PHL to Seattle
 

Hi!
FIL's 85th BDay is on 12th of july.
Its Saturday. What is the best way to find a cheaper flight?

At this late date the best fare is $468 on JetBlue, leaving on the 9th and coming back the 14th.

We can't leave business for this long. Its got to be 3 days top incl 12th. Which site gives you option to choose overnight flight or some alternative dates?

Have you checked Kayak? It consolidates all of the others searching for the best price.
Also check flying into PDX and driving 4 hours into Seattle.

I was going to suggest Kayak, but be aware that Southwest Airlines does NOT allow Kayak to display its flights. So find what you can at Kayak and then check Southwest.

> Which site gives you option to choose overnight flight
> or some alternative dates?

Kayak allows flexible dates AND flexible departure cities. Simply check "Add nearby airports" when you begin your search. When I did so with flexible dates, I found leaving Thursday and returning Saturday was $588 -- you'll have to check the details to see if they meet your needs.
http://www.kayak.com/flights/PHL,nea...-10/2014-07-12

Also note that I once saved $400 PER TICKET by flying out of a New York airport, even though I live in the Philly area. Check NYC airports as well, you might find a great deal. If you do, check if you save money by driving up to the airport and parking for three days. Yes, driving between Philly and NYC is a pain, but saving 100s of dollars can make it worth your while.

Also note that you can take a train direct from downtown Philly to Newark Airport -- check out that option if you don't want to drive.

I think it's wonderful that you "fell in love" on your 85th birthday. Delta offers the kind of options you are looking for.

HTtY

BWI also has an Amtrak station with a shuttle connection to departures as well. I have flown into and out of Newark, BWI and Dulles but never from Philadelphia.

Try this site...Matrix airfare search...
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

Thanks, guys, searching...
I have noticed a few times that if I found more/less decent price and if I wait over the weekend - that price will triple!
So I was always wondering if I am save 2 weeks prior or 15 days or 20 days...how does it work?

happytrails, you were kidding, right?

First, airfares from anywhere to/from Seattle during cruise season (5/15 - 9/15) are high, period. They're higher for flights on weekends, as that's when most of the Alaska cruises depart and arrive, so if you can travel Mon-Thurs you MIGHT get a lower fare, but not by much. If you're waiting for some super bargain, you'll probably be waiting a long time.

There are several nonstop flights daily between SEA and PHL, a couple operated by US Airways (about to become American Airlines) and one a day operated by Alaska Airlines. The Alaska flight leaves Philly around 5:30 or 6 PM and arrives around 9 PM; the US Airways flights depart from PHL in the morning and afternoon. Leaving Seattle, most flights depart before 1 PM, so that they can arrive in Philly that night (due to the 3 hour time change.) There are no overnight "red-eye" nonstops to Philly from Seattle; all the red-eyes require a plane change someplace, like Chicago or Dallas.

There are some one-stop itineraries that can be as much as $100 cheaper than the nonstops - for example United Airlines with a change in Denver or Chicago, but of course that adds hours to the trip, and you'll have to decide if the cost savings are worth the time penalty - your schedule is pretty tight as it is.

But to repeat, don't expect miracle fares to Seattle during cruise season - ain't gonna happen.

Thanks. Never knew that.
However question is remaining. I can book flight now or wait until Monday. Right now I have 28th to 11th window - 15 days.
Do they change prices if window is 14 days or 13?

Fares change every day, sometimes several times a day. This is called "yield management" and the computer programs they use to figure things out are closely held secrets by the airlines.

It matters far less when you BUY the ticket as when you actually fly. If your time is flexible, just keep using Kayak or ITA (links above) to find the best combination of days/times and when you see a price you can live with, go for it and don't look back. But as I was saying, don't expect miracles.

Booked for $767. Just got an first class upgrade offer for $259 more. Registered.

thanks

That makes me sad. Southwest has flights 7/11 - 7/14 (max 3 days incl July 12th criteria) for $492. I hope you have a great trip and bday celebration with your family.