Conference netcad::holiday_travel

    
    
    
             US Air Cheap Fares
    
      I just booked last week for Providence to Ft. Lauderdale
     and got $69.00 each way..Toatal cost for 2 people roundtrip
     $294.00 with tax..
      Got it thru the INTERNET,,,
    
                  Judy
      

    
      Is this for real, or what!!!???
     
      We fell off our chairs this weekend when checking with the AAA travel
      person on fares to Charlotte, NC from Boston, and were told it was
    $400 per person one way, with a 21 day advance notice and no refunds or
    exchanges, no matter who cancelled.  This was for a Friday visit for my
    hubby and myself to do some personal business, returning same day or
    Saturday.  Wow!!!!
      $1600 for a 2 hour flight!?  She explained that it was because if
    someone goes for a weekday, it is assumed by the airline you are going
    on business which would pick up the tab as company expense.  This is
    crazy.
      Anyone have any experience with this, is it true, any way to get a
    better rate?
    
      thanx, Denise

    Airlines do try to make businesses pay for cheaper weekend travel.
    Mid week flights can get expensive.  I did find a flight that would
    be cheaper --- $416 R/T per person --- on Northwest through Detroit,
    but it's not a pretty schedule. That's flying this friday, no advance.
    Even a Sat. nite stay doesn't help this flight. Even an advance booking
    looks bad; actually more $$$.
    
    Check out www.itn.net and try checking prices. (BOS-CLT-BOS)

    Hi Denise,
    
    You have to stay overnight on Saturday in order to get a lower
    airfare.
    
    My friend and I are flying to Myrtle Beach on May 31st.  Our
    flight goes from:  Boston->Charlotte Charlotte->Myrtle Beach.
    We are paying 219.00 ROUND TRIP!  
    
    Might as well make it a weekend!
    
    Good luck,
    Gail
               

    
     Hi Denise,
    
    	The previous replies to your BOS-CLT-BOS trip are right.
    
    	How to do it cheaper:
    
    	  (1) change your request -- call a couple of travel agents
    	      with the question, "what do I need to do to get a cheap
    	      r/t flight Boston-Charlotte, so that I can be there on
    	      May xx (or whenever)."
    
    	 (2)  Fly to an alternate airport and drive -- once again, you
    	      will need a travel agent with a computer to check out the
    	      alternatives ... and you need to evaluate how much time
    	      you are willing to drive for the savings. 
    	    
    
    	 But it general, to fly out and back on a Friday, I would expect
         it to cost a lot of money!  Indeed, the airlines' plan is to charge 
         those travelers (business, primarily) who have little choice of travel
    	 dates as much as they can get.

    Well, you are all right, and the lady at AAA was right too. It really
    does cost a lot to make a quick trip. Average was $1600.  There was one
    flight in the $800+ range with a longer route, but it still needed a 2
    day stay. There was no other airport in the area that was cheaper,
    since Charlotte is the hub of the southeast, it was definately the
    cheapest. Oh well. Maybe if drive all day and night.........
    
    thanx for the help,
    D

one other option to get a cheaper fare is to wait until the last minute
(assuming the particular date isn't critical).  Airlines do not like to have
unused seats and often lower fares to sell seats as the date gets closer.