*flails* Priceline? Hotwire? Help?!

[annearchy]

Well, I didn't manage to purchase my plane tickets last night and now I'm feeling really anxious about it. I really do NOT want to spend $400 (or more) for tickets to New Orleans, which is sort of what the current prices are like, unless I want to fly at 6:30 a.m. on April 4 and/or 7. I want to be gone only from Friday 4/4 through Monday 4/7. The

Comments

[zorb]

Unless directed to use a special deal or something, I always use Hotwire or Travelocity to buy tickets now. It's just easier than going through each airline individually to compare them. It gives you lots of options and usually the best price you're going to find - for example, my round trip to Austin was $256.

[annearchy]

Have you ever used Hotwire's "name your price" feature? That's what I'm most concerned with - that I name a price and they give me the worst possible times, like a 6:30 a.m. flight departure on Friday and an 11:30 p.m. arrival on Monday.

[zorb]

Nope, never used that feature. I just take what they'll give me.

[inspired_ideas]

I suggest trying to avoid Atlanta unless you have a long lay over. I've never had good luck with connecting flights with less than a hour window through there.

DFW used to be a breeze, of course considering how much time I spent bouncing back and forth between Chicago O'Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth, it could be familiarity which made it easy. I will say I've never missed a connection at DFW although I have experienced take off delays both there and at O'Hare.

I've only been through Charlotte once and stayed on the plane while it made a stop prior to heading on to Raliegh-Durham and Norfolk. I'm not sure what the airport is like.

[smilie117]

I second the suggestion about avoiding Atlanta unless you have a bit of time - I've not had issues as I've had the time between layovers but usually though from what I know and from what I heard from others, you end up running from one end to the other and sometimes in a different terminal and it's awful when a flight arrivs late and more of a crunch time.

[annearchy]

I've been to both Charlotte and DFW airports and I like both of them better than Hartsfield (ATL). Gah.

[smilie117]

I've usually booked directly with the airline as usually would save about $5 in handling charges so I have no opinion about hotwire/priceline/expedia. Though I do use kayak.com for my searching needs to see what's out there.

I suppose it depends on how much of a hassle you want to deal with verses the cost =/ I mean layover in one airport isn't bad but ugh to more than one. *squishes you*

[kaskait]

I've used Priceline and it's whole bid on a price. I've gotten some very good deals from them. But they have strict restrictions on their tickets and you will be charged right away when your price is accepted. So far, I've never had a problem.

[annearchy]

Have they given you decent flight times or just horrible ones? That's my main worry. And yes, I know they bill your credit card right away, but so do Expedia etc. I've used Hotels.com in the past for hotels and they don't bill your card until you actually check in, but I know it's different for airfare.

[kaskait]

Usually I received decent flight schedules. But it does depend on which plane the airlines need to fill. So, yes, there is a chance you could received a crazy flight time or connection route.

[miriellegrey]

eek. I've always just flown Southwest (yes,I read yesterdays news, more eek!). If I'm travelling alone, I am usually ambivalent about hassle and would rather save the money, but then I am usually so pressed for time that I spend more money just so I can get where I need to be faster. Does that make sense? Doesn't to me either, but it's just my life right now. I'm no one important but still, "gotta get there!"

[annearchy]

All of that made sense:) Was the Southwest news something about safety?

[miriellegrey]

Oh, yeah. Seems the airline that I've entrusted myself and my family too is getting spanked on safety issues, they had to ground a whole bunch of planes and everything. :-O

EEEEP

[annearchy]

Okay, so maybe I won't drive or take a bus to Midway Airport (south side of Chicago) so I can fly cheaper to New Orleans.