need advice on ukranian trip

[keithandkatya]

Hey- starting to plan our trip back to Ukraine to visit my wife's relatives and my inlaws.

We would like to go sometime beween May and September- what is the cheapest month to fly???  Last time I used Lot- we will be flying from Florida to Kiev and then someone will pick us up for the journey to my wife's home city--  any advice on cheap fares or airlines that offer cheap fares?  

Thanks,

Keith

[keithandkatya]

... in response to need advice on ukranian trip, posted by keithandkatya on Mar 19, 2004

thanks guys!

[cherokee]

... in response to need advice on ukranian trip, posted by keithandkatya on Mar 19, 2004

hi we are flying tampa to kiev via chezch airlines for $670+ at the end of may.
I'll try to remember the website of the travel agent, but it was someone local....

[Yorkman]

... in response to need advice on ukranian trip, posted by keithandkatya on Mar 19, 2004

Consolidators will give you the very best rates.  They have contracts to buy tickets in bulk from the various carriers.  You can call each major airline and, amazingly, they will tell you the names and phone numbers of the consolidators that buy from them.

So, the best procedure is to check on the websites for Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, etc., for the flights that best suit your schedule.

Then call the airlines to find out the relevant consolidators.

Then call these consolidators to get the best prices.

I did that for my upcoming trip to Kiev which I got for $695 roundtrip from Columbus, Ohio from a consolidator for Northwest/KLM Airlines leaving in early May.  

As far as the prices for various months, it is no great mystery.  The base prices are all determined by what is considered Low, High and Shoulder season.  Each airline can have a slightly different set of dates corresponding to these categories.  Shoulder season generally starts in April or May and High season in June.  Shoulder season comes back in late September to early October.  Low season is, of course, something like mid November through March or so.  Exceptions occur around various holidays when the basic rates go back up for a few days.

[fishtiger]

... in response to Only use consolidators, posted by Yorkman on Mar 21, 2004

If you like certain consolidators, please list any you have used. If you still have their number that would help a bunch of guys wanting to get a decent price.I understand that the gas prices are jacking up the coast even more.

[Yorkman]

... in response to Please Post Consolidators Names  And Num..., posted by fishtiger on Mar 23, 2004

As I mentioned, my procedure is to find the flights that are best for me using the big search engines like expedia, orbitz and travelocity.

Then I call the airline involved and ask the name and phone number of the relevant consolidators.  This list (of relevant consolidators) is always changing as they sign a series of rolling contracts; as I understand it.

For my trip to Kyiv, I found NW/KLM flights that best fit my bill.  They steered me to a consolidator which was AirK Travel in Chicago.  The phone number is 1-800-865-5249.

Be aware that each consolidator may only deal with one airline, which may not be the best times for you to fly, so I would not advise starting first with a particular consolidator.

[Philb]

... in response to Only use consolidators, posted by Yorkman on Mar 21, 2004

I paid $918.00 (including taxes) roundtrip Casper Wyoming/Kiev on United/Lufthansa departing May 6 and returnin May 26.  This was through Orbitz.

The same ticket flying out of Denver was $100.00 cheaper.

[petem]

... in response to As a comparison....., posted by Philb on Mar 22, 2004

I just paid 806$ for a trip from DC-kiev, and from Kiev-Chicago.
I am leaving May 11 return may 27.

Thru Russia House
they were $75 cheaper than Glavs

[Yorkman]

... in response to As a comparison....., posted by Philb on Mar 22, 2004

Yes, you could have probably saved $100-150 by going through Russia House which is a consolidator for Lufthansa.

[Philb]

... in response to Re: As a comparison....., posted by Yorkman on Mar 22, 2004

I tried them and they were a bit more.  I think it really depends on a number of factors (and I do not know what all of these factors are).  When you get outside of the major hubs things get really strange.

Right now running a search through Orbitz departing May 6 return May 26 Casper/Kiev/Casper I get $1056.00.  The same trip through Russia House is $1137.50.  Same dates Denver/Kiev/Denver I get Orbitz $923.00 Russia House $848.50.

I have no ideas how the itineraries compare and these flights are on different airlines.

I am not saying Orbitz is always cheapest I have bought my tickets from a variety of sources. (this includes consolidators, various online sources, and the airlines directly they have all been the cheapest at various times)  One of my favorite links for searching for ticket prices is Booking Buddy.  You can search multiple sites from this webpage without having to re-enter the data every time.

Here is the link.

http://www.bookingbuddy.com/

I agree about pricline.  You have to be very careful.  Also you do not get any frequent flyer miles when you purchase a ticket through them.

[Yorkman]

... in response to Actually ....., posted by Philb on Mar 22, 2004

I forgot or overlooked in my previous posts a very important lesson.

That is that you can never be sure which method or outlet will produce the lowest price for a given flight.

To really save that last $50 to $150 dollars can take quite a bit of checking around.

[Yorkman]

... in response to Only use consolidators, posted by Yorkman on Mar 21, 2004

for Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines.  That is why you see good deals with them and they both service Kiev, as well as Odesa at some times of the year.  They can also get these low prices for airlines that are in association with Lufthansa such as United, etc.

Scope Travel has a lot of good deals to Ukraine because they are a consolidator for Ukrainian Airline.  There are a lot of good deals from USA to Kiev and return, if Ukrainian Air is used for a long leg, such as from Kiev to London; and if Ukrainian Air has an agreement with the connecting airline.

[KenC]

... in response to Only use consolidators, posted by Yorkman on Mar 21, 2004

Yorkman,
The airines will give you the consolidator for a specific flight?
KenC

[Yorkman]

... in response to Re: Only use consolidators, posted by KenC on Mar 22, 2004

Each airline will tell you the name(s) of consolidators who buy their tickets in bulk.  I am not certain, but my understanding is that the consolidators buy bulk tickets for all the flights of that airline.

[Oatmeal1]

... in response to Only use consolidators, posted by Yorkman on Mar 21, 2004

Did you incur taxes on top of that $695.00 ticket.  I was just curious, and if so, how much.  (That is of course you don't mind sharing that info.)
Thanks, Jim