Tricks to Get Stale Fares on Orbitz?
Feb 13th, 2006, 01:59 PM
#21
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Hi OP,
Your $840 fare is quite good.
Have you considered training from Paris to Amsterdam? The time difference is only about 1/2 hr.
www.kayak.com has your route (sans CDG/AMS) for $985.
Train from from Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels is $130- $140.
Your $840 fare is quite good.
Have you considered training from Paris to Amsterdam? The time difference is only about 1/2 hr.
www.kayak.com has your route (sans CDG/AMS) for $985.
Train from from Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels is $130- $140.
Feb 13th, 2006, 02:11 PM
#22
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Thanks ira. I know the $840 is good -- that's why I'm kicking myself for not booking on Friday.
By the way, you probably discovered, as I did, that the airfare without the two flights FCO to CDG and CDG to AMS is not much cheaper. That's why I figured that I can go to Rome quickly.
Airline pricing is weird.
On Orbitz, right now the entire trip can be bought for around $970. Omit CDG to AMS and it's still around $970.
I think that someone should write a book on this subject.
By the way, you probably discovered, as I did, that the airfare without the two flights FCO to CDG and CDG to AMS is not much cheaper. That's why I figured that I can go to Rome quickly.
Airline pricing is weird.
On Orbitz, right now the entire trip can be bought for around $970. Omit CDG to AMS and it's still around $970.
I think that someone should write a book on this subject.
Feb 13th, 2006, 02:13 PM
#23
For future reference, Air France and KLM are merged and are in the process of integrating their timetables and fleet. Along with Alitalia, all are members of the Skyteam alliance, which means there are numerous codeshare (one airline's metal, another's flight number) segments. If you see an itinerary that involves those 3 airlines, chances are you can replicate the fare by going to any one of their websites, especially AF and KL.
Orbitz does indeed use ITA, but even ITA can be late in reporting a fare that's no longer available for booking. Seat allocations into given fare "buckets" are constantly changing, so don't be surprised at losing if you're snoozing.
Orbitz does indeed use ITA, but even ITA can be late in reporting a fare that's no longer available for booking. Seat allocations into given fare "buckets" are constantly changing, so don't be surprised at losing if you're snoozing.
Feb 13th, 2006, 02:21 PM
#24
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Well, I called AF and gave them the exact itinerary. They told me that they see no seats for the 7 am flight FCO to CDG (it's code share with AZ). They only show business class seats.
Furthermore they want over $1800.
But Expedia and Orbitz still show the entire itinerary at $970 (but not $840).
I want to pull my hair out.
Furthermore they want over $1800.
But Expedia and Orbitz still show the entire itinerary at $970 (but not $840).
I want to pull my hair out.
Feb 13th, 2006, 06:40 PM
#25
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just fyi, i went through all this craziness too, trying to fly NYC to NAP (naples, italy) round trip.
i found numerous fares that were great using ita, orbitz, and expedia.
i went to aa.com, did the multi city, and scored jfk-mxp (milan) and then NAP-JFK
going to milan, i hub in brussels. returning home, i come into london, and change airports in london. it will be a pain, but a 4.5 hour layover should be plenty.
round trip airfare is $450.
philly flies direct to FCO for what it's worth.
i found numerous fares that were great using ita, orbitz, and expedia.
i went to aa.com, did the multi city, and scored jfk-mxp (milan) and then NAP-JFK
going to milan, i hub in brussels. returning home, i come into london, and change airports in london. it will be a pain, but a 4.5 hour layover should be plenty.
round trip airfare is $450.
philly flies direct to FCO for what it's worth.
Feb 13th, 2006, 07:44 PM
#26
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What time did you book for, bradykp? In any case, that's a great fare! For future reference, Eurofly may work for you. They fly JFK to Naples in the summer.
The problem is that I've a 3-day trip. So I really don't have much time for layovers or to go to Philly if I want to be in three different cities in three days.
Sounds crazy I know. But it'd be fun to do this crazy itinerary.
The problem is that I've a 3-day trip. So I really don't have much time for layovers or to go to Philly if I want to be in three different cities in three days.
Sounds crazy I know. But it'd be fun to do this crazy itinerary.
Feb 14th, 2006, 05:11 AM
#27
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Well Expedia has this stale fare also. I was excited. Waded past several screens. Gave my cc to find the price has increased by $130.
At least Orbitz confirms the fare before you have to do anything....
At least Orbitz confirms the fare before you have to do anything....
