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Topic: Cheap Airfares

Sine Ziegler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 225

posted 11 April 2003 12:13 AM

My honey and I are planning a trip to Scandinavia this summer. Unfortunately, there couldn't be a worse time to look for cheap discount prices. Does anyone have any advice or know of the best websites to find cheap flights to Europe?

I know Air Canada has a great deal right now - return airfare from Montreal to Munich for $488 all summer long if you book before April 19 but I dont live in Montreal and it'll cost me $800 just to GET to Montreal from here. Booo.

From: Calgary | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Wankity
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3723

posted 11 April 2003 12:16 AM

Expedia.ca has been good for me on several flights around North America.

Not sure about flights to Europe but might be worth a try.

[ 11 April 2003: Message edited by: Wankity ]

From: Saskabush | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Sine Ziegler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 225

posted 11 April 2003 12:28 AM

True on that! I've found the cheapest flights on there thus far.

But do you think the prices are going to get any lower or can they only get higher? How does this work? ( Like the Stock Market or do prices never go down?)

One minute Air Canada will cost $1500, then the next day it will cost $2000. How does that work? Does anyone know any theory or insight?

From: Calgary | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

DrConway
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 490

posted 11 April 2003 12:37 AM

I gave up a long time ago. Byzantine and obscure pricing structures are half the reason I hate airline companies with a passion. They go out of their way to screw you as efficiently as possible and you can't substitute with a boat cruise because, well, shit, there ain't NO boat cruises anymore.

I think what happens is that the price of your ticket is set based on what color the CEO's pajamas were the night before and factoring in the phase of the moon.

From: You shall not side with the great against the powerless. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Tommy M
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2183

posted 11 April 2003 10:12 AM

Try some of the charter airlines,
Air Transat, there is at least one other that flies, but I'm not sure of the name.

From: Here | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

smcniven
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2406

posted 11 April 2003 10:47 AM

Check out FlyerTalk's Miles forum. It's really geared towards frequent flyers, but some of the sub areas have good info on cheap flights. Start with the Mileage Run forum and maybe the MilesBuzz forum. I seem to remember some stuff about Scandanavian Airlines a while back.

From: Ottawa | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

lagatta
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2534

posted 11 April 2003 11:47 AM

Air Transat? I've done that, and may well in future, but be prepared for a fairly miserable trip. "Legroom? What is legroom?"

From: Se non ora, quando? | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Tommy M
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2183

posted 11 April 2003 12:21 PM

I don't remember the leg room, but I do recall the seats were quite narrow.

Although on my return flight the plane was almost empty and I had 3 seats to myself.

I have found though, that if I don't put anything under the seat in front of me the leg room is usually adequate.

From: Here | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Wankity
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3723

posted 12 April 2003 04:00 PM

Generally the further you book in advance, the better fare you'll get .. though not always. On Expedia, try playing with the arrival and departure time and dates, amazingly the fares may fluctuate quite a bit. Persistance + luck sometimes payoff. Friends of mine have used Cheaptickets.ca with varying success, as well.

Most airlines live and die by business travelers. Those who generally fly on short notice, thus fares closer to the departure date tend to spike.

If you're not constrained by arrival and departure times, anouther option is to fly standby. To the best of my knowledge, they don't allow it on International flights. But not sure. I've done it a few times within Canada and the U.S. and you can get great deals. Just ask at the ticket counter if you can fly standby ... 20 minutes before the flight, if the have empty seats they'll get you on.

[ 12 April 2003: Message edited by: Wankity ]

From: Saskabush | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

CanadianCrone
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3896

posted 12 April 2003 06:41 PM

quote:
...but I dont live in Montreal and it'll cost me $800 just to GET to Montreal from here. Booo.

Within Canada why aren't you flying WestJet? My son does and saves a whack!

http://westjet.ca or http://WestJet.com

From: Toronto | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Sine Ziegler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 225

posted 13 April 2003 05:35 PM

Treu enough but Air Canada is unionzed and West Jet is not

No really, I forgot all about West Jet.

From: Calgary | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Sine Ziegler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 225

posted 23 April 2003 09:42 PM

!!!! My dreams have come true. I think. Air Canada has a seat sale for Europe right now. The prices have been slashed in half! Sale ends tomorrow.

The only thing I wonder now is whether I should buy cancellation insurance? What happens if Air Canada goes bankrupt? Do I get my money back? Does anyone know anything about this? I know some people got screwed last year with Canada 3000 folding.

From: Calgary | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

'lance
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1064

posted 23 April 2003 11:06 PM

quote:
Does anyone know anything about this? I know some people got screwed last year with Canada 3000 folding.

The year before last, he said bitterly. But not as bitterly as he might have, because he and sig.oth. ended up with tickets on QANTAS for the same price -- a very comfortable flight, despite the 14 hour duration -- thanks to a genius travel agent in Vancouver.

If you buy your ticket using a credit card, which most people these days do, you can get your money back. Cancellation insurance brings peace of mind, and relative to the cost of a European ticket is cheap, but isn't necessary to protect against bankruptcy.

From: that enchanted place on the top of the Forest | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged

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