What's your best travel "deal" ever?
Dec 13th, 2008, 09:21 AM
#2
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Wanted to fly from Philly to Germany. Prices for round trip flights were running about $1000 apiece. Asked Kayak.Com to check flights from NYC airports. Found that Singapore Airlines were charging $600 a ticket to fly between JFK to Frankfort (the same airplane was then going on to Singapore). I then found I could rent a car between PHL and JFK for about $100 each way (that includes taxes, tolls, CDW, and gas). Service and amenities on Singapore Airlines are higher than just about any other company we've flown on, so I paid for beer and got champagne.
It took a couple hours of searching on Kayak to get this. But that means I was getting paid about $300 an hour to surf for bargains.
It took a couple hours of searching on Kayak to get this. But that means I was getting paid about $300 an hour to surf for bargains.
Dec 13th, 2008, 12:54 PM
#4
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Many years ago - when there was a TWA and I flew constantly on businees they had an incredible m ilege deal.
For only 50,000 miles (and I was racking up at least 100K per year) you could get a free First Class ticket to Europe - and you companion paid the cheapest fare (then about $500-$600) and also got a First Class seat.
And - they always had seats available. As long as I called at least 3 months in advance I could get whatever dates/cities I wanted. Granted they didn;t have sleeper beds then - but they did have 7 course dinners - and a bar in the upstairs of the 747s.
Went to europe at least 11/12 times on this deal.
For only 50,000 miles (and I was racking up at least 100K per year) you could get a free First Class ticket to Europe - and you companion paid the cheapest fare (then about $500-$600) and also got a First Class seat.
And - they always had seats available. As long as I called at least 3 months in advance I could get whatever dates/cities I wanted. Granted they didn;t have sleeper beds then - but they did have 7 course dinners - and a bar in the upstairs of the 747s.
Went to europe at least 11/12 times on this deal.
Dec 13th, 2008, 02:04 PM
#5
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My best bargain was a really cheap fare to London posted here by Rex. My daughter and I jumped on it (but not before it went up just slightly), and had a great spur-of-the-moment trip. Fodorites rule!
Dec 14th, 2008, 02:30 AM
#10
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DS was living in a very popular tourist area. We called it "mooching off the kid". Free room and board! We also decided renting a car for 3 weeks was too expensive so DH gave him $500 towards the purchase of an ancient but reliable little car. On Father's Day DS took DH on a jeep trip with his club up the side of a mountain. Best Father's Day ever. If you don't count the 18+ year investment, it was free!
Dec 14th, 2008, 06:17 AM
#11
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Flying courier to Europe!
Before 9/11 issues
Use to be FREE both ways. You gave up about 1 full day for travel going over, but got a free hotel for the night and a free return tix at whatever date you had pre-selected.
Used it a few times when I was younger when I had more time than money!!
Before 9/11 issues
Use to be FREE both ways. You gave up about 1 full day for travel going over, but got a free hotel for the night and a free return tix at whatever date you had pre-selected.
Used it a few times when I was younger when I had more time than money!!
Dec 15th, 2008, 08:27 AM
#13
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Hubby and I flew to Paris ten years ago for around $700 for the both of us. It was Buy One/Get One Free deal on Northwest that we found out about through my employer's travel agent. That was a great trip. I've also flown Tennessee-SNA on a Priceline ticket - I bid $100 and I was shocked that it was accepted. Those are probably the best two deals I've gotten.
Dec 15th, 2008, 08:43 AM
#14
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Oh for the old days when you could buy cheap coach tickets to Europe on NWA, upgrade to first for minimal miles and still get credit toward elite status for miles flown based upon your purchase of the coach ticket. Certainly a win, win, win for flyers. never again. Alas.
Dec 15th, 2008, 01:32 PM
#15
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Five months after 9/11 we got an airfare/hotel package through American Airlines. The price was $399 pp for airfare plus 5 nights hotel and a Thames river cruise. It was our first trip abroad and we've been traveling since!
I have gotten several good airfare deals. $350 roundtrip Chicago to Dublin/Shannon to Chicago for February 07, and $325 roundtrip St. Louis to Paris.
Tracy
I have gotten several good airfare deals. $350 roundtrip Chicago to Dublin/Shannon to Chicago for February 07, and $325 roundtrip St. Louis to Paris.
Tracy
Dec 15th, 2008, 04:09 PM
#16
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Trip package to Ireland a few years ago: saw it in an ad in the Sunday travel secion of our newspaper. Round trip NY to Shannon/Dublin, 7 nights in Bed and Breakfasts around the country, and a rental car for a week, for $399 each. We upgraded to one night in a Castle (Dromoland) and changed at our expense to a hotel in Dublin (Merion) and had a fabulous week.
Dec 15th, 2008, 06:28 PM
#17
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1970, one week at Easter to Malaga/Torrelmolinos, Spain. Included charter airfare from Columbus, Ohio, a deluxe Melia Hotel room on the sea, two meals a day, and a couple of sidetrips including Sevilla on Good Friday and Ronda and Granada.
Total price -- $199 per person.
It was through the Ohio Education Association.
The following year at Christmas, they did a similar one for a week to Lucerne, Switzerland but several of our "group" boycotted it because they raised the price to an outrageous $249. We went, however.
Total price -- $199 per person.
It was through the Ohio Education Association.
The following year at Christmas, they did a similar one for a week to Lucerne, Switzerland but several of our "group" boycotted it because they raised the price to an outrageous $249. We went, however.
Dec 16th, 2008, 08:10 AM
#19
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A couple of years ago there was noted an unbelievable deal on Flyertalk.com. Alitalia had somehow offered a round trip fare of $33 (something like $100 all in)for a business class seat Toronto - Cyprus with stopovers in either Rome or Milan. Many flyertalkers took advantage of the offer and although Alitalia tried to get out of the deal most passengers prevailed. Still trying to figure our why I didn't take advantage of the opportunity.
Dec 16th, 2008, 05:51 PM
#20
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9 years ago in November, Boston to Paris round trip with 4 nights hotel (at a Holiday Inn), transfers and a city tour. $295 each ..... our logic back then was that we'd spend that much in a Home Depot on a weekend....so what a deal this was!
