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Post by kaima on Oct 30, 2007 2:39:29 GMT -7
I have spent the last several hours going through three different search engines for flights to Europe from Anchorage for this Christmas. I am looking for mid December to after the first week in January and compared all flights to Frankfurt ($802), Berlin ($913), Prague ($1070), Warsaw ($1320), Bratislava ($1293) and Budapest ($943).
I also checked multi-city fares figuring going one-way and not makeing a full loop (on a 3000km trip) is worth time and money. So Anchorage-Frankfurt-Budapest-Anchorage comes in at a relatively reasonable $883.
So is the theory. When you try to book the advertised rates they consistently come back with refusals and with alternate fares at apx. $100 more. I researched and repeated the results, then cleared the cookies from my computer and researched again. They keep coming up with the same low teaser fares and then switching to more expensive alternates.
With a feeling of disgust at shady business practices, I believe I will talk to a travel agent tomorrow and see if they can get a straight, honest price from the airlines!
Kai
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Post by bescheid on Oct 30, 2007 7:53:25 GMT -7
I have spent the last several hours going through three different search engines for flights to Europe from Anchorage for this Christmas. I am looking for mid December to after the first week in January and compared all flights to Frankfurt ($802), Berlin ($913), Prague ($1070), Warsaw ($1320), Bratislava ($1293) and Budapest ($943). I also checked multi-city fares figuring going one-way and not makeing a full loop (on a 3000km trip) is worth time and money. So Anchorage-Frankfurt-Budapest-Anchorage comes in at a relatively reasonable $883. So is the theory. When you try to book the advertised rates they consistently come back with refusals and with alternate fares at apx. $100 more. I researched and repeated the results, then cleared the cookies from my computer and researched again. They keep coming up with the same low teaser fares and then switching to more expensive alternates. With a feeling of disgust at shady business practices, I believe I will talk to a travel agent tomorrow and see if they can get a straight, honest price from the airlines! Kai Appears to be the normal amount of smoke screen with hook rates..and out dated information. The advantage a competent travel agent maintains, is a direct line with the various airline office computers. They pick up the unadvertised specials and link up information. Fairly often this may be obtained over telephone link up and whilst one agency will have good access, it is always a good hedge of bet, to obtain the similar service with two or more different offices, if available, a rule of {three}is better. For what one office may miss, another may have more to the minute information of {just released travel special}. This is the most price advantage. For if you go for a specific time and date, then this is more expensive and often negates the price advantage of a special. It is all what ever how ever suits your needs and preference. We as people do not by necessity be experts, we hire that out to our advantage. But you knew this, my only intent is a simple reminder. Charles |
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Post by rdywenur on Oct 30, 2007 14:55:10 GMT -7
833.00 Sounds like you got your self a good deal. Grab it.
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Post by kaima on Oct 30, 2007 15:35:35 GMT -7
I just came from the travel agent and she could only find $1300 for the alternate fares, and she even came up with the same $3197.74 fare for the one combination (originally advertised at $883).
So I settled for the best I could get - $832 complete, for ANC- Frankfurt. She matched the 'best' I could find, but could not meet the great price & schedule originally quoted from KLM. Too bad they were so much more expensive!
More about my plans as they develop.
Kai
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scatts
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 812
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Post by scatts on Oct 31, 2007 0:38:15 GMT -7
Kai, I moved this topic to travel section.
The marketing policy of most airlines is indeed very cynical. The have a headline low fare but this is only allocated to 3 seats, booking 4 years in advance and flying at 03:00 in the morning! Anything else and you can expect a big hike in price.
It also depends entirely on how much competition there is on the route you wish to take. Getting from Warsaw to the UK for example, is quite cheap because there is plenty of choice. We're paying less than $500 to fly all three of us to the UK and back at Christmas.
Going from Warsaw to Dubai, however, is a different matter. Aside from the fact that there are no direct flights, there is little competition and those who do fly are obviously agreeing between themselves to hold a minimum price level. It is costing us therefore more than $2,200 to fly just Marta and myself there in February.
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Post by suzanne on Oct 31, 2007 6:34:53 GMT -7
It is ridiculously confusing and frustrating to search for and get decent fares. We are looking into Europe tickets for next summer and the prices are all over the place. Hard to know how early to book as there doesn't necessarily seem to be a discount for booking way in advance.
Kai, your $832 fare sounds great. Actually, anything under $1000 from N. America to Europe sounds great. I haven't been across the pond in a while and am getting sticker shock at the fares! Well, hope you have a wonderful trip at any rate!!
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Post by rdywenur on Oct 31, 2007 9:16:47 GMT -7
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joyce
Full Pole
Posts: 394
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Post by joyce on Dec 24, 2007 14:34:04 GMT -7
I know this is an older thread-but the information I'm gonna say is important.
Kai and all...I just hope that when you have paid for your seats and you arrive at the airport-that you are not bumped off by the airline. Several of the big airlines have overbooked their planes, and will give away your seat if you don't step forward to get on the plane. This happened to a friend of mine who was arriving from Canada-had a few short minutes to get to the connecting flight and the airline gave away her seat, because she had to "run" from one terminal to another. She was terribly distraught; she complained to the airline, but the airline did nothing. Not even guarantee her a seat on the next plane going to Texas-even tho her fare/seat was paid for in advance.
So beware when traveling on the airlines. They will say you have a seat, but nothing is confirmed until you have actually sat down in your airline seat.
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