Comments on: Random Thoughts About Booking My Holiday Flights

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:27:38 +0000

Just got off an MD-88 sitting up front (N920DE, Delta 1599 ATL-PIT), and indeed it is very quiet; even at takeoff I could barely hear the engines. Add this to my miserable experience a few months ago of sitting at the back of an MD-83 and the ok experience of sitting in the middle — this is a long plane. Enjoy your flight!

By: yo

yo — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:19:36 +0000

I just bought tix LAX-MNL, had 3 choices within 20 dollars, Eva, China Air, and Asiana. I have miles on Eva and China, but for the fare, I couldn’t use miles for upgrades, nor would I earn miles. I pulled the pitch chart up and China was 32 inches, Eva 33 and Asiana. Add in the fact that Asiana is part of Star Alliance and I have 40K miles on US and it was an easy choice. Now…I can non rev to LAX, but that is dodgy, so I am buying a OW on Southwest and will try 2 earlier US flights standby. If I make it, I will apply the SW money I spent to the return flight to PHX and do the same standby gamble.

Looking forward to Asiana, Eva is great, especially with the new 777′s and China has improved a lot with the 747′s in LAX with the seatback entertainment.

Oh, and got a ticket on Cebu for 23 bucks to Puerto Princesa, of course my bags will cost that much as well……

Non rev’ing is great, but nothing beats a real seat.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:41:07 +0000

Brett,

For years, I lived away from family (taught school in West Virginia, then Nebraska, then Germany, and finally California); it was an ordeal every year making travel plans. I wish there had been a website like yours back then, but wait, there wasn’t even the Internet back when I first started having to make the trek home for Christmas!

I live in the Indianapolis area now and so do all my family members–including my 94-year-old father, and I am thrilled not to have to fly home for Christmas.

Apropos to nothing–we thought we had it made when we found a relatively inexpensive nonstop US Air flight to Boston for our June eastcoast trip. Yippee! No more arduous walks through Detroit or Pittsburgh airports for connecting flights to Manchester, NH. But, when we got to the airport in Indy we found that the flight had been cancelled due to bad weather back east!! Never in all my years of flying have I had a flight cancelled–delayed, yes, but not completely cancelled. We could wait until 5:00 for another nonstop to Boston (it was 10:00 am then), or we could take an 11 am US Air flight to Boston via La Guardia. Grrr.

By: Smail

Smail — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:12:07 +0000

Haha, I recently booked a similar trip home for the wife and I. Dirt cheap one-way cash fare w/ Continental, and then one-way awards back with American. Being able to drop 12,500 miles on a o/w trip is great, and I really hope that some other carriers pick up on it. And just like your trip, as we were also using our separate accounts, I had to call up my wife mid-reservation to get her credit card info. Definitely annoying, but it all worked out well in the end.

By: CF

CF — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:42:54 +0000

poetloverrebelspy – First of all, where are you coming from? I think international travel can be different because people tend to spend more time on their holidays around the end of the year. So the peak days for travel are different. If your days are flexible, then you can wait, but if they aren’t, then I’d be concerned.

rob l – Yeah, I can’t imagine that being in St Louis has been fun as service has continued to dwindle. Look on the bright side – at least you don’t live in Pittsburgh. (Hmm, that’s little consolation, I suppose.)

By: rob l

rob l — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:31:09 +0000

well, glad someone’s happy about st louis becoming a more irrelevant airport by the day…those of us who live here…not so much.

used to fly direct to london and paris…now, we’re lucky if we don’t have to connect on our way to chicago.

anyway, enjoy your travels. unfortunately, by flying AA through here, you’re flying through the worst concourse (in terms of layout, amenities, and appearance).

By: poetloverrebelspy

poetloverrebelspy — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:13:00 +0000

Here I am thinking about booking Xmas flights, so I thought I’d pop over here for a visit and see what you had to say on the matter. Perfect timing!

Do you think your early planning advice holds internationally? We’re still 133+ days out from when I might start flying home to the U.S. I booked tickets last year in September under the usual “buy early” strategy, only to find that two weeks before the holidays they were selling the same or equivalent itineraries (different fare basis) for $200 less. I was stuck with a ticket that didn’t even allow changes for a fee!

My family lives near a smaller airport in the heart of (former) Northwest territory, meaning I can connect only via MSP or DTW. Our new Delta overlords have been slashing flights to these two hubs and I am concerned that they will cut the DTW connection altogether.

Anyone out there with insight here? Thanks in advance.

By: Wonko Beeblebrox

Wonko Beeblebrox — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:49:03 +0000

My plans have been set for a while now… a big long cruise…. My airfare back home is the one right around holiday time, so that one is already booked (I got the nonstop just in case mother nature unleashes her wrath). I’m waiting for Southwest to put on a sale or a Ding for my outbound airfare…. I have lots of time yet to book that one, and it’s a short leg…

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:40:29 +0000

Thanks for the entertaining and true blog post today. I’m sure not everyone will agree with all of your comments, but you make what could potentially be a hectic holiday travel plan fun!

By: Shindig

Shindig — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:12:27 +0000

If your concerns include getting a Miller Lite or Bud Light you should stop worrying and set your sights a little higher. Neither example of these swills, a.k.a. lawn mowing beer, is worth the effort of lifting the can or bottle. Both companies make mediocre brews that are still far superior to either of these examples.