babble home
rabble.ca - news for the rest of us
today's active topics


Post New Topic  Post A Reply
FAQ | Forum Home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» babble   » walking the talk   » labour and consumption   » Airline Tickets

Email this thread to someone!    
Author Topic: Airline Tickets
verbatim
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 569

posted 16 May 2004 07:54 PM      Profile for verbatim   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I'm wondering what babblers might know about the best ways to purchase passage by air. I haven't bought a ticket for myself for about 8 years, and I'm curious to know how things have changed. I'm also interested in ideas or information people might have about the time factor in the cost of airfare.

Thanks in advance!


From: The People's Republic of Cook Street | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
Anchoress
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4650

posted 16 May 2004 08:14 PM      Profile for Anchoress     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I have one word for you:

WESTJET

Unbeatable prices, great jokes, and you can buy your tickets online.


From: Vancouver babblers' meetup July 9 @ Cafe Deux Soleil! | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 16 May 2004 08:29 PM      Profile for Cougyr     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
If you book on line, be very careful. There was an English couple who booked their dream trip to Sidney, Australia and wound up in . . . Nova Scotia. Expensive mistake.

[ 16 May 2004: Message edited by: Cougyr ]


From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
Anchoress
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4650

posted 16 May 2004 08:35 PM      Profile for Anchoress     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Yeah, good point, Cougyr. I don't know if I'd book overseas tics online. But for domestic travel, it's the only way to fly lol. I don't think I've gone into a travel agent to buy a domestic ticket in about eight years.
From: Vancouver babblers' meetup July 9 @ Cafe Deux Soleil! | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
verbatim
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 569

posted 16 May 2004 11:17 PM      Profile for verbatim   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Interesting -- I assumed that the Internet would end up making a lot of travel agents superfluous. Has anyone at babble ever bought international flights online? That's the kind of airline trip I'm thinking about these days.
From: The People's Republic of Cook Street | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
'lance
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1064

posted 16 May 2004 11:25 PM      Profile for 'lance     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've looked for international tickets online, but when it came right down to it found the best prices simply by playing one bricks-and-mortar travel agency off against another.

Flight Centre, the Australian chain, has a policy of beating their competitors' fares. If you simply get any travel agent to quote you a fare in writing -- prices written on the back of a business card will do -- Flight Centre will sell you that trip for less. I recommend trying them.


From: that enchanted place on the top of the Forest | Registered: Jul 2001  |  IP: Logged
Anchoress
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4650

posted 16 May 2004 11:46 PM      Profile for Anchoress     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Yeah, I've always gotten good deals from Flight Centre.
From: Vancouver babblers' meetup July 9 @ Cafe Deux Soleil! | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
No Yards
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4169

posted 16 May 2004 11:56 PM      Profile for No Yards   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Don't go on-line for International airline tickets.

My wife goes home (Thailand) every year, and the best prices I have found are from small travelagents in our local China town . . . check out the equivilant in your town.

For example, on-line tickets came in at between $3000-$4000+ . . . the local ticket agents in places like the Eatons Centre could offer prices in the $1800-$2000 range . . . the small little cubbyhole ticket agent in a Chinatown mall offered better tickets (no US connecting flights) for around $1400.


From: Defending traditional marriage since June 28, 2005 | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Ranger03
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5302

posted 17 May 2004 12:09 PM      Profile for Ranger03        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
I have one word for you:
WESTJET

Unbeatable prices, great jokes, and you can buy your tickets online.


Don't be silly, all airlines offer the same rates (unless they are Chartered flights). What you must be aware of is there are a given number of most fares on an aircraft(all airlines including WJ). Once the cheaper fares are gone the fare appears to have gone up but it hasn't they have just been taken. Call or book on-line as far in advance as possible so the cheap fares are not gone, this also allows you to shop around for dep/arr times best suited to you.


From: bed | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged
audra trower williams
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2

posted 17 May 2004 12:12 PM      Profile for audra trower williams   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I am loyal to www.jetsgo.com
From: And I'm a look you in the eye for every bar of the chorus | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
DownTheRoad
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4523

posted 17 May 2004 12:32 PM      Profile for DownTheRoad     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've booked a few international tickets online (British Airways to Switzerland and US Airways to Costa Rica) with zero problems. They used to recommend getting paper vs. e-tickets for international flights but some airlines don't offer paper anymore or do so with an extra fee. If you do e-tickets make sure you take a copy of your receipt and itinerary with you.

A Saturday night stay and a minimum 14 or 21 day (depends on the airline) advance purchase can usually reduce the price.

[ 17 May 2004: Message edited by: DownTheRoad ]


From: land of cotton | Registered: Oct 2003  |  IP: Logged
Ranger03
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5302

posted 17 May 2004 12:55 PM      Profile for Ranger03        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
I am loyal to www.jetsgo.com

Okay, it's your money


From: bed | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged
beverly
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5064

posted 17 May 2004 06:37 PM      Profile for beverly     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Call or book on-line as far in advance as possible so the cheap fares are not gone, this also allows you to shop around for dep/arr times best suited to you.

