Beating the airlines fare games...

[KauaiMark]

We just got back this week from Kaua'i, had a great time. The only un-fun part was dealing with airlines.

Our timeshare week runs from Fri/Sat/Sun to the following Fri/Sat/Sun. Guess which days the airlines seem to have the significantly higher fares?

Flying out on Thurs and coming home on Monday, the fare was significantly less. So much less that the cost difference pretty much paid for the extra four nights using AirBnB.

We started with 2 nights in the Poip'u beach area followed by our timeshare week at the Kauai Marriott Beach club for a week and finished with the final 2 nights in Princeville.

Car rental and food did cost more for 12 days instead of 7 but it was worth it.

..Mark

 

[mjm1]

Mark, glad to hear you enjoyed Kauai. We decided a few years ago that 7 nights isn't enough when we fly to Hawaii after spending 8 nights one time to get a better fare. Your plan sounds even better, especially when the reduction in airfare offsets part or all of the additional costs.

Mike

 

[LisaRex]

Our timeshare week runs from Fri/Sat/Sun to the following Fri/Sat/Sun. Guess which days the airlines seem to have the significantly higher fares?

The reason that airlines have higher fares on the weekend is because they can (because that's when people prefer to fly). If I can't book with miles, I will fly to another island and check it out from Wednesday to Saturday, when I check into my timeshare. It's a good excuse to add more time to the visit.

 

[linsj]

I've been doing that for years: adding days before and after my timeshare weeks or booking to arrive and leave midweek when using timeshare points or staying at hotels. In Kauai, I stay at the Marriott Resort before and after on rewards points since it has a free airport shuttle and I don't need a car those days, thus not having to pay extra for the car or parking fee.

 

[Passepartout]

We do the same for cruises. Fly in to the departure port 3-4 days early and out of the destination port 3-4 days after arrival. The lower airfare really helps with lodging cost for the longer vacation.

Doing this next month for Amsterdam & Stockholm.

Jim

 

[MichaelColey]

Great excuse for adding days! We like to add on an extra timeshare week, and just use 4-5 days of it.

Timeshare weeks are cheap compared to airfare.

 

[n777lt]

We started this when the airline schedules got so bad we weren't going to get to our TS until after 6 pm - effectively losing the whole day! The side benefit was travelling at the lower Thursday fare for a Friday check-in, using Airbnb or points for the extra night...highly recommended. The most annoying extra out-of-pocket - the extra day of rental car!

 

[lprstn]

I find booking mid week to go and returning on the weekend doesn't change the fare much.

 

[rifleman69]

We went from the previous Friday to yesterday (Sunday) and the airfare was much cheaper. You're right in that adding a day or two here and there can save you a decent chunk of money.