Cheap Air Travel

karat · Post by **karat** » August 17, 2006 7:06 pm

Good day all!

I (as I have been for the past 2 weeks) have been searching for cheap airfare. In particular to Las Vegas (out of Pittsburgh). Tonight I came across:

www.travelation.com

I am finding airfare that is about $20 cheaper (of course that is prior to taxes) than what I have found via Southwest. I may still just stick with Southwest due to the nice direct flight and very short transfers.

Has anyone used Travelation? I know of www.kayak.com also showing good list of what airlines have to offer.

Many thanks!

karat · Post by **karat** » August 17, 2006 7:17 pm

Me again... I checked out the hotels on here and well Excalibur that is across from MGM is cheap (for the second weekend show)....

Now I am really curious about this site....

travelation.com

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » August 17, 2006 7:22 pm

I always use Expedia and Yahoo to find flights, then book directly through the carrier. There's enough information and competition out there now that I'm pretty sure the days of happening upon a real deal are gone, or at least extremely rare.

I have learned my lesson about SW to Vegas though- they really, really oversell those flights, especially on weekends. When I missed my flight 2 years ago, there were 20 people on standby before me- and I was on the second flight out of the day, and just kept getting pushed farther back from them bumping people (they bumped another 20 people before I gave up and went with another airline- thank god ATA was still in business then- I hadn't been at my job long enough to call in dumb!). And when we were checking for a weekend in Florida (sometime this week), SW was several hundred dollars more per person (but that could just be a Detroit thing since Northwest owns the airport).

karat · Post by **karat** » August 17, 2006 7:33 pm

Coconuts wrote:I always use Expedia and Yahoo to find flights, then book directly through the carrier. There's enough information and competition out there now that I'm pretty sure the days of happening upon a real deal are gone, or at least extremely rare.

I have learned my lesson about SW to Vegas though- they really, really oversell those flights, especially on weekends. When I missed my flight 2 years ago, there were 20 people on standby before me- and I was on the second flight out of the day, and just kept getting pushed farther back from them bumping people (they bumped another 20 people before I gave up and went with another airline- thank god ATA was still in business then- I hadn't been at my job long enough to call in dumb!). And when we were checking for a weekend in Florida (sometime this week), SW was several hundred dollars more per person (but that could just be a Detroit thing since Northwest owns the airport).

Thank you for the tip about Southwest. I guess if I choose that airline I should arrive early and stand at the door? Or is there another way to avoid being 'shut-out'?

As for them coming out of Pittsburgh it is cheaper than neighboring Cleveland (who used to be the cheaper of the two to fly out of). I know that trave deals are rare out there. I work for a travel agency and I can do better on my own either direct or via a 'travel outlet'. This past year I booked travelocity with air and car and never picked up the car and saved myself $200!

It is always best to ask to see what others have to say or what they have tried in the past.

mason · Post by **mason** » August 17, 2006 7:50 pm

take a look at....www.bestfares.com and then click on city search on the right. good luck and good hunting.

"jimmy buffett--a legend in hi spare time"

member of the parrothead nation

irvine

shoreline

vegas 10/28

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » August 17, 2006 9:43 pm

http://www.lastminutetravel.com and http://www.easyclicktravel.com although for airfare, you can usually fine the same price directly through the airline.

easyclick has some great hotel deals and if you go here http://www.betterbidding.com you can find out the hotel names to avoid an opaque purchase.

karat · Post by **karat** » August 17, 2006 10:24 pm

buffettbride wrote:http://www.lastminutetravel.com and http://www.easyclicktravel.com although for airfare, you can usually fine the same price directly through the airline.

easyclick has some great hotel deals and if you go here http://www.betterbidding.com you can find out the hotel names to avoid an opaque purchase.

Thank you!! I will check them out in the morning....

one question...isn't one month and 4 weeks the same on your ticker?

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 17, 2006 10:27 pm

karat wrote:
buffettbride wrote:http://www.lastminutetravel.com and http://www.easyclicktravel.com although for airfare, you can usually fine the same price directly through the airline.

easyclick has some great hotel deals and if you go here http://www.betterbidding.com you can find out the hotel names to avoid an opaque purchase.
Thank you!! I will check them out in the morning....

one question...isn't one month and 4 weeks the same on your ticker?

I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » August 17, 2006 10:31 pm

karat wrote:Thank you for the tip about Southwest. I guess if I choose that airline I should arrive early and stand at the door? Or is there another way to avoid being 'shut-out'?

As for them coming out of Pittsburgh it is cheaper than neighboring Cleveland (who used to be the cheaper of the two to fly out of). I know that trave deals are rare out there. I work for a travel agency and I can do better on my own either direct or via a 'travel outlet'. This past year I booked travelocity with air and car and never picked up the car and saved myself $200!

It is always best to ask to see what others have to say or what they have tried in the past.

Just make sure you get there early- the only place I've been with worse lines was Atlanta. And don't take the shuttle- find someone to share a cab with, if there are 2 of you going from the Flamingo, it's $1 more per person than the shuttle, and they'll leave when you want, unlike the shuttle, that has a schedule, just doesn't seem to use it.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » August 17, 2006 11:15 pm

ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)

52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 17, 2006 11:20 pm

land_shark3 wrote:
ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)
52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.