I don't know if that's true. I got a real cheap fare between Calgary and Victoria on WestJet - it was only 5 days beforehand, and $75 dollars plus taxes, plus plus whatever.

I am amazed at the airline industry though. Like, do they really think that I care if I get peanuts and a soft drink? I want the cheapest fare, its as simple as that.


From: In my Apartment!!!! | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged
Ranger03
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5302

posted 17 May 2004 09:09 PM      Profile for Ranger03        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
I don't know if that's true. I got a real cheap fare between Calgary and Victoria on WestJet - it was only 5 days beforehand, and $75 dollars plus taxes, plus plus whatever.

Yes that is a great fare but you can not take it for granted. I am just saying it could be any carrier. My sisters tavel from Ottawa to Calgary, some time they fly Air Canada some time West Jet (like now). It pays to shop.


From: bed | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged
HeywoodFloyd
token right-wing mascot
Babbler # 4226

posted 17 May 2004 09:19 PM      Profile for HeywoodFloyd     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
It pays to shop.

Unless, of course, you're also sending a message to a particular company about their customer service. If you are, then

GO WESTJET!


From: Edmonton: This place sucks | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 17 May 2004 10:49 PM      Profile for Cougyr     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by No Yards:
. . . the small little cubbyhole ticket agent in a Chinatown mall offered better tickets (no US connecting flights) . . .

That's my requirement, no US connecting flights. Partly I'm fed up with the problems with US border guards; partly I see no reason to stop there if I'm not going there.


From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
Anchoress
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4650

posted 17 May 2004 11:21 PM      Profile for Anchoress     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by HeywoodFloyd:

Unless, of course, you're also sending a message to a particular company about their customer service. If you are, then

GO WESTJET!


Yeah, exactly. I'd fly WestJet even if AC offered to pay me to fly their carrier.


From: Vancouver babblers' meetup July 9 @ Cafe Deux Soleil! | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
No Yards
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4169

posted 18 May 2004 10:19 AM      Profile for No Yards   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Cougyr:

That's my requirement, no US connecting flights. Partly I'm fed up with the problems with US border guards; partly I see no reason to stop there if I'm not going there.


If you are a Canadian citizen (born in a western country) you will probably not have a problem, but my wife and daughter are Asian, and because my daughter (11 years old at the time) didn't have a transit visa (my wife had a 10 year US visa,) they wre thrown in a holding cell, under armed guard, until their connecting flight was ready to leave.

The transit visa wasn't legally required. I checked with the ticket agent, the air-lines, and the US embassy (at $2.99 a minute on a fucking toll phone service, the money grubbing bastard liers,) who all told me on stop-overs under 8 ours a transit visa was not required . . .don't ever "misunderestimate" the lack of knowledge, or pure hateful spite of US customs.


From: Defending traditional marriage since June 28, 2005 | Registered: Jun 2003  |  IP: Logged
Mandos
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 888

posted 18 May 2004 10:33 AM      Profile for Mandos   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I dunno about other people, but I took AC on a trip to the US last year, and thus was in four AC planes (one stopover at Pearson there and back). Frankly, I didn't have a problem with AC. Especially after a few plane rides this year on two or three different US carriers, which were significantly worse than AC The worst part of the AC trip was Pearson, and AC can hardly be blamed for that.

My flight last year from a certain US city to Pearson, for instance, had a great flight attendant, who was very friendly and gave me and my seatmate some drink mixing tips, with the requisite drinks too. (I didn't need the tips, since they involved booze.) Leaving Pearson, we got great ice cream. The airplanes were clean.

By contrast, the US carriers' airplanes were often pretty dirty, small seats, they only served horrible pretzels, the drink selection was poor, and the flight attendants (except one, I guess) were largely indifferent. However, they were cheaper than taking AC, and the flights were short and thus tolerable. You get what you pay for. At least the stopovers/airports were much better than Pearson *shudder*. Detroit's airport was amusingly trippy, actually.


From: There, there. | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
Hinterland
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4014

posted 18 May 2004 01:21 PM      Profile for Hinterland        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
My worst experience has always been with American Airlines, although I've had one or two unpleasant experiences with Air Canada. What bugged me the most with AA was when I lived in the Caribbean, and either took AA into Miami and then to Canada, or Air Canada directly to Toronto.

Caribbean people have a pretty different attitude towards time, and the delays and requirements for showing up at the airport ahead of schedule were significant even before 9/11. But with Air Canada, the ground crew would do a whole variety of things to speed up the process, such as checking with individuals in line to make sure they had everything that would be required for check-in, etc. American Airlines didn't seem to do anything but get all snotty and curt with the passengers when the flight, yet again, left 45 mins to an hour late. And I found the planes dirty, even in Business class.

Also, I'm pretty sure Air Canada pulled this trick a lot; they'd overestimate the time of arrival by at least 45 minutes to an hour, so when the flight was late in departing, we'd still arrive on time, or sometimes even early.

One of the best coach flights I've ever had was with El Al. I wonder if it's still like that.


