I Need Some Guidance With Airfare to Mexico
 

I have not been to Mexico for about 40 years.

My cousin has kindly invited me to spend a week with her at a time share in Puerto Vallarta in April. It is AI, so airfare and spending money are my only expenses.

I have found airfare from Pittsburgh on Continental for $592 total.

I would just like to know someone's opinion if this is fairly good, awful or what.

Can anyone give me an idea if this airfare is ok? Let me also say that the connections are good and the times are good which I realize is worth a lot.

Thanks

That's about what I typically pay from Seattle to Puerto Vallarta, right around $575 (and that's a good fare, I see it as high as $725+).

Also I'm big on having good flight times and connections. Some carrier propose convuluted ways to get you to Mexico. Point being, that doesn't sound bad to me, but hopefully someone from your area will answer as well.

Suze. Thank you .
I am willing to pay a premium for the good flight times.

You should see some of the flight shedules from here. Going isn't too bad. But coming back are triple connects on many of the carriers and red eye flights and the prices aren't any cheaper.

I could use miles on US Airways, but they are one of the triple connect people and they are convuluted to boot.

I would rather save the miles for something else.

One thing to note, good schedules are not necessarily so. This past summer airlines delays were the worst ever. I was delayed over 24 hours on Continental making a plane change in Houston in June to travel the last 500 miles. Just bear in mind that flights are not always on time. Personally I have had the worst delays on Continental via Houston.

Have you tried sidestep.com?

It checks numerous sites.

Not knowing which dates in April, I just put in April 8 - April 16 and came up with American Airlines at $425 base price (don't know what your taxes and fees will be either).

What's the base rate for Continental?

I've used US Airways the past few trips (since Alaska Air which I prefer has gotten so expensive). But I get a decent route Seattle/Phoenix/PV which works quite nicely. I would not be willing to change planes more than one time (zero is better!).

I know delays are the norm now. My cousin says that I should allow two hours for the connect time. Even that won't promise an on time arrival.

Not ever traveling this route before, I never checked. I don't know if I am happy I now have the information that I am likely to be delayed because it is Houston or not.

The best price when I checked on Continental today for an April 8 or 9 departure is now $452 total. I don't know if they are having a sale or not but the price has come down over $140. this week.

I do use sidestep, and I am going to keep checking but I don't think it will come down more than $452 unless there is a miracle.

P.S.
Dude
Do you think it would help if I carry on rather than check since you do fly through Houston?

Easytraveler: those AA flights are mostly red eye and not less expensive than the one connect ones, or only marginally less (about $30).

Interestingly I have never been significantly delayed in ~20 trips to Mexico by plane.

Is it transferring at Houston specifically that is the problem?

As far as carrying on your luggage or checking it, it won't effect your connections. Carrrying luggage on will ensure it won't arrive late. As far as flight changes in Houston, this is my experience only, but I have had more delays, and unexpected overnights due to delays than any other airport I regularily use. It is also the only airport I have actually had luggage stolen and not just delayed. My luggage made it back from Mexico, re-checked it at Houston and it was never seen again. On the other hand I am about to book a flight to Quito through there because it is the most convienient, so I guess I will roll the dice again. Lately I have been buying travel insruance and it has been really nice to cover some of the costs involved in delays or delayed luggage. I would never have recommended that in the past, but thus far I have collected more than I have paid in premiums.

This information is really helpful.

I like the flight times from Pittsburgh and I love the price since it has gone way down.

I can leave here around 9am and be in PV by about 3pm or so. But I looked closely at those connect times and it only give me a little over an hour on the outgoing trip. I think that is too slim. The return is at Noon and I get home about 9pm Pitts. time. This connect is over two hours. The earlier flight leaves here at 6am, and maybe I will have to just bite the bullet. They say if you take the first flight out in the morning, delays are less likely.

First of all, I cannot afford to lose my luggage. I wear a plus size and when it happened to me in France, I had to wear a mumu for two days until the luggage reappeared since it was the only thing I could find in a market there. We were not in a metropolitan area.

Anymore, I always buy trip insurance. I never used to, but last year we had to cancel a trip to Portugal because my husband became ill. It was well worth the small amount. This cost won't be high either since I am not paying for the resort. But hotel rooms, etc on an overnight can really run up the cost when you are stuck in an airport hotel and the airlines wiggle out of paying because of "weather".

I will let you know what I book as soon as my cousin secures the reservations.

Thanks again.

I always pack my carry-on with shorts, t-shirt, bathing suit, and flip flops, just in case the suitcase is delayed.

I have found 1 hour sufficient going down, but you will need at least 2 hours on the return, because you'll need to go thru customs on your way back.

I agree, my experience has been the earlier the better so flights don't start to back up. Also I assume you are going resonably soon. Hopefully you won't have to worry about Thunderstorms backing air travel up around the country and will just cruise through with no delays. Have a great trip!

I am going the first full week of April on the 8th or 9th if she gets the hotel reservations.

Is that a time for thunderstorms?

I just about always have a good time on vacation. Thanks.

