Who wants to complain about airfare tickets?

[JustinyinVanCA]

Airline prices are ludicrous these days. They make vacations cost too much now. So I want to save some dough on lodging. There has to be a superior means to take vacations than with expedia or travelocity. Anyone willing to give any suggestions?

[SHANEA]

Oh, now you opened the tube of toothpaste and no way to get it back in the tube...

1.  DHS/TSA-seperate lines for the "one pass/high end customers".  I was at IAH last week.  Must have been 150+ plus standard tourists in line to clear security.  Took over an hour of standing to get through.  If you have the deep pocket frequent flyer miles, then there was not a single person in line and they had their own TSA officials just standing there with empty x-ray machines and metal scanners.  I'm being denied equal access to my government services.  Separate is never equal.  Especially since I'm being tagged with security fees on my ticket.

2.  Airplane rest rooms.  Packed flight.  12 seats in first class and one lavatory.  180 people at the back of the plane with two lavatories and forbidden to use the first class lavatory.  Had to stand in line down the isle to use the lav.  Fortunately I wear the NASA brand DEPENDS...   

3.  Let's see:  airplane fees.  - curbside checkin - $25.00 per bag.  First bag $15.00.  Second bag:  $25.00. non-liquor beverage $2.00, liquor/beer/whine $7.00.

4.  Increased ticket fairs, taxes, extra fees, booking fees, fees to change a seat online, fees to specificy a window or isle seat.

To me, it is the airlines own fault they are strapped.  1.  Ralph Nader and his group and others pleaded for years and years BEFORE 9/11 to install strong cockpit safety doors and have air marshals on all flights - the way the airline of Israel has. Noooooooo, cost toooo much money to put strong doors on the cockpit and have air marshals.  Airline top dogs have made wayyyyy toooo much $$$$$ over the years.  Fuel prices, airlines have had inefficient operations and planes.  Plus, they didn't get into the fuel hedging business like SWA did.  The big boys are still hooked on the "hub and spoke" concept which is not too efficient.     Next thing, they will want a government bailout.  Now the airlines want to tag the customer with fees - much like the telecom companies - do - equalization fee, that fee, this fee, etc.

I've gone through Expedia, Travelocity, travel agents, etc.  It's just as cheap and easy to book straight through the airline, as long as they don't charge a booking fee.

I was at the Continental gate in Philly last Saturday.  Talk about nasty.  That gate area was horrid.  Looked like the carpet hadn't been cleaned since Moses parted the Red Sea, etc. 

Someone told me airlines and airports are now disconnecting or locking down "stray" open electrical plugs so that they can charge to use electricity at the airport - to power your laptop and other toys with.   

I flew out of TYR and it was a JOY!  Like my own private airport.  Probably no more than 50 yards from the terminal did I have to park.  Something like $3.50 per day to park.  No lines at security, etc.  Clean and nice.
 

[jeffblaylock]

Airline prices are ludicrous these days. They make vacations cost too much now. So I want to save some dough on lodging. There has to be a superior means to take vacations than with expedia or travelocity. Anyone willing to give any suggestions?

Hotwire. Saved $100 a night on a hotel in San Fran next month versus Expedia. Just have to get over knowing which hotel you're booking until you pull the trigger.

[EdB]

Airline prices are ludicrous these days. They make vacations cost too much now. So I want to save some dough on lodging. There has to be a superior means to take vacations than with expedia or travelocity. Anyone willing to give any suggestions?

Hotwire. Saved $100 a night on a hotel in San Fran next month versus Expedia. Just have to get over knowing which hotel you're booking until you pull the trigger.

Or Priceline. Or just camp, that's usually kinda cheap.   

[chisos_muse]

Airline prices are ludicrous these days. They make vacations cost too much now. So I want to save some dough on lodging. There has to be a superior means to take vacations than with expedia or travelocity. Anyone willing to give any suggestions?

Everything's going up, not just airfare. BUT....it depends on where you're going. I just bought a RT ticket on Continental to OH for $275 total. That's a deal compared to the $ I'd spend on gas and the time spent driving there. You just need to do lots of research online and keep an eye on the fares because they change constantly. I would sign up for direct emails from the airlines' for specials as well.

[Al]

I have made a habit of flying Southwest for many years.  If you plan in advance their advance purchase Internet deals are hard to beat except with a stick.  The only downside is you better not change your flights because then you will pay full fare . . . which is still probably better than most other airlines.

Al

[presidio]

Airline prices are ludicrous these days. They make vacations cost too much now. So I want to save some dough on lodging. There has to be a superior means to take vacations than with expedia or travelocity. Anyone willing to give any suggestions?

If you have to fly commercially.....2 words

Southwest Airlines

Sign up for their email specials and download their DING! software for a second avenue. Their fares are not quite as cheap as they were last year but the rise is mostly in single digits if you shop and can plan ahead. I can't recall ever spending more than $149 and that was a coast to coast flight and it wasn't more than a couple of months ago. They have a lot higher prices if you can't plan but when you do you can still fly pretty cheaply.

[Ay Chihuahua!]

I haven't used these guys yet, but I like the prices I'm seeing on their site.

