Cheap plane tix!

[JohnT]

A couple of US airlines have declared bankruptcy in the past few weeks and we all know what this logically entails:

Price war!

One of the most amusing, but with great ApolyCon potential, is the one by Wendy's and AirTran, offering round trip tickets with the purchase of 64 20oz drinks ($87 at $1.29/per @ 5% tax). Just go to the store, order 64 cups. Fill some up with soda while you're at it.

Currently, tickets on AirTran from San Fran to Baltimore is $154.... each way. Wendy's will allow you to do it for $90... both ways.

These tickets are good for an entire year from when you submit them, so they can be used for the ApolyCon.

There are other promotions too, just keep your eyes open. Also, don't ever forget Priceline. You can only pay $60 for a round-trip ticket from Chicago? Tell it to Priceline, see what happens.

Would you like a free airline ticket with your Wendy's combo meal? Just a few credits short of a free ticket on AirTran Airways? That's nothing a trip to Wendy's can't take care of. The fast-food restaurant has teamed up with the carrier on a promotion that offers AirTran frequent-flier members one-fourth of a flight credit for every purchase of a combo with drink, or any 20- or 32-ounce drink at participating Wendy's restaurants. For those of you already starting to crunch the numbers in your head, here's how the math breaks down: AirTran offers a free one-way ticket for 8 flight credits, so buying 32 eligible drinks is enough to net you 8 flight credits — or enough for a free one-way ticket. Buy 64 drinks, and you get a free round-trip flight. There is, however, a limit of five drinks per transaction. The details on how to convert the drinks into flights are available on the airline's website, but here's how it works: "Participating" Wendy's will have specially marked combo, 20- and 30-ounce drinks that have a proof of purchase/AirTran flight coupon printed on the cup. Customers must collect those and send them in to the airline, along with a 3x5 notecard containing their contact information and AirTran frequent-flier numbers. Members will receive one flight credit for every four drink coupons, but no single member can redeem more than 128 drink coupons (good for 32 flight credits). AirTran officials tell me the promotion is being offered at more than 3,200 Wendy's across the USA, though some markets are not included. The offer runs through Dec. 31, or while supplies last.Posted 7 a.m. ET

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/today/sky.htm

Full details: http://www.airtran.com/wendys_offer.aspx

[JohnT]

Also from the USA Today:

I know my travel plans well in advance.

You're in a good position to get a great fare. Here are tactics to help you do it:

Purchase early— Airlines tend to offer the lowest prices on 21-day advance tickets. However, advance purchase fares can often be secured in as little as 14 or 7 days ahead of your departure date. If you wait until fewer than 7 days, you're unlikely to find a good deal.

Not too early — If you are trying to book months in advance and you can't find the fare you want, be patient. Airfares fluctuate, and a lower fare may come up at a later date. Keep a lookout for announced airfare sales. Of course, fares may go up. Your best defense is to compare fares to get an idea of an average price for your desired trip and check several sites over a period of time to see what's happening with rates. Then you'll recognize a good deal when you see it.

Compare fares— Search multiple travel sites for deals. You can speed this process with a comparison-shopping engine, which allows you to sample several airline and agency sites simultaneously.

• The leading player is Sidestep, but its free software must be downloaded, and will subsequently pop up any time you run a travel-related search. No download is required for Qixo, which allows users to book as well as search for fares, or for Farechase, which has launched a sharp, new comparison shopping engine called the Farechaser.

If you don't have to limit your search by date, BestFares.com's speedy Farefinder technology produces a broad snapshot of available deals, though many are available only to subscribers, who pay $60 a year.

• None of these tools is comprehensive. A few airlines and travel sites block them. Nor are the comparisons flawless (some fares are missed; some include taxes and charges while others do not). But they can save you time.

• If you prefer doing your own site-by-site search, you may want to start with Orbitz. It serves up a regular portion of Web-only fares, especially from the five airlines that founded the site: United, American, Northwest, Delta and Continental. It does not include listings from major no-frills player Southwest, though.

• Industry leaders Expedia and Travelocity have the clout to negotiate attractive discounts, and offer a regular stream of exclusive discounts alongside the airlines' published fares.

•CheapTickets.com and OneTravel.com are smaller players that may have lower fares on some routes.

Discount airlines such as Southwest, American Trans Air or JetBlue often offer lower prices than their big-name competitors, and are not always listed on major travel sites. It may be worth your while to check their Web sites individually. But keep in mind that the networks for these airlines tend to be smaller than the bigger airlines, so they might not serve either your destination or departure city.

Read the news — Sites that that provide news of airfare deals include USATODAY.com (in partnership with SmarterLiving.com), Bestfares.com, WebFlyer (another USATODAY.com partner) and Travelzoo.com. These sites provide links or phone numbers to book these deals directly from the airlines or e-travel agents providing them.

Sign up for fare alerts— Many airline sites, as well as Orbitz and agents such as Expedia and Travelocity (USATODAY.com's booking partner) allow you to sign up to be notified about deals on specific routes.