Midnight Flyer · Post by **Midnight Flyer** » August 18, 2006 1:52 am

land_shark3 wrote:
ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)
52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.

Look at it this way...if you get paid $2000.00 per pay period you actually make $333.33 more per month getting paid every two weeks than twice a month. HUH???

math suks

karat · Post by **karat** » August 18, 2006 8:19 am

Midnight Flyer wrote:
land_shark3 wrote:
ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)
52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.
Look at it this way...if you get paid $2000.00 per pay period you actually make $333.33 more per month getting paid every two weeks than twice a month. HUH??? math suks

I like the every other week. When I worked in non-profit that third check was always free of Medical or Dental that they took out of your paycheck....therefore being more money....

karat · Post by **karat** » August 18, 2006 8:27 am

Coconuts wrote:
karat wrote:Thank you for the tip about Southwest. I guess if I choose that airline I should arrive early and stand at the door? Or is there another way to avoid being 'shut-out'?

As for them coming out of Pittsburgh it is cheaper than neighboring Cleveland (who used to be the cheaper of the two to fly out of). I know that trave deals are rare out there. I work for a travel agency and I can do better on my own either direct or via a 'travel outlet'. This past year I booked travelocity with air and car and never picked up the car and saved myself $200!

It is always best to ask to see what others have to say or what they have tried in the past.
Just make sure you get there early- the only place I've been with worse lines was Atlanta. And don't take the shuttle- find someone to share a cab with, if there are 2 of you going from the Flamingo, it's $1 more per person than the shuttle, and they'll leave when you want, unlike the shuttle, that has a schedule, just doesn't seem to use it.

I have traveled all over for work I think the airport I hate the most is Chicago...though I know how to get around now. Customs people are nice though!

As for Vegas - I have been there many times and have always used the cab to go to the Flamingo but rented a car on the way back.... get this:

Let's say your last full day - you (if the person joining you has never seen the Freemont Experience) drive to the out lining casinos - Palms, Rio, Gold Coast, Orleans...that night you go to see town and the next morning you drive to the airport and drop your car.

Taxi RT to town is about $50 (right? been so long since I took one)...Taxi round trip to Palms/Rio is about $10...Taxi to the airport is about $20 (could be less).

Car rental is anywhere from $20 - 30, if you have an economy car, you gas should not move much at all! Maybe add in about $10 IF THAT. I have taken one back and the pointer NEVER MOVED. Parking in town is $3 at Lady Luck and you can get your ticket validated there too! So therefore you are saving.

Not to mention there are coupons in the Entertainment Books, Phone Books and when you get your credit card statements.

I have always rented my last day in Vegas - most of the other time I am walking, does not bother me...

(PS - I am loving this advise - thank you all....But what about the 52 weeks a year to the 12 months in a year? I know it comes out to 4.3333333.... what happens in leap year? other than losing a day...and what really means a month?)

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » August 18, 2006 9:06 am

have you checked Delta? You will have a connection but they seem to be pretty cheap out of PGH. I booked my flights the day the arrests were made in London. Prices were $50 lower that day. I flew Southwest - once, never again. If you have flights early in the day and show up early, probably not too bad, but by the evening flights start getting delayed and if you don't show up early you end up in corral C and get stuck in a middle seat between two annoying people.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » August 18, 2006 9:23 am

land_shark3 wrote:
ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)
52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.

I get paid bi-weekly so there are 2 months every year when I get 3 paychecks (this is one of them).

karat · Post by **karat** » August 18, 2006 9:30 am

Skibo wrote:have you checked Delta? You will have a connection but they seem to be pretty cheap out of PGH. I booked my flights the day the arrests were made in London. Prices were $50 lower that day. I flew Southwest - once, never again. If you have flights early in the day and show up early, probably not too bad, but by the evening flights start getting delayed and if you don't show up early you end up in corral C and get stuck in a middle seat between two annoying people.

I can get about $258RT out of PIT on Delta but that is red eye (one day later) returning. I do not mind Red Eye out, but not back, did that once!

Thanks again about Southwest info...I'm always early to the airport - habit

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » August 18, 2006 9:41 am

I got air fare, taxes ground transportation and the 19,20,21 in the Excalibur of us for $1088.00.

But you know Cubbie, I'm not saying I'm going until its locked in, sumptin' always happens. I am the guy with the rain cloud always overhead.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » August 18, 2006 10:09 am

LIPH wrote:
land_shark3 wrote:
ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)
52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.
I get paid bi-weekly so there are 2 months every year when I get 3 paychecks (this is one of them).

Same here. But I'll get 3 next month.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » August 18, 2006 10:31 am

LIPH wrote:
land_shark3 wrote:
ragtopW wrote:I was told once there are 4 1/3 weeks in a month
(by a bookkeeper)
52 weeks divided by 12 months equals 4 1/3 weeks per month. I go through this problem with my paycheck. I don't get paid every two weeks, but rather on the 1st and 15th. Some pay periods have a lot of hours and some have less.

You should have seen the look of confusion on my wife's face when I tried to explain that you actually get more paychecks by being paid every two weeks as opposed to twice a month.
I get paid bi-weekly so there are 2 months every year when I get 3 paychecks (this is one of them).

usually figure about 173.333 work-hours per month.