The Airlines always block off the days that I want to travel.

[MissMillie]

I hardly EVER fly anywhere. I'm a home-body. I don't have a lot of money for vacations and I sleep better in my own bed anyway.

But I was thinking of visiting my brother in Tampa between Christmas and New Years. One airline was advertising one-way fares to FL for $57 with 14 day advance purchase. Well it's definitely at least 14 days in advance.... but the cheapest one-way flight is $177 (that's actually the return... the "to" flight was $255).

Dammit! It's just once every 3 or 4 years... can I please get the fare you're advertising? PLEASE????!!!!!

[billyskank]

1. But a whole lot of other people are going to be flying at that time, no?

:hug:

[LeftyMom]

2. What airline was this?

I'm scheming here.

[huskerlaw]

3. Airlines always have black-out dates

on promotional fares. And those dates always include holidays. Particularly Christmas. They don't need to promote airline travel on Christmas, people are going to fly then whether the flight is cheap or not.

[Crazy Dave]

4. Watch out for the REAL cheap fares they advertise

Sure, they'll honor the fare but do read the trip itinerary before the purchase. I do all my mom's travel arrangements and the trips that they advertise for $150 usually have about four transfers and about ten hours in layover time with a travel time total of a 19 to 24 hours the versus ones for $250 to the same destination with only one transfer and about a total of 8 hours travel time.

Good luck :hi:

[ThomCat]

5. Last year I got bumped off a flight because they overbooked.

They gave me a voucher they said was good for one free trip anyplace in the US that I could use any time within a year.

I spent the entire year trying to use that voucher and finally just tore it up and threw it away. Weekends were blacked out. The entire week before every holiday was blacked out.

I would have to pick a week far from any holiday and then fly out on a Tuesday and come back on a Thursday in order to use the voucher.
x(

[Parche]

6. airlines

The least expensive is a 21day advance purchase, followed by the 14/7 and walk up fares.

They restrict the least expensive excursion fares a lot with availability.

A 100 seat airplane will be divided with 20seats to the least expensive 21 day
10 for frequent fliers, 20seats for the 14day, 30seats for the 7day advance
and all others walk up.
They overbook 10-20% of their planes depending on dates.