 

[Gramto3]

disneysnowflake ~ We have flights booked out of State College mid October for $297 @ piece. Paid the higher price so we wouldn't need to drive 4 hrs. to Pittsburgh with 4 children plus pay to park.

Some people are never happy!

 

[Lewisc]

Anything under $200 is a good fare. Given the price of jet fuel I wouldn't think you'll be able to get anything under $158.

Unless it's a very close relative (parent or sibling) I'd politley tell them you don't think you'll be able to do any better than $158, that the fares are more likely to go up rather than down, and suggest they use the internet in the library so they can continue to look on their own.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Even though in the past we could get air..ALOT cheaper..times have changed. I am happy to find air around $200

Its not your fault, you don't set the rates.

 

[Ella's Mom]

I agree with you. $158 is a good fare. Like others have said, I'm happy if fares are $200 or lower. Does your relative fly very much? I'd suggest they book the SW fare really fast.

 

[NotUrsula]

If I download Ding to my computer then would I have to do the transaction online right then, or can I call the person wanting tickets and she can call Southwest to book?

Your relative will not be able to book a Ding! *or* a SWA internet sale fare by phone, the best fares are only available online. They can be booked from a computer that doesn't have Ding loaded, but only by linking from an email containing a link from the Ding pricelist screen. (BTW, if you are an RR member, your CC info would come up when a fare from that screen is purchased, so I only advise doing this when you REALLY trust the person, and if you are sure that the computer they use is very secure. I'll send them to my spouse at work, but that's the only time I do it.)

Forget trying to call her and ask if the fare is OK; by the time you do that it will be gone.

Here are my ironclad rules for buying tickets for others:

1) Have the person write down the names of all passengers as they appear on their ID's. If the names don't match exactly, they may not get past security with them.
2) Have the person write down their CC #, with expiration date and the card security code, and also their name as it appears on the card. You will give this back to them along with the purchase receipt, and of course, you will keep it in a safe place in the meantime, and make no copies of it. If they don't trust you with this info, you cannot do the transaction for them.
3) Have the person write down which airlines they will not fly, which times of day WON'T be do-able, and how many connections they are willing to accept.
4) Have the person write down the maximum price, including taxes, that they are willing to pay per seat. Do a sample itinerary in advance (go through just enough purchase steps on a phantom ticket) to determine what the percentage is on taxes, and also what the passenger facility fees are per ticket, so that is not a surprise when the purchase is made. This should be a drop-dead price. If they need for the tickets to be refundable, that should be in writing, too, and make it clear that MOST tickets are not refundable or changeable, and that even when changes are allowed, they normally carry a fee.

You are asking that it all be written down so that you can be sure to get it right, but the real reason is that if she doesn't like what you do, then you have recourse to the written paperwork.
Whatever the temptation, DO NOT PAY WITH YOUR OWN CC! If the person can only pay cash, get it up front before you buy the tickets. Otherwise you are setting yourself up for the possibility of a nasty family rift.

If she doesn't trust you with the CC info to buy for them, advise her that she can book online herself using a computer at the public library.

 

[Mousema]

We're flying out of Pit in Sep on Delta and are paying $197 (158 + taxes). So, looks good to me.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I recently found a website called farecompare.com that provides information about historical pricing of airfares. I haven't used it yet to guide any booking decision but it does seem to have some interesting info.

It rates the $158 rate for PIT-MCo to be 2 stars, which is close to the average historical low price. It also shows that prices in that market are very volatile, which means it is possible that you could wait and buy on a "dip" and save money.

It also showed a $98 round trip if your relative was willing to fly between Columbus and Tampa. Not sure if that is an option or even if that fare could really be booked.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[kda]

That fare sounds very bookable. I need tickets for November and would take that in a heart beat. I have seen a few Ding fares up to $40 lower RT than that, but October has been opened up for awhile, and there's no guarantee there will be a sale again. Ding fares are only available for a few hours, so it's easy to miss the window, if they even become available again. Weekend flights almost always sell out of the lower fares before weekday flights, so it depends on when she's travelling.

As others have said, Ding fares can only be booked through the Ding connection.

Just a suggestion ...... be sure she understands that SWA does NOT have assigned seating. That freaks some people right out. Good luck!!