Tips for Buying Airline Tickets.

[TimBone]

My bad if I'm creating a thread for something mundane, but I'm looking to get the best price on some tickets to California around thanksgiving.

So, which website/app does CP use to get the best deals on airline tickets?

Which days of the week are the cheapest as far as ticket prices are concerned?

Any other tips?

[Rain Man]

Don't be fooled by supposedly cheap tickets from Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. They lie. Their pricing on web sites doesn't include a ton of fees. And Frontier will just cancel your flight if they feel like the plane isn't full enough. Just say no to Frontier.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't be fooled by supposedly cheap tickets from Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. They lie. Their pricing on web sites doesn't include a ton of fees. And Frontier will just cancel your flight if they feel like the plane isn't full enough. Just so no to Frontier.

Don't know about Frontier, but for short trips Spirit is awesome. Anything you can fit into a book bag, you can fly ridiculously cheap. They just kick you in the nuts if you have bags.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't be fooled by supposedly cheap tickets from Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. They lie. Their pricing on web sites doesn't include a ton of fees. And Frontier will just cancel your flight if they feel like the plane isn't full enough. Just so no to Frontier.

Frontier used to be a nice carrier a number of years ago. Guess thats what happens when you go bankrupt and then hire a former Spirit exec to run the place.

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't be fooled by supposedly cheap tickets from Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. They lie. Their pricing on web sites doesn't include a ton of fees. And Frontier will just cancel your flight if they feel like the plane isn't full enough. Just say no to Frontier.

Is Frontier the one hubbed out of Denver, with all of the animal mascot planes? We flew with them once back in 2014, Houston to San Fran. We arrived for our layover in Denver and found out our connecting flight had a 3 hour delay. We looked at the rest of the board and noticed that nearly every other frontier flight was delayed, and literally no other airlines had any delays. I'd prefer to stay away from them.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Is Frontier the one hubbed out of Denver, with all of the animal mascot planes? We flew with them once back in 2014, Houston to San Fran. We arrived for our layover in Denver and found out our connecting flight had a 3 hour delay. We looked at the rest of the board and noticed that nearly every other frontier flight was delayed, and literally no other airlines had any delays. I'd prefer to stay away from them.

Yep, that’s the one. They were once a regional that tried to be a little nicer than the typical all coach setup. Went to shit about 10 or so years ago.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Don't be fooled by supposedly cheap tickets from Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines. They lie. Their pricing on web sites doesn't include a ton of fees. And Frontier will just cancel your flight if they feel like the plane isn't full enough. Just say no to Frontier.

This is what the good deal hogs want you to think.

Really makes u think

[EPodolak]

Once heard the ideal time to buy, on average, is 56 days before you fly. If I knew well in advance where I wanted to fly domestically, with little of canceling, I would pick Southwest. Wanna Get Away rates are hard to beat.

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by EPodolak

Once heard the ideal time to buy, on average, is 56 days before you fly. If I knew well in advance where I wanted to fly domestically, with little of canceling, I would pick Southwest. Wanna Get Away rates are hard to beat.

Yeah, we went to buy tonight, and the site my wife was using told us that ticket prices will go down if we wait a month or two. She signed up for tracking updates. So when they hit the predicted low, I guess we'll buy.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by EPodolak

Once heard the ideal time to buy, on average, is 56 days before you fly. If I knew well in advance where I wanted to fly domestically, with little of canceling, I would pick Southwest. Wanna Get Away rates are hard to beat.

x 2 ^^^^

I also have a friend who is an air traffic controller in Las Vegas and he says he will NEVER EVER fly Allegiant airlines. Says there are significant reasons why they are able to fly very cheaply and would not put himself or any family/friend on any of their planes haha.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by jdubya

x 2 ^^^^

I also have a friend who is an air traffic controller in Las Vegas and he says he will NEVER EVER fly Allegiant airlines. Says there are significant reasons why they are able to fly very cheaply and would not put himself or any family/friend on any of their planes haha.

Hmmm....I've flown Allegiant a time or two. They are pretty cheap but you have to go through a lot of hoops. What are the significant reasons? We did have an issue with the engine on our plane last year when we flew to Florida. To a few hours to fix it but we got there. They gave us $50 vouchers for that inconvenience.

[KCUnited]

Didn't see this until today (expires tomorrow), but Southwest will run these sales throughout the year and you can occasionally find some good deals. Depending on where and from you're flying of course.

https://www.southwest.com/html/promo...=SOCL_sf_01549

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Didn't see this until today (expires tomorrow), but Southwest will run these sales throughout the year and you can occasionally find some good deals. Depending on where and from you're flying of course.

https://www.southwest.com/html/promo...=SOCL_sf_01549

Thanks. It's looking like I can get three tickets for $1019 right now. That's about the best deal I've found. Anybody have Southwest horror stories? Any reason not to fly southwest?

We'd have to fly in to Oakland instead of San Fran, but that's not a huge deal.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Hmmm....I've flown Allegiant a time or two. They are pretty cheap but you have to go through a lot of hoops. What are the significant reasons? We did have an issue with the engine on our plane last year when we flew to Florida. To a few hours to fix it but we got there. They gave us $50 vouchers for that inconvenience.

This what does a air traffic controller know about maintenance routines and inspections? They have to follow all the same FFA airworthiness guidelines as the other carriers. Pilots go through same qualifications so whats your friends gripe? Do they not follow air controllers orders because thats the only thing I would know that a traffic controller would have the expertise in.

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by srvy

This what does a air traffic controller know about maintenance routines and inspections? They have to follow all the same FFA airworthiness guidelines as the other carriers. Pilots go through same qualifications so whats your friends gripe? Do they not follow air controllers orders because thats the only thing I would know that a traffic controller would have the expertise in.

An air traffic controller would know if they seem to have more emergencies than other airlines.