FareCompare.com

[Undertaker]

I will second and third SWA, fly them all the time. Well run cattle drive. 

[10ftTall&BulletPrf]

I use www.sidestep.com because it will search Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia and Hotwire along with the major airlines sites...all in one stop!

I hate surfing too many sites. I'm happily lazy!

BTW, I took my lovely wife to Costa Rica 2 years ago for $250 each. I would love to take her back but now tix are $750 each! Thats gotta hurt tourism!

[mule ears]

I am also a fan of Sidestep, it's where I always start then usually go directly to the airline to make the reservation.  The only airline and site it doesn't search is Southwest.  So I have to go there seperately.  Of course the way the airlines are going it maybe the only one left soon, as they seem to be the only ones with somekind of common sense 

[homerboy2u]

I use www.sidestep.com because it will search Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia and Hotwire along with the major airlines sites...all in one stop!

I hate surfing too many sites. I'm happily lazy!

BTW, I took my lovely wife to Costa Rica 2 years ago for $250 each. I would love to take her back but now tix are $750 each! Thats gotta hurt tourism!

  I was checking you site and they say they check prices directly with the providers: JetBlue,Budget,Avis,Continental,American Airlines, etc, etc...(also for car rental) , but apparently they don't check out the one i use the most: Priceline.com ...plus i am a die hard fan of William Shatner (Cap'n. Kirk) and he helps me out to go the extra mile on savings. I will still give it a try on Sidestep.com . One can never stay with one source for getting cheaper tickets.

  The other thing that will dissapoint my mother in law, she is from Costa Rica, is that she wanted to go this summer to the motherland, but with what the current prices the tickets are going, she wont be going anywhere soon. Probably another customer for Walmart's Staycation deals.

 Does anybody know why Southwest, does not offer anything on Priceline? . When i travel the U.S., i have not gotten a better deal, even from priceline, than SWA.

Homero

[SHANEA]

Does anybody know why Southwest, does not offer anything on Priceline? . When i travel the U.S., i have not gotten a better deal, even from priceline, than SWA.

Homero

That's a great question and I have not found a "bona fide" answer yet.  However, on a limb, it probably has to do with 1.  Control  2.  keeping prices/costs low.  It's obviously not part of their business model and they probably are not losing business because of it.  It's just like SWA doesn't transfer bags to other airlines, etc.  Plus, they are not part of a hub-spoke system - flying point to point instead.  Flying to regional airports instead of major hubs, keeping turn around time to a min. (a plane sitting on the tarmac is not generating revenue). 

It's hard to argue with this...

First Quarter 2008 Financial Highlights:
    --  Record first quarter revenues of $2.53 billion, up 15 percent
    --  Net income, excluding special items, of $43 million, up 30 percent
    --  Net income per diluted share, excluding special items, of $.06, up
        50 percent

http://www.southwest.com/investor_relations/fs_quarterly_earnings.html

However, I have been concerned about SWA changing the business model to add a different type of jet to the lineup.  With the same type of jet, any pilot can fly them and any maintenance man can work on them.  Dynamic comparative advantage to the hilt.   Also, changing the way that planes are boarded, etc. - getting rid of the plastic cards, etc. - changing up the queue theory.

Dynamic Comparative advantage results from specializing in an activity, learning-by-doing, and over time becoming the producer with the lowest opportunity cost

[presidio]

changing the way that planes are boarded, etc. - getting rid of the plastic cards, etc. - changing up the queue theory.

That change was the best thing they have done in a long time. It didn't affect how you get your pass and it solved the jostling and line cutting problems of the old system where people would stand at the gate for 2 hours just to be first.

The new system works very well and the ticket taker is paying attention...I saw him take a cutter out of line who thought he could sneak in.

Not so long ago at a large airport (before the change), I was in the A line (where I am 99% of the time) and at the front, numero uno to board. Along comes this guy who, by the way he operated made it clear he was practiced, walks across the terminal headed straight for the A line. Mind you, there were at least 20 people already waiting. He was using his cell phone (a prop to discourage anyone from speaking to him, even though he was actually talking on it).

He inserts himself in the line about 10 back from the front. I watched with some amusement as he incrementally moved forward every couple of minutes or so, constantly talking on his phone and avoiding eye contact with everyone. No one raised any complaint. Well, he finally got to me a few minutes before boarding and then coolly walked in front to be #1...still on the phone.

With no hesitation I said 'hey Bub'. Had to do it twice before he would acknowledge. He removed the phone from his ear and said 'what?'.

I said, there's a lot of people in this line that were here long before you showed up and they probably don't appreciate you jumping the line. All eyes around me are averted...this is serious...don't get involved....

The guy comes up with a great excuse...'I'm just getting close to the window for a better phone signal'. I then said, I know for a fact your phone will work just fine at the end of the line, and maybe the rest of the people here don't care but you are NOT going in front of me. His bluff called, he shuffles off while the sheep in line look at their shoes.

Footnote, he was the dead last person to get on the plane.

[Al]

The people who stood at the gate for 2 hours, generally speaking, were idiots.  As long as you were in A or B group you were guaranteed a good seat.  The only time I even thought about lining up early was if I was in C group.  The new system is alright I guess but over regulated compared to SW's image.

Al