No(summer thru early fall is the rainy season) - April is normally absolutely gorgeous! Warm sunny high 70's to low 80's, breezy, clear.

Back to the airfare discussion.... I always take a look at www.farecompare.com and www.farecast.com to find out if it's time to buy or not.

Also, now there's www.yapta.com where (for certain airlines) you can track the airfare of specific fights. If the price drops after you purchase, you can call the airline and see if they will (at a minimum) issue you airfare credit toward a future flight.

Carole

I decided to book my airfare today. I used Continental. They had the best connections from Pittsburgh, and I didn't consider the fare too high.

I am flying from Pit through Houston to Puerto Vallarta. I have a connect of one hour 15 min going and a connect of two hours 15 min. on the return.

The fare for April was $450 total.

I am looking forward to this vacation very much, but April seems very far away at this point.

Thanks for all of the help. Although this is an AI, I would like to at least treat my cousin to a nice lunch or dinner while we are there of sight of the resort. Any suggestions?

Sherry

So many great places it's hard to choose. If I had just one night I'd either go to The River Cafe or head down to Playa Los Muertos where there are a line of restaurants right on the beach, you can literally eat with your feet in the sand. La Palapa is the most high-end but there are several others nearby. In El Centro Trio or Vitea are good (same owner) but more high-end. Joe Jacks Fish Shack on B. Badillo on the south-side is a fantastic casual and less expensive spot (ask for a table upstairs on the patio). The Red Cabbage in Remance is a bit of an adventure and interesting Mexican food.

Thanks Suze. Do you think any of these are open for lunch?
We will be there for a week and I am hoping I can talk her into leaving the resort for at least one evening meal.
But if all else fails, I can probably get her to go somewhere for at least a couple of nice lunchs if we are near town and shopping.

For sure Cafe de Olla, on B. Badillo is open at lunch-time, I think Joe Jack's also (they are next door to each other).

La Palapa and others along Los Muertos for sure are open all day.

Thank you again. I will make a note of the restaurants and clip it to a print out of my itinerary.

I disagree that carrying on your luggage or checking it won't effect your connections. My friend and I flew from Guatemala through Houston to Portland, Oregon in August with an hour and a half layover and only carry-ons. The lines weren't too bad for immigration and non existent for customs since most folks were waiting for luggage. We found out our gate number, caught the shuttle (or whatever it's called), and made it to our new gate about 20 minutes after we got off the plane.

Also, the airlines won't lose your bag and it's rather unlikely to be stolen when it never leaves your hands. There are many reasons to travel really light but quicker international connections and no lost luggage are 2 of the best.

Sher - have a great trip and be sure to tell us all about it. Happy trails!

hopefulist. I have just about decided to carry on my bag going.
I have knee and hip implants and I always get stopped for extra screening. I am not a particularly nervous flyer, but I don't like tight connections. I don't know if I have to go through security in Houston again because it is a domestic/international connection. But I will be prepared.

I will post when I return but by then this is going to be a very old post.

Thanks for the kind words.

What about places to stay??? I can't find availability for ANYTHING!? The best place I found prices for flights is hotwire.com

Sher wrote <b>&quot;I don't know if I have to go through security in Houston again because it is a domestic/international connection.&quot;</b>

On the flight to Mexico you don't go thru security again in Houston, but on the return flight from Mexico you will have to go thru customs, re-check your bags if you have checked luggage, then go thru security again. This is usually a very crowded checkpoint.

Hi Bill. I asked this also because recently I had to go through securtiy in Philadelphia because my Southwest flight arrived at one terminal and departed from another.

And thank you for the information.

Suze,
I just bought 2 RT tixs SEA-PVR for $618 (TOTAL!) on Obitz--signed up for TLC for fares under 325 and they e-mailed me this just now! Thought you might be interested.

Artlover. I couldn't resist checking my price after I saw your post.

Orbitz lists my flights for $499, so I guess I still got a decent deal.

I hope Suze can take advantage of the great price you found as she listed prices much higher.

<b>Hi Bill. I asked this also because recently I had to go through securtiy in Philadelphia because my Southwest flight arrived at one terminal and departed from another.</b>

Ah, OK ... good question, we've faced the same thing at the Los Angeles airport.

In Houston we've always flown the same airline on the connection to Houston and then to Mexico or South or Cental America (Continental) so we didn't have to go thru a 2nd security check, though a few times we've had to walk quite a ways.

I *think* all the terminals in Houston are inter-connected so you don't have to go outside and change buildings (unlike say LAX) ... do you know what airline(s) you are flying? If the same carrier both flights you should be OK.

Bill

Hi Bill

I am flying Continental from Pittsburgh through Houston to Mexico.

Even though I was flying on Southwest into Philadelphia and also out of Philadelphia, we had to change terminals.

It was explained to me that there is a problem with 1. Philadelphia and 2. that Southwest was given gates in various terminals. Maybe there wasn't room for them in one terminal.

This isn't always the case. We could have lucked out and been given arrival gates and departure gates in the same terminal, but we weren't.

Thanks for the info.

Sher,
I hope so too, which is why I posted. Took some time and patience (which I'm not good at) to get that price, but feel good about it.