From: Québec/Ontario | Registered: Apr 2003  |  IP: Logged
DownTheRoad
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4523

posted 18 May 2004 01:42 PM      Profile for DownTheRoad     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Remember a few years ago when Greyhound briefly operated a discount airline? The plane didn't seem very clean and kind of smelled funny. The flight attendents neglected to secure one of the drink carts at the front before takeoff and on the ascent it rolled out and tipped over, sending a bunch of pop cans and liquor mini-bottles rolling down the aisle.
From: land of cotton | Registered: Oct 2003  |  IP: Logged
Ranger03
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5302

posted 18 May 2004 04:06 PM      Profile for Ranger03        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
am amazed at the airline industry though. Like, do they really think that I care if I get peanuts and a soft drink? I want the cheapest fare, its as simple as that.

As you can see below, there are poeple that not only care about the incidentals
they are willing to pay more to send out their message.
I am quite new here however thought the thread related to cost saving and if in fact you should use e-tickets for international travel. I have seen some of you call people "trolls" is that what I do now??

quote:
Unless, of course, you're also sending a message to a particular company about their customer service. If you are, then

quote:
Yeah, exactly. I'd fly WestJet even if AC offered to pay me to fly their carrier.

From: bed | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged
Willowdale Wizard
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3674

posted 28 May 2004 06:13 AM      Profile for Willowdale Wizard   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
canadian affair is a well-kept secret. they do charter flights from canada to britain (london gatwick, birmingham, manchester, edinburgh). booking now for this summer is expensive, but if you book next february for next april, it's, and i'm going to use a technical microeconomic term here, heckuva cheap. one year, my girlfriend and i travelled for $800 cdn roundtrip for the both of us combined.

within europe, ryanair and easyjet are the two leading, as john crosbie would say, boodjet airlines.


From: england (hometown of toronto) | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged
skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 28 May 2004 11:04 AM      Profile for skdadl     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
WW, that is a great link -- thanks very much. They do Toronto-Edinburgh non-stop! For cheap!
From: gone | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
Willowdale Wizard
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3674

posted 28 May 2004 11:12 AM      Profile for Willowdale Wizard   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
i'll warn you now ... two of the four times that i've used them, they've changed my itinerary.

originally, i've booked birmingham-toronto, and they've sent me tickets in the mail saying birmingham-touchdown in edinburgh-toronto, or, i've booked toronto-birmingham, and they've sent me toronto-touchdown in gatwick-birmingham.

since it's so cheap, i've just accepted it.

you may avoid this if there is more demand on toronto-scotland.


From: england (hometown of toronto) | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged
skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 28 May 2004 11:17 AM      Profile for skdadl     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Oh ... that old routine. I'll bet any Scottish connection would mean touch-downs in Manchester, at least one way. Edinburgh is a very tiny airport, and they probably can't fill planes without hopping in somewhere else. Every other charter line I've flown with does that; they even mainly do it when they're flying to Glasgow, which is bigger. Drat. I knew it was too good to be true.

But. Still cheap.


From: gone | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
rob.leblanc
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2475

posted 28 May 2004 11:59 AM      Profile for rob.leblanc     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Well, in July 2, I'm planning on going to Europe with a friend of mine. I've been booking tickets all month.....for the international flight (Canada -> Edinbergh, the first stop) I got from a travel agent. that with a return is roughly in the $1200 area, but it depends on when your planning on returning to Canada. And since plane rides throughout Europe are less expensive than train rides (I don't know why, but they are), I've been going to EasyJet a lot.

For flights within Canada, I suggest Jetsgo, but I should warn you that friends of mine have lost their luggage with them. other than that, they are pretty good. Or good 'ol Expedia.ca

[edited to add: Speaking of the Edinburgh Airport being tiny, it should be noted that I have to stop at Manchester for about an hour before I get to Edinburgh]

[ 28 May 2004: Message edited by: rob.leblanc ]


From: Where am I? Where are YOU? | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged
The Oatmeal Savage
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4353

posted 28 May 2004 12:30 PM      Profile for The Oatmeal Savage   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've had good service from EasyJet, but book early for the best prices, and seat allocation is determined by when you check in.
From: top of the food chain | Registered: Aug 2003  |  IP: Logged
Willowdale Wizard
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3674

posted 28 May 2004 08:05 PM      Profile for Willowdale Wizard   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Since plane rides throughout Europe are less expensive than train rides (I don't know why, but they are), I've been going to EasyJet a lot

it's (sinister pause) deceptive. for easyjet flights out of london, you need to get to gatwick, luton or stansted airports, and that means taking the train/bus to get there (£8 to £13 one way on the train). the advantage of london-brussels or london-paris by eurostar train is that you get downtown-to-downtown for £70 (if you book over 2 weeks ahead).

friends of mine in geneva call easyjet the orange bus to london.


From: england (hometown of toronto) | Registered: Jan 2003  |  IP: Logged

All times are Pacific Time  

Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
Hop To:

Contact Us | rabble.ca | Policy Statement

Copyright 2001-2008 rabble.ca