Who has used Priceline for airfare?

[ryan840]

Do you recommend it? Airfare is getting painfully high so I figured why not give it a shot, but is there anything I need to know? I can deal with not choosing my flight times for the right price, is that all I need to worry about? Thanks!

ETA- I'll also be bringing a lap child in addition to my purchased tickets, any problems/special instructions for that?

 

[basketrn]

Been woundering the same???

 

[CarolA]

I suggest you go over to www.biddingfortravel.com and read the boards on flights from your area.

I am not sure about the lap child, but I think there is a risk that you won't be seated near the rest of your party. I think that you don't get seating assigned by PL when you book!

From PL.com

According to airline policy, an infant is a person under 24 months of age (at the time of both the departure and return flights). If you're planning to bring an infant on your next trip, here are some things to keep in mind:


Flights within the U.S. and U.S. Territories:
If your infant is going to sit on your lap, you are not required to purchase a ticket for him/her. Keep in mind that the airlines will only allow one lap infant per adult traveler (age 18 and above) so you'll need to buy a ticket for each infant exceeding the number of adult travelers.

If you do not want your child to sit on your lap, you will need to purchase a separate ticket, and you will be required to seat the infant in an infant car seat during the flight. You are responsible for providing the infant car seat.

If your child will be under 24 months of age when you depart, but will be over 24 months of age by the time you return, you must purchase a ticket for him/her.

 

[salmoneous]

I've know a number of people with horror stories about getting tickets through priceline. Usually, the problem were flights that left much earlier or later than the person wanted, or took forever due to multiple transfers. Now, I've also heard that priceline has put in place ways to avoid many of these problems. So, my advice is not so much to avoid priceline, but to *extensively* read all the rules before you bid.

Note - I've heard almost universally good things about priceline for hotels and rental cars - it's the flights where people I know have had problems.

 

[NHLFAN]

We have used PL a few times for airfare to MCO and here is a few things that come to mind.

1) If PL is only going to save us around $50 pp then I'd rather pay the difference and be able to choice my airlines, flight times and stops.

2) You can't earn FF miles with PL.

3) No changes to the tickets bought through PL.

4) PLan on getting the latest flight into MCO and the earliest flight out..how does a 6 am return flight sound ? (happened with us twice).

Now if we can save $75 pp or more and don't mind the things listed above then we go for it.

hope that helps a little.



,

 

[NotUrsula]

Be prepared for the possibility that you may (and probably will) lose 2 days of the trip, so assume that your travel days will be just that; travel days, and not part of your downtime in any way. Also figure in what those 2 extra hotel nights may cost you.

Example scenario: You want to be at WDW for 5 days. The flights you get arrive at MCO at 11 pm, and depart from MCO at 6 am, with a connection with a 3-hr. layover in each direction. Therefore, you'll need to take 7 days off to get your 5 day vacation.

 

[ryan840]

Thanks for the tips everyone, I think I'll look elsewhere for my flights.