Where do you guys and gals book your last minute travel? I just found out that I have to take a work trip leaving Sunday and wondering where I could get the best deal? Its a 9 hour drive so I may just end up driving but just checking out flight prices on Hotwire and Expedia seems costly. Just seeing what others use. Also wondering if anyone uses Priceline. Is it good? I may not be gone like the entire week, are there change fees? I can check each one individually just didn't know if anyone knew of the top of their heads.
Thanks!
I have alerts set up through airfare watchdog, but you can do searches there, too. I also do like kayak for comparisons.
good luck.
I don't use discounters at all because they are the first to be bumped if necessary.
I book a lot of travel for my hubby for our company business and our personal. I only work with Southwest and American Air websites. You'd be surprised at some last minute deals but they are hard to come by based on where you are headed.
We do have a lot of extra points and tickets on Southwest and American so last resort is that I will cash in points for 1 way or the entire ticket if needed. There are still fees involved with that as well.
Sometimes, in a crunch, we will rent a car at the airport (make sure it is unlimited miles and get the fine print info) and hubby will drive if the destination is less than 3 hrs away.
Good luck!
Your Company doesn't book it for you?
Ask them.
My Husband's employers and the current one, books work related trips, for their employees. Thus they pay for it.
No advice on where to book but we had a horrible experience booking last minute with Orbitz. Had to have a layover and had no seat on the second plane. Ended up having to stay over night and fly out the next day.
My Sil books flights using Orbitz but we book hotels all the time with priceline we get great deals We've stayed half off at hotels all the time. Flights may all be about the same since it's last minute but check out carriers directly southwest normally is pretty decent that's all my in laws use
I always drive if I can so I can make a trip out of it. You know, like if you were driving to Denver you could take a side trip and go to the top of Pikes Peak.
Salt Lake City you could stop in Vernal Utah at Dinosaur National Monument. I heard they stopped letting people do so much but it's a big deal to see dinosaur bones being dug up. It's the idea of making it a trip.
Nashville is about 9 hours from Topeka, you could spend a whole day after your meetings to see sights all around that area.
If you were driving to Dallas that's a little short of your destination but the idea is picking larger city's about 9 hours away. In Dallas there are so may things to do besides shopping. Even on the way to or from you have places you can stop and piddle around doing stuff.
Even if it were Chicago you could plan some little trips from there that would be totally interesting and fun.
Make it a mini vacation and drive.
Have your business book it. That's usually how it works.
Priceline or Orbitz. I agree with Kim M...they will book you the cheapest which means a layover or 2, but you can pay more for a non-stop. I've never had any problems with either and found really great deals (got a last minute roundtrip from Houston to Tulsa on time on Priceline, one stop in Dallas, for $52!) but it was a few days ahead of time.
Does Southwest fly out of Kansas? The cost might still be high due to last minute booking but at least there won't be any change fees.
