Suggestions for anybody looking for help with airfares
 

There are some wonderful people here willing to help you with finding information, helpful hints on how to get the best deal for you, BUT, it get's little old when a post after post they read something like this:
"Please help find a cheap fare to England in 2004" or something to that effect. Some of us try to illicit more info from the original poster, but it's like pulling teeth. We ask, What cities and dates are you interested in? and we get 'London, sometime next year....

Well. I will speak for myself and few others here. I don't even try to help when I see a post resembling the one above, but I would be very happy to help you, and I'm sure the other knowledgable folks here would too, if you would follow these simple rules:

1. How many are traveling? - There could be a BIG difference in fare if 1 or 2 are traveling, a family with little kids, or a group of 15 adults, especially if they want to be on the same flights.

2. From where to where?
Now this question has some sub-questions:
a)If you are looking for a region to region, for example - anywhere on the west coast to anywhere on the east coast, or Scandinavia, Europe, Asia, etc... PLEASE say so, with ANYWHERE being the important part of your request!!!
b)If you are city specific - let's say New York to London, again it helps if we know that you do not have any airport affiliation.
c)If you are airport specific - please, let us know, as that could be a deal maker or braker.
d)You are allowed to combine any and all of the above, but it's great to know what you are looking for.
So, for example you could say- anywhere on the west coast to London, or Los Angeles to any major capital of Europe, etc...

3.Date - again it has some sub-questions?
a)If you are date specific, please do not hesitate to actually post it, for example, I/We need to leave on 9/1 and return on 9/8.
b)If you are somewhat flexible, to let's say month of September, please post that, but ALSO, let us know what you minimum and maximum requirements are, so for example, I/We want to travel anytime in September, but we would like to stay minimum 7 days and maximum 10 days.
c)Open to a wide ranging time period, like, I/We would like to travel some time between beginning of September to end of December, but AGAIN, state how many days/weeks you want as minimum and maximum.

So to summerize the post, if I or I'm sure few others here see something like this:
"3 adults would like to get the best fare from anywhere in California to LHR, departing on Sep.15 and returning anytime 2-3 weeks later", you will get some great replies, but if the post says, "please help with getting the best fare to Europe?" I do believe most of us here are getting tired of having to ask all the questions required to give you some helpful hints.

If there are any points I missed, please add, and if I'm wrong, well, it's not the first time.
Have a wonderful weekend! :-)

AAFF.....Agreed.......actually with your permission I shall digress way far...but have you read your latest Conde Nast.....I got mine Friday.....go to the Ombudsman........How could that have happened to a UMNR...I still cant accept that it was possible but anyway thought you might be interested....S

No did not have a chance to see the mag. Can you summerize what happened?

Since inquiring minds want to know, I broke out my copy of Conde Nast for a look. It seems an unaccompanied minor whose mom paid the fee was allowed to file off with the other passengers in San Juan, P.R. and went missing for about an hour while a relative waited in vain. The airline seemed unresponsive after being questioned a couple of times while the relative waited, just saying he would be off the plane soon. The confused (traumatized) 8-year-old boy was found after concerned pax reported him in the baggage claim area, where he had just gone with the flow and followed the crowd from his flight. Some compensation and apologies were tendered.

Only problem is, this will scroll down and never be seen by new people tomorrow, or 6 months from now when they could use the information.

There should be a button next to the place to post that says "before you make your first post" that includes a FAQ of things like this and other info about subject lines and the fact that although you select a sub-area (for example Vermont in the US area) it goes to the general area and no one will know that B&Bs, means Vermont B&Bs.

Or that the subject "Please Help me right away" is the worst way to get quick detailed information.

Keith