I really dislike booking plane tickets. I am always scared I will book for the wrong day. I particularly got that flippy feeling in my stomach when CF and I booked our Germany flights.
Well, I finally booked my flights for a weekend in August. I would say that the tickets were expensive because I waited so long to book them, but really they are only about $40 more than when I looked a couple of months ago. I figured I would use the 50 Euro certificate I got when CF and I missed our connection in Amsterdam to reduce the cost. Simple.
But nooooooo...Neither KLM or Delta let you use it online. And when I called the automated message actually hung up on me. No putting me on hold. Just, sorry, we're busy, call back. I don't think I have ever had that happen before.
Whatever, I will just use that for another trip in September.
I then figured I would sign up for the miles credit card because I keep meaning to cancel my second credit card (I never use it and do not get anything if I do use it...that's another story), get the $100 on this ticket, and 25,000 miles for my first purchase with it. After the first year there is a $95 annual fee though (which they tell you after you fill out all the info and just before you hit submit), and I do not trust myself to remember to cancel it. So forget that.
I did manage to book the ticket finally. I frequently find now that the airlines themselves have the same price as all those other discount sites unless the discount site is running a particular deal, but not after I checked ever site I could think of just to be sure. I feel a little more comfortable knowing my reservations do not have to keep switching electronic hands when I book through the airline too, so that is good.While I had to make these reservations sooner than later, I did manage to spend two hours of writing time doing so. I need to stop being so obsessive about checking all the sites only to book with the airline everytime.
Anyone have a suggestion when an airline's reservation phone number isn't busy so I can call back and not have the automated dude hang up on me?
2 comments:
No, but I would greatly suggest getting a Capital One card as your ONLY credit card. The annual fee is $20-$25, but the miles can be used on ANY airline--you can book yourself or use their travel agents to find the best price--and there are no blackout dates. We've used it for 13 years now!
I have only ever had to call the airlines once, and that was for info on bereavement fares. I got right through and got the info I needed, I think it was late evening CST.
As for booking with discount sites vs airlines, I have found over the course of 6 years or more that the airlines almost always have the same ticket price as an expedia.com or orbitz.com (within $1). I always book through the airline, because if the flight gets cancelled when you are already at the airport, you can actually get the people at the counter to help you without any problems or delays. However, I do use those sites to do my initial searches.
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