Alternative airports— Consider flying to an alternative airport that may be a 30-45 minute drive or train ride from your preferred airport. For example, flying into Baltimore instead of Washington, D.C., or into Oakland instead of San Francisco can save you up to 50% on flights. See if your destination has a similar alternative. Some of the fare comparison sites, such as BestFares.com, will search for alternative airports automatically.

Saturday stay— If you have the flexibility, consider including a Saturday stay. Although some airlines are doing away with this practice, most tend to reserve the lowest fares for itineraries that include a Saturday night stay. Savings can easily be 50%.

Flexible times— If you can't change your dates, consider changing your flight times. Most travel sites have an "anytime" option for your preferred flight times, and that might turn up cheaper flights at less popular times of the day. Or, you might consider alternative sites such as Priceline.com or Hotwire.com.

Auction or discount sites— If you've got a little wiggle room on when you need to be there, and don't mind dabbling in a bit of the unknown, consider using an airline auction or discount site. Priceline.com and Hotwire.com offer airline tickets at deeply discounted prices, with a couple of catches. You can't select your flight times and you won't know your airline until after you buy your ticket. Here's how they work:

•Hotwire.com allows you to enter your destination and travel dates. Hotwire then returns the best fare it finds for that route. You have an hour to accept the price and buy the ticket or the deal will expire and you'll have to wait another 48 hours before you can make the same request. If you purchase a ticket from Hotwire, you will be flying on one of nine major airlines: Aloha, American West, American, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest, United and US Airways. Hotwire offers additional airline partners — all major carriers — for international flights.

•Priceline.com works a bit differently. You tell Priceline when and where you want to go, and what price you are willing to pay. Usually within 15 minutes, it will tell you whether an airline has accepted your price. But beware: if your price is accepted your credit card will automatically be charged. Like Hotwire, Priceline guarantees your ticket will be on a major U.S. carrier. Its network consists of seven airlines: America West, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways.

• A savvy bidder may find an offer on Hotwire, then bid lower on Priceline. If the Priceline bid is rejected, then there's still time to return to Hotwire within the hour to accept the price there.Take note: Tickets purchased on Priceline and Hotwire are not changeable or refundable. If your travel plans change, your ticket cannot be amended — not even for a fee. And, in almost all cases, flying standby is not permitted. You will not earn frequent flyer miles for flights booked on these sites.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/tips/booking/2003-10-23-airline_x.htm#one

[JohnT]

The reason I say great potential is that many of us go to Wendy's and can save the things for other Apolytoners who need travel assistance. I already have five of the things in case y'all don't think this is a dumb idea (trust me - I'll get more. Wendy's is a big place with our family). It wouldn't surprise me to get enough sodas for a round trip ticket... or two.

[duke o' york]

Got any cheap flights for the Yurpeans?



I've just got a new job, and a hefty 25% salary hike, so I'm looking into coming after all, but the cheapest flight from Manchester to Baltimore I found was £629. :eeek:
My two mates flew to and from Frisco for less than that last summer. Hopefully I can wait, and the prices will come down. Just have to remember to start saving for it.

[Zopperoni]

Maybe using a different hub (Amsterdam Schiphol or Frankfurt) would give you cheaper flights.

[duke o' york]

I'd still have to fly there though.
But if it'd be cheaper than the whole lot from Manchester (+ train there), then I'll look into it.

[ZargonX]

Having just flown to London a few weeks ago from Baltimore, let me suggest Iceland Air. The flight is a longer due to stopover, but they were definately cheaper compared to the competition.

[duke o' york]

Thanks Zargon.
Does anyone know the general curves for ticket prices? I imagine that if I buy them now it'll be at full whack (plus I can't afford them ), but how long beforehand should I wait for?

[JohnT]

Using Orbitz and checking a weekend 4 weeks out (December 16-18) I have prices, from Heathrow (LHR) to Baltimore (BWI) at

non-stop: $1,307 (British Airways)
1 stop: $564 (Iceland Air)
2+ stop: $433 (Iceland Air)

(These fares are pre-tax, pre-airport fees). With them, the cheapest flight goes to $632. ( )

[JohnT]

You generally want to purchase 4-6 weeks out... at least here in the States.

[ZargonX]

The further out you purchase, the better. It doesn't help that the con is being held during "peak" travel season, but that's the way it goes...

[duke o' york]

The date has been definitively decided then?

[JohnT]

It's looking as if the date is going to be July 7-9.

[duke o' york]

Sweet. I'll use that in my plane calcs from now on then. I'll end up staying in some bum hostel (hopefully not that kind of bum hostel), so I'll have to book that too, but that's cool. Thanks John - and I'm still available if Zopp or snoopy requires my services for wordsmithery or accounting.

[JohnT]

No, no, no... somebody who looks that dapper can room in the hotel.

Anyway, you might have trouble finding a "hostel" as I have never, ever heard of such a thing here in America. What is it? A word for "hotel"?