Best Airfares

JohnT · Veteran Member

Best Airfares

Michele Erdvig · Host

John,

Scroll down the forum's first page and look at the subjects "Orbitz or CheapOAir?" And "Airfare Prices". It is a game of luck getting a good airfare. You have to keep at it, check frequently and sign up for airline newsletters. Hope you find a fare that suits you. I really wish I had a crystal ball that would let me give better advice.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Are you looking at flying out of Dulles John? I would book at $725 quick. I'm looking and waiting at the Dulles to Dublin direct flight for next June.

-- Edited by Roy on Saturday 10th of December 2011 12:19:01 PM

JohnT · Veteran Member

I want to fly out of Norfolk, Va.

Jodi · Member

I have been tracking flights out of Norfolk, VA since May 2011. I booked our flight for about $820 each in the middle of July for a end of May 2012 to the beginning of June trip to Dublin, Ireland. I have since tracked it almost every day to figure out when is the best time to book the same flight. (From Norfolk, Newport News and Richmond to Dublin and Shannon) From my research the price drop was about 2 weeks before the 6 month date of the flight which was Mid October to November that had a $75 cheaper flight then what we bought in July. This price drop only lasted 3 days, then the prices went back up to over $1000. We booked on Orbits for a Delta Flight due to being a Delta Frequesnt Flyer Memeber, we will have tickets in hand, we choose our seats at time of booking and the ability of signing up to be notified of any flight changes. We booked thru Aer Lingus the first time we wnt to Ireland and there were several reasons we did not rebook thru Aer Lingus. One was because you can not check in one time. They use Jet Blue as a first flight then Aer Lingus as the 2nd. They do not give you any tickets you have to check in at the airports and they you receive crappy seats. ( They changed our flights to a 6 am flight and NEVER told us. The day before we left I checked on the flights as everyone should so they can verify the flight information is correct and needless to say we were up for 3 Days straight, the day I called @ 7pm, the 2nd day trying to make connecting flights due to 6am flight and upset due to we had NO TICKETS or ASSIGNED seats in hand with all the changes and 3rd day in Ireland as we did not want to miss a minute. We got stuck sitting outside the toilet smelling it for 4 + hours. NOT FUN. Cost a little more but on Delta we have first row seats on all of our Delta flights. Good Luck and I hope this helps.

-- Edited by Jodi on Sunday 8th of January 2012 01:49:37 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jodi,

You really do your homework. Thanks for sharing your strategy for booking flights and seats. I hate sitting by the toilets too!

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

After seeing prices in the $1200-1400 dollar range for flights from Florida (JAX, MCO and TPA), I tried switching from my desk top and fired up my laptop and using flexible dates, scored two tickets GNV to DUB, via ATL, for $935 each for my April trip. biggrin biggrin

Interestingly, a Monday departure and a Sunday return netted the least expensive prices -- which seems counter-intuitive to MOST common recommendations --- !?!? confuse confuse

I also used up 50,000 Delta SkyMiles to drop my Out-Of-Pocket price to under $1200 for TWO. Won't earn any miles for the flights, but ...

Bob

Jodi · Member

Great job..

We are flying out of Norfolk to Dublin on Thursday and flying back 11 days later on Monday. I don't have that many Delta miles yet, but hopefully soon. :)

Jodi

Roy · Guru

Did you book through delta.com Bob?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I did, Roy -- After Kayak showed me the way ... biggrin biggrin biggrin

Seriously, though, I think it was switching computers (and therefor Freeing myself from "COOKIES") that actually brought those cheaper fares to light.

Jodi -- I've been a Delta 'Mostly Regular' since the mid-80's. We've flown once for free (Into AMS -- Out of DUB) and got one free ticket to/from Hawaii (for my son) in all that time, but I've been SO frustrated by my trip last June, that I've made it a point to "use up" as many of my Miles as possible.

Saving some $$$$ is a plus, as well, as our upcoming, two-week trip in April is to attend a wedding and will hopefully be complemented by a 2-4 week Second visit, in late-September / Early-October -- to commemorate my 60th B-day AND my Retirement! biggrin biggrin biggrin

Hoping that event will 'Free Me Up' to utilize Alternate routings and airlines, for future travels!

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Monday 9th of January 2012 10:37:51 PM

Roy · Guru

Bob- I use several different computers, and clean cookies also. I'm a little ahead of the booking curb for a June trip, but it's a stressor I want to get behind me. Congratulations on your retirement!

Roy · Guru

Booked flight from Dulles to Shannon from my work computer this morning for trip second half of June at $791 a ticket. Last year I paid $776 so that was my benchmark. Prices were staying at $1153 so I went with my gut. Last year my gut worked as rates steadily increased after I booked. Hopefully I will not look again at rates this year! Major stressor behind me. Now on to car rentals!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

Congrats on getting your airfares! Now on to another stressor. But I think you know your way around that one by now.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Yes, I'm not too concerned about the car rental. With eighteen nights to plan, this will allow a balance of time with my wife's family, friends, and time for ourselves.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sounds good.