can you guys help me figure out how to order airline tix?

[david c.]

Hi all:

This may seem absurd to you who travel a lot, but I just graduated from school last year and I need to fly from Pittsburgh to San Diego to sit for the California bar exam in late July. But, I have no idea what is the best way to buy airline tickets.

I'm paying for all this myself and I'm off work to study for the test, so this is strictly el-cheapo travel. I'd take a UPS plane if it was cheaper. It's not like some firm is paying me to do it unlike my friends from school (jerks).

Anyway, I'd like to leave Sunday 7/25 and come home Friday 7/30. I've only been on an airplane a couple times in my young life and never at my own expense since the other trips were at the school's cost.

What is the cheapest way for me to get out there and back. This is not a vacation... a means to an ends if you will.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

David

[nullh2o]

Try orbitz.com, expedia.com, travelocity.com, southwest.com (if they fly to Pittsburgh), jetblue.com?

[david c.]

That's the thing. I've looked at these sites (not Jetblue) but Priceline was the cheapest and they won't give you the flight time before your order. In your experience, which is the most glitch-free service? I can't be late for this test or miss a flight, get "bumped" or whatever. I'd rather drive myself than fly but gas is just too expensive now.

[Rot 911]

Dave, no help on the ticket, but good luck on the bar exam!

[nullh2o]

It does't matter where you book them- if you're late then you're going to miss the flight.
When you go to check in the airlines don't care if you booked with them, mom & pop travel agent or cheaptickets.com. Same airplane, same seats, same 'food'.
Priceline is pretty worthless unless you have a real flexible schedule.

[84porsche]

[84porsche]

I don't know what your budget looks like but I would consider getting a c/c that gives you mileage in case you need plane tickets in a hurry. They usually give you great deals. You have some options. Fly into Orange County or LAX and drive to San Diego. It sounds like you have time to vary your tickets. Try some options to see what happens. LAX and SNA are other airports.

[Neilk]

If you have a cheap place to stay, try leaving on a Saturday night. Many of the cheap fares require a Saturday night stay. Good luck!!

[david c.]

Thanks guys. The brains and resource and cumulative experience of this little community of ours never ceases to amaze me.

I've actually used it (this board) for legal research when I was in school, helping a Harvard educated professor write a book. I was his research assistant and occasionally only this board could provide answers to our inane questions.

We should have one of those Guinness-esque "around the world" toasts to ourselves scheduled for some Saturday night in the future. Whaddya think?

[fintstone]

My best luck has been to first check the Southwest Airlines site for price. Then orbitz.com. If you can find a better or cheaper flight on orbitz than SW....then go to the airline's site of that (cheaper) fare posted on orbitz and try for the same flight. That almost always is the cheapest. Be sure to buy at least 2 weeks in advance. The price often doubles once you are in the 2-week window.

[cstreit]

I would be extrememly leery of ilk the like of orbitz.com or priceline.com.

They do not necessarily guarantee your flight times for certain options.

Prime example: I was at a wedding last weekend in Cleveland. One of the groomsmen got a call the night before his departure saying his Sunday return flight had been moved from 12:00 to 6:00AM. Oh, and the phoned this message in to his HOUSE IN SEATTLE!

SO mind you, they booked his ticket out of town, then called his house to say they changed it....

[david c.]

Chris,

That's what I'm fearful of happening. I can't really be late to the test. I don't mind being rushed afterwards, but not before.

I'll check out those sites. Perhaps the best thing is to just bite the bullet and order through Southwest via the normal channels.

[fintstone]

Like I said...find the lowest priced airline through orbitz (use it as your search engine)...then buy it from the actual carrier from the carrier's website. They almost always list the same flight as orbitz for the same cost or even less.