Priceline question... (cost, airlines, best, overnight)

[mauigirl6]

Would it be safe to assume that when you name your own price you are going to get put on the lowest fares that are available?

If I do a regular search with priceline for my destination there are fares ranging from $285-$2000+. So if I was to bid I assume the flights they would choose from would be from the lower price range?

We are pretty flexable with our days but I am concerned about getting some weird flight that has us going way far out of the way. FYI we are flying from Maui to Medford, Or. Most flights seem to go from Maui to Seattle to Medford. Some also have a layover in Portland. There are no direct flights so we are prepared for layovers. I suppose they could give us some weird overnight layover....anyone have this happen?

It seems like the more exspensive flights are the ones that go thru places like LAX, then Utah etc....one even goes to Dallas. It seems like the cheapest fares are all go a more direct route. The more exspensive go to crazy places first.....

We are traveling with 6 kids (yep, I said 6 )

[JerichoHW]

I have been ripped of by Priceline in the past, I thought the name your own price thing would really work and be quite helpful. At first I was excited to get a price for a flight from Chicago to Washington DC. for $60 off the price listed on the priceline site. But when I checked the actual airlines website, it turns out I coud have got the flight for $100 cheaper.

[VegasGrace]

I bring up browsers for
Travelocity/Cheaptickets/Hotwire/Expedia

then airline sites such as Southwest/Jetblue/Airtran, etc

Then I compare them to Priceline. Whatever the lowest price is, I do a 'bid' for half that and then I work up to that price in a few tries....more than that it locks me out.

Sometimes I just buy straight from an airline IF the price is about the same.

[goldenplover]

actually, the news here in houston profiled a site called yapta- it apparently gets you a good deal AND alerts you if the prices on the tickets drop (thus entitling you to a refund of the difference- usually given in airline vouchers). When the prices do drop, it tells you how to go about getting the difference

[chitowngal]

I have had success with priceline, but only when schedule is not an issue. I always travel the day before and leave the day after I really wantto. That way if they send me out at 6 am , I still had a full day the day before.

I have never bid on a fligt that did not send me direct.

I hate layovers.

[mauigirl6]

Thank you for your responses

What I was trying to get at is that in reasearching my flight choices to Medford the cheapest flights actually have the best route (even with a layover in Seattle). The most exspensive flights seem to go from Maui to Lax to Dallas then to Medford. Or Maui to Kona to Pheonix to Medford.

The cheaper flights go from Maui to Seattle, maybe Portland, then to Medford. At best I will still have at least one layover to switch to a smaller plane to fly into Medford.


So when you bid on Priceline do they pick from the cheapest flights? I would guess they would. Or do they stick you on crazy routes because, although more exspensive, they are less desired routes?

Whew I am confusing myself, lol. Does anyone kwim?

[JerichoHW]

Often crazy routes, Im assuming its one Alaska Airlines to Medford, and if they have you switch airlines in the middle you must go through sercurity again if you have checked luggage.

[Élan vital]

actually you can check your luggage through to your destination when changing airlines during the trip. I live in Alaska and use Alaska Air all the time but once in the lower 48 I will often use other airlines. To avoid security check and baggage recovery I simply tell them to check luggage all the way to final destination.

Originally Posted by JerichoHW

Often crazy routes, Im assuming its one Alaska Airlines to Medford, and if they have you switch airlines in the middle you must go through sercurity again if you have checked luggage.

[caligurltotx]

OP it's hard to predict. Priceline will get you on whichever airline excepts yr bid. Priceline is trying to have a great rep so they are not trying to send you around the world and back just to get to Oregon. I bidded on Priceline and got a non stop flight on American from LAX to DFW. The best thing about Priceline is being flexible with yr travel times. So then the only thing that matters is getting a fare that you want.

[asitshouldbe]

I always get the best deals from my local low fare travel agent. They are always cheaper than any site I have checked online. We went to CA from MN this past June, roundtrip 6 tickets plus two kids under 2. Total cost was under $1200