Eschew

I have posted a message on the air travel forum reagrding the airfare but people here may have answers too. I get "deals" all the time from TAs and here is one that I found it very hard to refuse.

Trans-Atlantic from Barcelona to San Paulo Brazil with stops at Seville, Lisbon, Canary Island, Svador De Bahia, Rio De Janeiro and ends in Sao Paulo, 15 days total on the RCL Splendour of the Seas. $550 for inside and $600 for outside and $999 for balcony. Becasue of the start and end locations, I knew airfare would be the big problem.

So I use my usual bag of tricks to look for cheap airfares. My search engine turns up the usual web sites like Expedia, trip Advisor, Flight network etc but there is a new one that I have not seen before and it is called CheapoAir. The cost of the flight? $1770 when everyone else is at least $2700.

They have me flying out on Aer Lingus through Dublin then Barcelona and return on Copa AIr through Panama City and Cancun. I don't mind the extra stops but are they reputable?

Anyone with any experience with the CheapoAir, Aer Lingus and Copa Air ? If you do, pease leave comments: good, bad or otherwise. What do you thnk about the Airlines they choose? Are they safe?

Maybe the deal is too good that I should take a pass? $1770 for airfare and only $1000 to crusie 15 days? What are your thoughs?

Gardyloo

Aer Lingus is Ireland's flag carrier; some years ago they began to behave more and more like a low-cost carrier. They left the Oneworld alliance a couple of years ago and have started getting cozy with United and Continental Airlines; they codeshare on a number of flights with United. They're quite reputable; however in their intra-Europe services they tend to be in the nickel-and-dime camp since they're competing head-to-head with Ryanair, the king of the cheapos.

Copa is Panama's flag carrier. They're basically a subsidiary of Continental (I think 51%+ owned.) Totally reputable.

Not knowing where your are, I can see one-way flights on Aer Lingus from, e.g., NYC to Barcelona in the $600 range and one way from GRU to NYC on Copa in the $750 range. Those would come to $1300 - $1400 all in, so $1770 may or may not be a good deal. Depends on your location.

I can see these prices on Expedia if you're nervous about Cheapo Air. Use two one-way tickets since this is not an open-jaw itinerary due to segment lengths.

triathlete

Despite the name, Cheapo is a large and reputable company. The way get these deals is through buying blocks of seats on certain flights. They aren't terribly useful for flights inside the US, but they do have good fares overseas. I think they also own FareBuzz, but I'm not sure about that one.

Eschew

Thank you Gardyloo. The info is most helpful. Maybe I will try to book direct with them rather through Cheapo. Expedia showed flights for $3000+ but with other airlines.
Triathlete, good to know they are reputable. Have you used them? What's their service like?

bdshotsauce

I think you should perhaps do a little more background research on cheapo perhaps call them direct. I too have never heard of them but based on past experiences better to be safe rather than out 1770.00

triathlete

Service is good, Eschew. They have a direct 800 number and they answer very quickly.

Eschew

Thanks everyone. I am off to do my homework to see if I can make this work.