US Airways?
 

I've booked accommodations for my parents, myself and daughter for Malaga, Spain in April. This trip is a gift for my father's 70th birthday from his 4 kids. I'm trying to find inexpensive flights with no more than 2 stops and I have found US Airways to be the least expensive, about $700 each. The next higher price is with Delta for over $900. I'm having a hard enough time with affording the $700 for my daugher and I, and I really don't think I can make the trip if I have to pay $1800 just for airfare for us and then my share of my parents airfare.

My travel agent says that I shouldn't book with US Airways because of the bankruptcy/union situation. I don't know what all the details are, but he's saying that I would be taking a chance of losing my money by booking with them and I should just pay the extra for Delta.

I thought I might wait for the fares to, possibly, come down a bit, but I'm afraid that they'll go up or just won't be avalable.

Can anyone give me any advice/guidance? I'm starting to obsess over this!! :-)

Have you looked on aggregator sites such as mobissimo, farechase, kayak, for possible lower fares?

Have you considered purchasing travel insurance?

You may be trying to buy tickets too early. Wait until the beginning of January for possible lower fares. At the moment, flights are much less expensive until around the middle of March, then the fare take a big jump. They may drop for the mid-March to mid June period a little later.

Also check the sites that Intrepid mentions above. Also add Travelzoo. If you subscribe to their weekly newsletter, you'll be able to keep track of the bargains. They'll also alert you if a special fare appears. Mobissimo is a fairly new site, and it seems to be a good one.

If you book any airline, make sure you put it on your credit card. You have better protection and can file a claim to get your money back, even though it may take a little while. If you're looking for the least expensive flights, there are several options, but even with all of the on-line booking services, a travel agent may still be the best bet in finding the least expensive fares since most agents deal with ticket consolidators who only work with travel agents and offer discounted tickets on various airlines. You'll pay a slight fee, but you will have better results. Let the agent do the work instead of you spending days wasting your time looking for the needle in the haystack. Tell the agent you budget so that they have something realistic to work with. But based on what you’ve already said about the agent you’ve talked to, you might consider dealing with another agency since this agent didn’t mention consolidator tickets.

US Airways may or may not make it past the first of the year, but the same holds true for United, Delta, Continental and a few others. You may end up flying to Spain on a foreign flag carrier such as Iberia.

Note: if you book a flight with an airline that’s in bankruptcy, such as United, you cannot normally purchase travel insurance, although there are some exceptions, depending on the insurance company.

Add 1800flyeruope to your list. and Malaga may be an expensive place to fly in the first place--I don't know that for a fact, but could be.

Hi red,

From whence are you flying?

http://www.onetravel.com/ has EWR/Malaga RT on Air France for $680 in mid-April, $573 on May 1.

Thanks for all the tips, everyone!

No, I haven't checked the aggregator sites mentioned, but I'll definitely give them a look.

I've been wondering about waiting. I have been looking at fares for a few weeks now and noticed the big jump in mid March. So I was hoping, hoping, hoping that they would come down after the holidays.

I've already decided to check with another travel agent. I just didn't like the guy I was dealing with today. Plus, I spoke to someone else earlier in the week and she never called me back. Not professional, so I'll strike them off my list.

Ira, I'll be flying out of Charleston, SC. Yeah, not exactly a hub, or even close to one.

I would wait and/or try cheaptickets.com. I have noticed prices to Spain do go down around Feb. By the way, I just flew USAirways to Madrid and had no hesitation whatsoever to buy the tickets. Whatever you do, do NOT pay $900/pp to Spain in April, that is whack, and if I were you, I would consider a new travel agent (?).

I think I read an article in the business section of my newspaper today that US Airways will probably liquidate in January.

I thought I read an article that US Airways was safe until the middle of January. Also, if one turns a claim into their credit card company, don't you have only 60 days after the charge is made?? Not sure on this but that has been my understanding. But maybe I am wrong.

Well, I checked mobissimo, farechase and kayak and the cheapest ticket, beside US Air, is Delta/Iberia for $842 including taxes. Not a huge savings. So I guess I'll wait and keep my fingers crossed.

The "news" about US Airways liquidating in January: actually the item mentioned that the company threatened this IF they didn't get the latest round of concessions from the union. How much of a real threat this is remains to be seen.

Check fares out of Charlotte. I know it's a bit of a drive for you, but you might save enough on airfare to make it worth your while.

We live an hour and a half from Raleigh and two and half hours from Charlotte, but often find it cheaper to fly from Washington, DC which is five hours away...even allowing for a hotel room on the night of our return.

Another thing you might try is flying from one of the above-mentioned into London (usually the cheapest destination from the East Coast), and then connecting to Spain from there.

You might also try going out of Atlanta, if that's more convenient for you. Good luck!

Thanks Robdaddy, actually I live in Columbia, so Charlotte isn't much of a drive for me. But I wanted to avoid making my parents, who live in Charleston, add a 3.5 hour drive to their trip. Atlanta is 5 hours for them. I'd rather pay a *little* extra so they don't have to do that. I probably would, though, if the savings were significant.

Tough situation, personally I wouldn't book USAirways due to a very bad potential. However, travelling in April (assuming not easter week) you may want to hold out for better prices, they'll come. Or you can purchase the Delta tickets then go in for a refund but do call Delta and find out their refund policies. I'm not familiar with Delta refund policies personally...I usually fly AA or UA. I do know AA gives credit back to your credit card....however most airlines only give flight credit, good only for that airline and to be booked with a year. So do check.

Realized my post is probably unclear. I'm referring to when you've purchased tickets then the price goes down.

US Airways is threatening to dissolve the union contracts. If that happens the flight attendants will strike. Many in the biz don't think the airline will survive much longer. I wouldn't book a flight on them for the spring. Here is a quote about the troubles:

"ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- US Airways has reached a deal with one of its unions, but the struggling carrier is also asking a judge to stop another union from going on strike.

The Communications Workers of America, which represents reservations and gate agents, said the agreement offsets some of the most severe demands made by the airline.

But unionized flight attendants are still threatening to walk out if their collective bargaining agreements are canceled.

US Airways is asking a bankruptcy judge to both void those agreements and block any strike.

It says if it doesn't get wage and benefit cuts, it will begin liquidation proceedings in mid-January."

So, Traveler, are you saying that if I purchase a ticket and the price comes down I could possivly get the difference refunded to me? Hmmm...I hadn't considered that. I wonder if they do that on the non-refundable fares?