Buying Airline Tickets

kwilkinson · Aug 28, 2009

I know this thread has been done before, but I really don't feel like searching for it, and would appreciate some advice.

How do you guys go about getting the best plane tickets?
My gf is coming out to California to see me on Monday the 28th of September and staying until Monday the 5th of October. We have the option of flying out of Indianapolis, Chicago O'Hare, or Chicago Midway, and the option of flying into San Francisco International, Oakland Airport, or San Jose International. I have very little money, and am working 75 hours a week for free, so please keep that in mind. Which option would be best to fly out of, best to fly into, and what airline would be best to fly with?
Are there any tips you could share?
I already asked JB, but the little penis wrinkle blew me off.
Thanks in advance fellers.

Edit: In case it wasn't obvious, I need advice for round-trip tickets.

JetBlast · Aug 29, 2009

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

I already asked JB, but the little penis wrinkle blew me off.
Thanks in advance fellers.

Oh yea, I forgot about that

Either way, you're not traveling international, so I probably couldn't be of a whole lot of help. Just keep in mind that if you purchase through a source that is not directly associated with the airline, the airline may not be liable to refund the ticket. Make sure it is a refundable reservation in case something gets screwed up.

Mr T · Aug 29, 2009

How much is too much and how flexible as to arrival/departure times is she? I see round trips from San Fran to Midway for around 250 on United, Frontier, and Southwest.

Have you ever used priceline?

Bradford · Aug 29, 2009

Be sure to check Southwest.com as their prices don't show up on the aggregator sites (expedia, priceline, etc.)

P.S. You could probably add Sacramento as an additional airport to check. Don't know if the pricing is any better but its not much further than San Jose for you now.

kwilkinson · Aug 29, 2009

I'm still not forgiving you, JB.

Originally Posted by Mr T

How much is too much and how flexible as to arrival/departure times is she? I see round trips from San Fran to Midway for around 250 on United, Frontier, and Southwest.

Have you ever used priceline?
Haven't used priceline. Everything I'd seen was between 250 and 270 roundtrip. I was hoping to get right around there. Arrival/departure is entirely flexible. My days off are Monday and Tuesday, so I'll have all day long to pick her up from the airport and to take her back. So anytime in there.

Originally Posted by Bradford

Be sure to check Southwest.com as their prices don't show up on the aggregator sites (expedia, priceline, etc.)

P.S. You could probably add Sacramento as an additional airport to check. Don't know if the pricing is any better but its not much further than San Jose for you now.

Ahhh good thinking. I forget that Sacramento isn't that far away (and given all the construction on 101 lately, might even be the same travel time).

Master-Classter · Aug 29, 2009

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

I know this thread has been done before, but I really don't feel like searching for it

This one?

zippyh · Aug 29, 2009

Originally Posted by JetBlast

Oh yea, I forgot about that

Either way, you're not traveling international, so I probably couldn't be of a whole lot of help. Just keep in mind that if you purchase through a source that is not directly associated with the airline, the airline may not be liable to refund the ticket. Make sure it is a refundable reservation in case something gets screwed up.

Have you ever actually priced out a refundable fare versus non-refundable?
That's ridiculous advice for some one who's penny pinching.

One thing for the OP to keep in mind too is baggage fees if you think you're going to be checking bags.
It's not my first choice, but SWA doesn't have baggage fees and they're always competitively priced.
I think they fly out of MDW to OAK, SFO, and SJC.

Despos · Aug 29, 2009

Departures on Saturdays or Tuesdays are less expensive than other days with some airlines.

Rambo · Aug 29, 2009

Check out the actual airline's sites.
Try for the worst times possible. Nobody wants these tickets for a reason.
Try for the smallest airport possible. Same as above.

JetBlast · Aug 29, 2009

Originally Posted by zippyh

Have you ever actually priced out a refundable fare versus non-refundable? That's ridiculous advice for some one who's penny pinching.
Yes, some of us have sold the tickets. The point is if you decide to not go for whatever reason, you get your money back. Hence the term "refundable". Of course if you don't want to pay the extra money the likelihood of something going wrong is relatively small, but some people like the extra security of the refund possibility. It's entirely up to the passenger. They do also fly MDW-OAK, MDW-SFO, and MDW-SJC. Southwest is usually a good way to go.

Jumbie · Aug 29, 2009

This thread is a waste of time. There's no way any woman lets kwilk put his penor in her.

feynmix · Aug 29, 2009

I get $239 all in from ORD - SFO. Check Southwest, but I think it might be about the same.

Kayak.com is your friend.

chas · Aug 29, 2009

Kayak.com Sidestep.com http://www.itasoftware.com/

GQgeek · Aug 29, 2009

Originally Posted by Jumbie

This thread is a waste of time. There's no way any woman lets kwilk put his penor in her.
But what if that woman is actually conne?

Jumbie · Aug 29, 2009

Originally Posted by GQgeek

But what if that woman is actually conne?

kunk also claimed to be going on a "family trip".

Buying Airline Tickets

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