Feb 14th, 2006, 02:09 PM
#28
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I've seen Orbitz jump the fare up on the next to last screen too, as well as when you first click it. If you never actually entered your credit card for the $840 Expedia fare, you can console yourself, perhaps, by the thought that maybe it didn't exist either.
Feb 14th, 2006, 02:13 PM
#29
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You're right. When I looked at the fare in Expedia on Friday, I never went to the next room, so I've no idea if the fare was actually good then.
But I finally just booked it! It took me endless checking over the past 72 hours to do this....
I don't have the ticket confirmation number yet, so it could still change, obviously.
But I got past the cc stage.
They've to send paper tickets though, so final cost is a shade over $870.
Yippee!
I'll set a new personal record of flying to three different cities in three days.
But I finally just booked it! It took me endless checking over the past 72 hours to do this....
I don't have the ticket confirmation number yet, so it could still change, obviously.
But I got past the cc stage.
They've to send paper tickets though, so final cost is a shade over $870.
Yippee!
I'll set a new personal record of flying to three different cities in three days.
Feb 14th, 2006, 04:21 PM
#34
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I've looked at Kayak and ITA Software and then immediately called the airlines numerous times and not once was able to obtain the fare listed. I love the fares listed on those sites, but I just don't trust them as they never seem to be valid. I am currently trying to book flights from Seattle to Rome and then Naples to Seattle and it has been a nightmare!!!
Feb 14th, 2006, 04:31 PM
#35
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mvs, from what I've read, if you have the codes from ITA, sometimes a travel agent is your best bet. I haven't done that yet, but would try if I struck out otherwise.
I've had great luck with apparent mistake fares that were codeshares. So in 2004, I got an excellent Air Canada fare (low-season cost for high-season fare) on BMI, a code-share partner, and this fare was not available on the Air Canada site. In 2005, it was the same thing with an Air Europa codeshare for a Continental flight in high season. I had to book that one with a Sabre-based online site (Travelocity, Orbitz, TravelCuts, CheapTickets - these are all Sabre-based).
I've had great luck with apparent mistake fares that were codeshares. So in 2004, I got an excellent Air Canada fare (low-season cost for high-season fare) on BMI, a code-share partner, and this fare was not available on the Air Canada site. In 2005, it was the same thing with an Air Europa codeshare for a Continental flight in high season. I had to book that one with a Sabre-based online site (Travelocity, Orbitz, TravelCuts, CheapTickets - these are all Sabre-based).
Feb 14th, 2006, 05:41 PM
#36
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Thanks everyone! I'm excited. I'm planning to see an art show in each city, and I'll also go hear "Goetterdaemerung" (or part of it) in Chatelet. There'll be lots of other things to do.
WillTravel, how does TravelCuts work? I took a quick look yesterday but I wasn't sure what to click -- the site is based in Canada?
I called my travel agent with the ITA codes, but she wasn't really able to help either. I snapped up the Orbitz fare and then called her to say that I booked it, and she sounded surprised.
I've a feeling that travel agents are no match for the net and diligence. Of course time is money, and I wasted a lot of time just checking the websites over and over and over.
Despite what people have said about Orbitz's stale fares, and I've the same issues, I must say that with patience I've been able to book them. It's just annoying and nerve-wrecking to have to check again and again and again. The Orbitz fares were stale for more than one day, but I figured that that probably meant my chances were good (why would they keep showing up otherwise?).
WillTravel, how does TravelCuts work? I took a quick look yesterday but I wasn't sure what to click -- the site is based in Canada?
I called my travel agent with the ITA codes, but she wasn't really able to help either. I snapped up the Orbitz fare and then called her to say that I booked it, and she sounded surprised.
I've a feeling that travel agents are no match for the net and diligence. Of course time is money, and I wasted a lot of time just checking the websites over and over and over.
Despite what people have said about Orbitz's stale fares, and I've the same issues, I must say that with patience I've been able to book them. It's just annoying and nerve-wrecking to have to check again and again and again. The Orbitz fares were stale for more than one day, but I figured that that probably meant my chances were good (why would they keep showing up otherwise?).
Feb 14th, 2006, 07:59 PM
#37
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mvs - I use itasoftware quite a bit, but I can't get those fares with the airlines. I have to go find the same flights on Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, etc. It really does work most of the time. Maybe because of the high fares good deals are harder to secure right now. Not sure.
Have you been checking AA? I recently purchased late May flights Sea to Rom and Par to Sea.
Have you been checking AA? I recently purchased late May flights Sea to Rom and Par to Sea.
