Chris in VA Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Going to San Antonio over Columbus Day weekend with dd, we think. The lowest I have found is around 278 round trip, and I would like to get to under $200. I know to use a privacy setting on my browser, check for alternate departure cities, and check all the cheap ticket sites. Any other tips? We will not be renting a car, so it has to be to San Antonio. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Does Alligent fly the airports you need? They are often under $100/ each way but watch baggage fees as you have to pay for a carry on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 For a holiday weekend, I think it would be tough to get it much lower. Under $300 really isn't bad for a round trip flight. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Frontier has cheap flights too but watch the extras. If you are going to check a bag, pay when you book because it's cheaper. They also charge for carry on luggage (anything that doesn't fit under your seat) so keep that in mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Try catching a Southwest sale. Under $200 RT is going to be hard depending on your departure city, but not impossible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 If you are in NoVA, you might try BMI as your departure airport. I find more deals from there or DCA or Reagan. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Check on Tuesday. Flying cheap on a holiday weekend will be tough. That $278 sounds pretty good. What's the historic low? (Kayak shows that I think.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 We just found an amazing international flight on CheapFareGuru. On every other site my dd couldn't find one under $1,000, and even the $1,000 flights were on the budget airlines where other fees pile up. CheapFare Guru cut over $400 off the flight and it's a major airlines without all the fees. I don't even know how it's possible! But we checked the airlines to make sure they actually have her booked on their flights and they ok'd everything! Anyway, I don't know if it comes up with good deals for domestic flights or not, but you can check it out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 We just found an amazing international flight on CheapFareGuru. On every other site my dd couldn't find one under $1,000, and even the $1,000 flights were on the budget airlines where other fees pile up. CheapFare Guru cut over $400 off the flight and it's a major airlines without all the fees. I don't even know how it's possible! But we checked the airlines to make sure they actually have her booked on their flights and they ok'd everything! Anyway, I don't know if it comes up with good deals for domestic flights or not, but you can check it out. Oh thanks I haven't heard of that one. What flight was it for the fare? Just wondering if I have seen something that low before. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Try catching a Southwest sale. Under $200 RT is going to be hard depending on your departure city, but not impossible. +1 for Southwest Since the dates of the OP are more or less in concrete, she doesn't have much wiggle room on this. She can wait, and there is a possibility, that as the departure date is closer, the airlines will see that their bookings are not at the level they'd like and their pricing algorithm will cause a fare reduction and/or "price war". There are some airlines, that are "kinder and gentler" about making very low fares available, way in advance of departure. And their competitors have fares on the same route, that are sky high, until the departure date gets closer. Here in Colombia, Avianca is the "kinder and gentler" carrier with regard to offering low fares quite a way in advance. That's a big reason we prefer Avianca over LATAM and other carriers. If it were not a holiday weekend, I would offer my traditional suggestion: Begin watching fares about 90 days ahead. Pay more attention as the departure date gets closer. Try to have everything booked and paid for, at least 30 days before departure. That's probably good, even on a holiday weekend, although the fare level you are seeking may not become available for the dates you can travel. Sometimes, there are "Last Minute" sales. I set up "Agents" on the 2 big OTAs (Online Travel Agencies, like Expedia) here, and have them send me emails about specials. I also get emails from the airlines, Most of those emails can be deleted, but occasionally, we get one that is Gold for us. Be sure you are members of the Frequent Flyer Clubs as those people are almost guaranteed to be receiving emails from the carriers. When we get "the right fare" available to us, we book immediately and we have our tickets. At least once, I told my wife, "I wanted to wake you up at 5 A.M., but I didn't want to wake you up". Her response, "You should have woken me up" Have a great time and "Don't Mess With Texas" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Oh thanks I haven't heard of that one. What flight was it for the fare? Just wondering if I have seen something that low before. It was around $800 from the Midwest to Geneva. Now, there were flights for about $1,000 on budget airlines, but their extra fees were quite numerous. This same flight for $800 (which was on a major airlines with very decent times and layovers -- not 36 hours like some of them!) is advertised as $1300 on the other sites we checked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Not to completely derail but is Columbus Day observed in Texas? It isn't observed where I live, even the banks are open. I can only remember when it is because it's my brother's birthday. Anyway, just saying that the prices may not be super high if it isn't a big travel weekend all over the country. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Prices typically increase as the departure date approaches. However, sometimes at the last minute, there are some very low cost seats available. Probably those are because Full Fare Passengers (Corporate and Government) cancelled. Then, the pricing algorithm might allocate those seats to very low cost fare basis. The idea is to get the maximum yield possible, from the average seat, on a particular flight, on a particular day. When we went up to Orlando in April, there were some passengers who'd paid 3 times what we'd paid and they were in the Economy cabin with us. If they show 3 or 4 seats available in a Fare Basis, that's what they have at that moment. Two years ago, a friend of my wife wanted to go with us, to a reunion in Bogota. By the time my wife got her friend on the phone, and it was OK, when I looked again, the seats were gone... She ended up not going with us... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Does Alligent fly the airports you need? They are often under $100/ each way but watch baggage fees as you have to pay for a carry on. I would never fly Allegiant, myself, because of the horror stories I've heard. I've heard friends complain about experiences on pretty much every airline, but I think that Allegiant has structural problems that cause problems that any airline might have to become much worse there. In particular, on many routes, they only fly one flight a day between any two cities. Also, as a low cost carrier, they don't have agreements with other airlines to rebook you if a flight is cancelled or delayed. So, if a flight is cancelled, you are looking at losing a whole day of travel time. Maybe saving a bit of money in exchange for this kind of risk was OK when I was a college student, and not particularly tied to a schedule. Taking the whole family? No way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted August 23, 2016 Author Share Posted August 23, 2016 Still looking. Sigh. My anxiety level is sky high with this trip as it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoffive Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 i hope you find something southwest is having a sale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Still looking. Sigh. My anxiety level is sky high with this trip as it is! It will be ok. Good luck finding tickets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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