priceline.com
 

Has anyone every used this service? If so, what was your experience. Trying to get cheapest fare possible for trip to Montreal from New Orleans at Christmas time. <BR> <BR>Thanks

I have attempted to use pricelaine several times but never got a bid accepted until tonight. Then after I am billed, I find out that I could have the exact same hotel for about 15% less if I used AAA or dorect online with the hotel. Priceline is NOT a good deal and they do NOT get the best price. Tome for some disclosures and consumer protection form this company. Maybe a good class action lawsuit. MY recommendation- forget using this service.

Dawn, <BR> <BR>I tried using Priceline for airfare, and found out that you can't choose your flight times - which means you could have long layovers and spend all day in an airport. Also I know someone who used them unaware that the price did not include airport taxes - which made the price the same as they could have got elsewhere with more choices. Priceline gets cheaper airfare and hotels when there is excess demand which would be doubtful at Christmas time. Better to book early with one of the online companies like Expedia, etc.

Oops, <BR>I should have said, Priceline gets cheaper airfare and hotels when there is excess SUPPLY which is doubtful at Christmas time.

I used Priceline to order airline tickets from Los Angeles to new Orleans. The best price i could get on my own with a convention discount was $399 round trip. Priceline got me $300. I can't be sure if it is a good service until I am successful at getting both to new orleans and home again. i was told that it is easy to get bumped from a flight with priceline tickets and that I should arrive at the airport very early. <BR>Hope this helps

Before using Priceline, you must do your shopping...As you should imagine - everything depends. Christmastime is surely not the best time to find "cheap" anything anywhere. With Priceline in general, you could get lucky, all depending upon when and where you're going, how flexible you are, and how (and this is a crapshoot) intelligently you "bid". But, I must say, bargains in air fare during the Christmas holidays are not likely. Union contracts provide premium pay for pilots and attendants who fly during that period and seats are booked many, many months in advance by folks traveling for the holidays. Sometimes, you're lucky to find a seat at any price at this late date...

Just used Priceline for airline tickets. Cheapest my travel agent could get was $398. Priceline got for $120. I couldn't believe it! Don't be afraid to make a ridiculous offer. I did and it worked.

HEY BUCKHORN: <BR>what in the world are you talkin' about???? <BR>"Priceline does not get the best price"???? <BR>YOU enter the price....if YOU entered a price which is not competitive whose fault is that????

I've had terrific luck with Priceline, all depending. You should shop diligently first. It's not likely,though, that you'll find any bargains anywhere at peak times in popular destinations, especially at this late date...

I agree with the comment on "Priceline doesn't get the best prices" -- that doesn't make any sense, as you bid what price you're willing to pay. I suspect these people don't know what Priceline is or something. Anyway, there was an article in my local paper on this subject, and that author felt that it was pretty good for getting cheap hotel rooms, but not so hot for airfares. Many less variables in hotel rooms, also -- I believe you enter the price you're willing to pay, the dates, and you can specify some level of quality and they let you know if they find you something. Not sure if you can enter more specific locations, but in many cities (ie, New York) that are fairly small, you can't go too wrong as long as they live up to their billing of the quality standard. This author got some very good deals on hotel rooms by knowing what was a very good price in that city (ie, $125 in New York); if you "win" you have to go, but if they can get you a $125 3-star hotel in New York on the dates you want, you can't go too wrong. This author offered prices that were extremely cheap just to see what happened, and got nice hotel rooms in several cities that way. Again, I'm sure that's a good idea outside holiday periods. The person who bid something and after it was accepted, then "found out" they could get same thing cheaper reserving themselves with a AAA discount is the kind of foolish behavior Priceline makes money from--you ought to check out what is a good bid BEFORE you do it, not after. They're a business, not a babysitter.