Life Finding the Best Airfare

CaliforniaChief · 06-12-2012, 06:50 PM

Hey all, let me start with the obligatory sorry if repost comment...

And tap into the collective wisdom of CP.

I'm looking to take the family to Minnesota for a couple weeks in July. We've done this trip before, but things are a little tighter for us financially than in years past...so I'm trying to find the best fare.

A couple of things:
1. I've independently checked Southwest and Air Tran.
2. I've used the flexible date searches on the search engines.
3. I've generally found the price to be about $350-$380/ticket.

Do you guys think I can do better? I like Hotwire because it gives you the after-tax, take home fare.

Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

**DaFace** · 06-13-2012, 08:28 AM

You probably won't do much better than the approach you're using these days. Have you looked on Bing to see if they're predicting the price will change in the future?

Fritz88 · 06-13-2012, 08:39 AM

It will be tough.

Try priceline.com
Try the customized search in TripAdvisor.com where you set a price and ask it to notify you if it gets there. However, this approach is better with plans that are a couple of months away.
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**Rain Man** · 06-13-2012, 08:39 AM

That's pretty much it, I think. You could try other sites like kayak or whatever, but they're pretty much all the same.

Your other option is to gamble and wait a little to see if prices go down, but it's like betting red in roulette. You might win and you might lose.

**bevischief** · 06-13-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

That's pretty much it, I think. You could try other sites like kayak or whatever, but they're pretty much all the same.

Your other option is to gamble and wait a little to see if prices go down, but it's like betting red in roulette. You might win and you might lose.

Kayak searches everything for you.

scho63 · 06-13-2012, 06:55 PM

Today's airfares are both very high and very, very competitive; almost to the point where they seem like corner gas stations, all alike.

It is VERY rare to find a sudden low fare that doesn't take you to 11 stops.

A few keys to a good airfare; the longer the time to book the less the fare and more likelihood to get a deal; join as many clubs as reasonable like Spirit Air's $9 club. My friends have gotten many R/T to Florida for $9

Make sure you compare AFTER tax and fees and don't get fooled by someone missing all the extra charges, they add up quickly.

Whether it's Kayak, or Travelocity, or Compare.com, or Hotwire, they all grab the same feeds and you will rarely find something on one you can't find on another.

You just need to do a lot of research and if you gamble and wait, you will likely pay more

**Saulbadguy** · 06-13-2012, 08:35 PM

Sign up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. Have your wife sign up too. Free flights as far as the eye can see.

06-12-2012, 06:50 PM
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12282899	Finding the Best Airfare Hey all, let me start with the obligatory sorry if repost comment... And tap into the collective wisdom of CP. I'm looking to take the family to Minnesota for a couple weeks in July. We've done this trip before, but things are a little tighter for us financially than in years past...so I'm trying to find the best fare. A couple of things: 1. I've independently checked Southwest and Air Tran. 2. I've used the flexible date searches on the search engines. 3. I've generally found the price to be about $350-$380/ticket. Do you guys think I can do better? I like Hotwire because it gives you the after-tax, take home fare. Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Posts: 17,329

06-13-2012, 08:28 AM	#2
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1646899	You probably won't do much better than the approach you're using these days. Have you looked on Bing to see if they're predicting the price will change in the future?
Posts: 51,984

06-13-2012, 08:39 AM	#3
Fritz88 Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $8835943	It will be tough. Try priceline.com Try the customized search in TripAdvisor.com where you set a price and ask it to notify you if it gets there. However, this approach is better with plans that are a couple of months away. Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 12,706

06-13-2012, 08:39 AM	#4
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2938491 VARSITY	That's pretty much it, I think. You could try other sites like kayak or whatever, but they're pretty much all the same. Your other option is to gamble and wait a little to see if prices go down, but it's like betting red in roulette. You might win and you might lose. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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06-13-2012, 06:55 PM	#6
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $2391110	Today's airfares are both very high and very, very competitive; almost to the point where they seem like corner gas stations, all alike. It is VERY rare to find a sudden low fare that doesn't take you to 11 stops. A few keys to a good airfare; the longer the time to book the less the fare and more likelihood to get a deal; join as many clubs as reasonable like Spirit Air's $9 club. My friends have gotten many R/T to Florida for $9 Make sure you compare AFTER tax and fees and don't get fooled by someone missing all the extra charges, they add up quickly. Whether it's Kayak, or Travelocity, or Compare.com, or Hotwire, they all grab the same feeds and you will rarely find something on one you can't find on another. You just need to do a lot of research and if you gamble and wait, you will likely pay more __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
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06-13-2012, 08:35 PM	#7
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2266966	Sign up for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. Have your wife sign up too. Free flights as far as the eye can see. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
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