Travel Ticket Prices Strangeness

[MarkInTx]

OK... this is weird... but for those of you trying to find low prices...

I went to Expedia to check what kind of prices were available to Kiev from DFW.

My situation is somewhat unique in that I have AA aadvantage miles which can get me a ticket to anywhere AA flies. That includes Frankfurt. So... I can get to Germany for free. You'd think that getting from Germany to Kiev would be easy, huh?

Well, it ain't (just ask Napolean how hard it is!)

Tickets were cheaper flying from DFW all of the way to Kiev. And here's where it gets really strange...

One of the flights listed was an American Airlines flight from DFW to London, and then taking a Ukraine International flight to Kiev. (Expedia price: $1126)

So... must be REALLY cheap if I get to London for free...right?

Nope... it's MORE expensive...go figure that... (something like $2000)

So, I call AA and see what they have.

Cheapest flight they list is going through Frankfurt (makes sense) but it is $1900.

I tell them about the AA flight through London.

He fiddles around for a moment...and swears he doesn't show the Ukraine flight out of London. I give him the flight number and everything... then all of the sudden he finds is. And -- get this -- now he's showing a fare of $939!

That means a paid-for ticket on AA (which means I get miles) PLUS I get to fly on a 777, which is a nice flight... I just took one to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The UAI flight is on a 737 and is 3 plus hours, so that kinda sucks... but not too bad...

Moral of the Story: No telling what you can find if you just keep pressing...

I wonder if I could schedule a day layover in London to check it out while I am at it...

[Mark W]

... in response to Travel Ticket Prices Strangeness, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 27, 2002

British Airways is a OneWorld partner with American.  You should enquire if you can fly them for the whole trip with your miles.  Anyhow on my last trip to Kiev from Atlanta I took BA the whole trip.  It was direct on the way over, but an overnight stay on the return.  BA was great.  This was the only time I have ever flown them and they upgraded me on the return for free and without me even asking.  Also, expedia does not always show the BA flights availabe so go directly to their website for prices (www.ba.com).  Ignore the login and select the option to proceed without logging in.  This will let you view arrangements and prices.  BA has direct flights to Kiev so by going through London they can get you there easily.  I have found them to be as much as $200 cheaper than prices on expedia.

good luck

[Richard]

... in response to Travel Ticket Prices Strangeness, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 27, 2002

American tells me that you can use frequent flier miles with them to fly to Kiev.  You will connect in London and fly on British Airways into Kiev.  This may require an overnight stay in London due to the "late" hour at which the BA flight leaves Kiev.  (It turns out that 3:20 pm is too late to connect onwards to many places the same day.)

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Travel Ticket Prices Strangeness, posted by Richard on Apr 28, 2002

Wow... NOW you tell me!

Do you know anyone who has already done this?

-M-

[Richard]

... in response to Really???, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 28, 2002

I got as far as putting an itinerary together then backed out due to the overnight stay in London.  I opted to buy the ticket on Nortwest / KLM because I could spend the last night in Kiev rather than in London.  Just my choice: I could have had the ticket if I had wanted it.

Coming out of Miami, had me changing planes in either Texas or Charlotte.  This trip I'm travelling direct to Amsterdam from Miami rather than going through Detroit and Amsterdam.
(With the new schedule it shaves four hours off of the trip each way.)

[Richard]

... in response to Re: Really???, posted by Richard on Apr 28, 2002

I meant American had me Changing planes in Texas or Charlotte. On NW/KLM I'm going straight to MIami.  I opted to pay for a more convenient set of flights.

[wsbill]

... in response to Really???, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 28, 2002

We who been, know the angles as we have listened to our elders who have been before us...

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Really???  .... always ask us in adv..., posted by wsbill on Apr 28, 2002


Check down a few posts..

I did ask... And no one said anything...

[Richard]

... in response to I Did ask, Bill, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 28, 2002

Um, I did notice your earlier post.  I didn't feel I had anything to add until you mentioned that your are trying to fly with American Airlines Frequent Flyer miles.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: I Did ask, Bill, posted by Richard on Apr 29, 2002

Please don't misunderstand... I wasn't taking a shot at you...

I just get tired if those guys who have been over once or twice and suddenly they are the "wise old guard"...

Which is fine... if they offer advice I can use, I'm glad to have it...

But when I ask for advice, and they say nothing... then I buy a ticket and they get all "smarter-than-thou" and tell me "You should have asked your elders who have gone before, we are all so wise and so wonderful, you can learn so much from us..."

... well, it kinda chafes ...

However, rest assured... your little tidbit has not gone unnoticed... I may very well use that next time... I don't plan on making this a one time trip :-)

Thanks for giving me something I can use :-)

[BrianN]

... in response to No Problem, Richard, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 29, 2002

mee noze zakly wutt ew tawkin bout on dis subjeckt. amaazin ain tit?

[wsbill]

... in response to Travel Ticket Prices Strangeness, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 27, 2002

have to go to another airport about 30 miles away to make that flt to Ukraine.  (ride a shuttle bus and all that jazz).

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: What their not telling you is you ha..., posted by wsbill on Apr 27, 2002

If that shuttle gets stuck in traffic, guess what, you'll be staying the night in England, waiting for the next flt to Kiev and probably the same thing returning... Big savings there... you get hit with $75-100 night hotel bills.

That's why I fly NWA/KLM... straight shot, MEM, DET or BOS, AMS then in to KBP.  No hang ups on time, etc...