ATA Boston to San Diego
Apr 22nd, 2005, 07:39 PM
#21
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Site59 and other sites have last-minute package deals. Airlines also have last minute weekend fares, but they are for leaving on Sat, and return Mon. And I certainly can't say if there's any available for a specific date, for a specific city pair.
Apr 22nd, 2005, 07:54 PM
#22
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Oh, let me add one last thing. It takes a lot of patience and many tries to find good fares on specific dates/flights you want. As you're finding out, prices change all the time.
Let me give you an example. My parents are flying Houston to Madrid tomorrow. We first looked at fares about 7 weeks ago, on KLM and CO. Fares were around $520 or so. Good, but because of some other factors we couldn't book.
I checked every other day or so, and for a while prices went down to about $490. But by the time we really need to book, about 3 weeks ago, prices were around $650. Then $675, and then $700. I was starting to worry, but I didn't not panick. I simply checked nwa.com (for the KLM flight) more frequently.
One day, I saw a special fare of $600. But I was running an experiment at work and couldn't go ahead to book. By afternoon, it's gone, and fares are back at $700. But I just keep checking and checking, and finally at around 1am 2 nights later, the $600 fare came back and I booked it. Still not as good as $510, but better than $700.
Let me give you an example. My parents are flying Houston to Madrid tomorrow. We first looked at fares about 7 weeks ago, on KLM and CO. Fares were around $520 or so. Good, but because of some other factors we couldn't book.
I checked every other day or so, and for a while prices went down to about $490. But by the time we really need to book, about 3 weeks ago, prices were around $650. Then $675, and then $700. I was starting to worry, but I didn't not panick. I simply checked nwa.com (for the KLM flight) more frequently.
One day, I saw a special fare of $600. But I was running an experiment at work and couldn't go ahead to book. By afternoon, it's gone, and fares are back at $700. But I just keep checking and checking, and finally at around 1am 2 nights later, the $600 fare came back and I booked it. Still not as good as $510, but better than $700.
Apr 23rd, 2005, 08:16 AM
#23
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OK..I am booked senior rates on ATA/Southwest. Boston to San Diego. Senior rate..June 28.Only problem now is I have been online for 30 minutes already almost to get my seat assignments for ATA....is this normal???
Is there a better time to call?..what if we don't have seats on ATA ahead of time?
Thanks
Is there a better time to call?..what if we don't have seats on ATA ahead of time?
Thanks
Apr 25th, 2005, 01:48 PM
#24
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It seems like a hassle, loisco, but hang in there. I have flown ATA at least 15 times from Midway Chicago and in every direction in the two years before this co/share thing. SW is fine too. For the difference in money, there is just no contest. When you get those rates, you have to grab them. I just got $74 each way to California on SW from Midway/Chicago (like the Govenator's commercial running in Chicago for SW says "Listen to my wife, and come to Cal-e-for-n-ia."
I could never afford to travel on my salary a fraction of what I do without these specials. And also, I have had the "C" pass before when it was just SW on its own. And that hasn't been a big problem either. When you line up- just don't wander off and pay attention to place yourself in the correct "C" staging area. Seniors with handicaps or who have arrived wheelchair because of long walks into the terminals etc.,passengers with disabilities, adults accompanying children board first on SW- regardless, you know. And also, there are now no more "backward facing" knee touching areas on SW. They have all been taken out. Eureka!
I could never afford to travel on my salary a fraction of what I do without these specials. And also, I have had the "C" pass before when it was just SW on its own. And that hasn't been a big problem either. When you line up- just don't wander off and pay attention to place yourself in the correct "C" staging area. Seniors with handicaps or who have arrived wheelchair because of long walks into the terminals etc.,passengers with disabilities, adults accompanying children board first on SW- regardless, you know. And also, there are now no more "backward facing" knee touching areas on SW. They have all been taken out. Eureka!
