anybody used priceline.com

[kehoffmann1]

Has anyone ever used priceline.com for there tickets to Kiev.
It makes me nervous not knowing the schedule or airline before I pay for it, but if anyone has a good experience then I will chance it.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Keith

[Lynn]

... in response to anybody used priceline.com, posted by kehoffmann1 on Oct 11, 2003

I've used skyauction.com several times with good success, often getting the fare 1-3 hundred less than I found it elsewhere. It can be a bit tricky to find what you want & the departure date you want. My travel time window is usually large so it has been good for me in the past. The price depends on who's bidding though, at times some idiot will run it beyond a regular fare----go figure.

my 3 or 2cts.

Lynn

[romachko]

... in response to anybody used priceline.com, posted by kehoffmann1 on Oct 11, 2003

I used priceline.com to go to Simferopol for Chicago-Istanbul segment in the May 2003. The price I paid for the round trip ORD-IST via Lufthansa was $500. The published discount price by any competitor was near $700. The only catch for the deal I struck was that the flight had two stops (and change of planes) on the way there but only one stop on the way back. As an insurance to cover possible cancellation due to an unseen event on my part, I paid $20, which also included medical insurance. As far as my experience is concerned, it was quite satisfactory because I got the same treatment as a passenger paying a discount fare. The cancellation policy is also the same as that applied to the any discount ticket.

My advice is the following. You need at least a week to find the best price. Be flexible in scheduling and stops, i.e., allow two stops. Be patient and persistent. I started with a bid at $300 and moved up with an increment varying $20-$50. Each bid is answered in a few minutes and you have to decide either to take or ignore it. Various airlines counter-offered at a price slightly below their ordinary discount fares but way over my bid price. I patiently repeated my bidding about four times a day for several days. When my bidding hit $500, I received a “Congratulation” notice. Remember: you have to take it.

You ask me if I would do it again? You bet I’ll. Capitalism is working!

[wsbill]

... in response to anybody used priceline.com, posted by kehoffmann1 on Oct 11, 2003

Even bother, the problem with priceline, cheaptickets, etc... alot of them will sell  you a cheap flight, but you'll make it up in a overnight stay at some remote airport as they'll put you on the least desirable time frame of flights.

Being in the midwest where NWA flies, you cannot go wrong with their KLM connection in Amsterdam and my price was about $650 bucks.  Memphis,Amsterdam, Kiev.

It's when the airfares are above $800 that's when you really feel like your being ripped off.

Also, plan your trip accordingly, middle of the week is ideally where you can get cheaper fares.

[kehoffmann1]

... in response to Re: As cheap as airfares are now, why, posted by wsbill on Oct 11, 2003

I agree with you on the NWA normally. I flew with them last January to Kiev and got a great price. The service was so bad with cancelled flights and lost luggage. Also when I got to Amsterdam to Kiev on the way home, they said they have no record of me wanting to fly back to the United States and the flight I was supposed to be on was booked up. When I got back home, eventually, they gave me a Travel Voucher for $250.00 off my next flight.
I am going back to Kiev in December from St. Louis. I checked on there website and the cheapest they have is $833.00 but they won't except my travel voucher on the internet. You have to call them. When you call them the price for the same flight that is on the internet is $1180.00. Basically the travel voucher is worthless. I have
checked the other airlines and they are about the same price.
This is the reason I was asking about priceline.com.
I don't want to use them though, so I guess I will just pay the extra money. The best I have found is on Orbitz.com on Northwest/KLM for $735.00. That sounds like
a good price to me.
Thanks guys,
Keith

[cherokee]

... in response to Re: Re: As cheap as airfares are now, wh..., posted by kehoffmann1 on Oct 11, 2003

no means no

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Re: As cheap as airfares are now, why, posted by wsbill on Oct 11, 2003

What would you save $100 maximum for what would ammount to is a physical beating + probable baggage loss.  Not worth it ie. as direct as possible a flight as possible.

[jrm]

... in response to anybody used priceline.com, posted by kehoffmann1 on Oct 11, 2003

Much less the layover, number of stops, times, etc. It wasn't too bad in the end. But I don't think I will do it again. I didn't save that much money.