Priceline bidding for air?

[flowergurl]

Has anyone ever used Priceline to put in a 'name your own price' bid for an airline ticket? How did it work out? Advantages, disadvantages?

My niece and husband want to join us in Hawaii for my daughter's June wedding there and they are considering bidding on Priceline to get a lower cost ticket.

Thanks,
Diane

 

[DeniseM]

The main disadvantage is that you must pay before you bid, and all purchases are final, and you can't choose the time of the flight. I like Priceline for hotels, but have never used it for flights, because we want to choose our flights.

 

[linsj]

I used it once a long time ago and never again. Ended up with such an inconvenient schedule that the savings wasn't worth it.

 

[exyeh]

I used it once a long time ago and never again. Ended up with such an inconvenient schedule that the savings wasn't worth it.

I totally agree.

 

[carl2591]

how about hotwire for flights.??

 

[natasha5687]

how about hotwire for flights.??

Hotwire is OK for flights but I usually use Expedia. Once I find the least expensive flight I go directly to the carriers website. I find that often times the selection of flight is better once you get to the actuall carries site.

 

[flowergurl]

Hotwire is OK for flights but I usually use Expedia. Once I find the least expensive flight I go directly to the carriers website. I find that often times the selection of flight is better once you get to the actuall carries site.

Good to know, Natasha, thanks! For some reason, I think I'll feel more secure purchasing our six round-trip tickets to Hawaii through the actual carrier's site. It's such a chunk of money and from what I see it appears to be nonrefundable for the best priced tickets, which are already sitting at about $1200 each from my hometown!

I haven't bought an airline ticket for over 30 years so I'm really rusty at this whole process!

 

[natasha5687]

Good to know, Natasha, thanks! For some reason, I think I'll feel more secure purchasing our six round-trip tickets to Hawaii through the actual carrier's site. It's such a chunk of money and from what I see it appears to be nonrefundable for the best priced tickets, which are already sitting at about $1200 each from my hometown!

I haven't bought an airline ticket for over 30 years so I'm really rusty at this whole process!

Diane,

You are very welcome. If you want to post (or PM) the airport that you (or whomever is looking for tickets) are flying out of and into as well as your dates I may be able to locate cheaper tickets. I'm kind of obsessed with saving money. For instance I saved $100 per ticket on my upcoming Orlando trip by flying out of an airport 35 minutes from home and then flying back into an airport 45 minutes from home and ended up with direct flights to boot. A little bit of creativity can go a long way. I am also going to Myrtle Beach, my family and I will drive but due to disability my mother cant sit as long. Her ticket was $300 cheaper and a direct flight by flying in and out of the airport 35 minutes away.

 

[jpc763]

Hotwire is OK for flights but I usually use Expedia. Once I find the least expensive flight I go directly to the carriers website. I find that often times the selection of flight is better once you get to the actuall carries site.

I do the same thing, but with Kayak. I use Kayak for everything (Car & Hotel) but then go to the website after looking up coupon codes, etc.

What I have observed is that pretty much every search site ends up searching the same database and presenting the same info.

 

[MichaelColey]

I've used Priceline quite a bit with hotels and rental cars and have been very happy with the results, but I will probably never use Priceline for flights. The flexibility you have to give them (your initial flight out can be anytime from 6am to 10pm and you may have one connection) basically makes the first and last day of the trip useless.

For instance, if I wanted to go to NYC and needed to be there by 4pm on 7/21 and could leave anytime after 4pm on 7/24, I would HAVE to fly in on 7/20 and back on 7/25, otherwise I might arrive to late and/or have to leave too early. If I booked direct, I could book a flight out that arrives before 4pm on 7/21 and a flight back that doesn't leave until after 4pm on 7/24. Those two extra nights in NYC would cost $200-$300 or more, so it's highly unlikely I would save enough to make it worthwhile.

Maybe it's not as big of a deal on a full week (or multi-week) trip staying in a timeshare, with a whole family, because that first and last day isn't as important. But from what I've heard from others, there's usually not a whole lot of savings.

Perhaps it might work out for last minute timeshares/flights. Find a great timeshare. Put it on hold. Bid on cheap airfare at Priceline. If you get it, confirm the exchange. If not, release it.