Airfare savants, please look into crystal ball...

[jayjoans]

Thanks for the link to Cheapair, I gave it a try and they are +$40 over the price for the same flights on Continental.com. I have yet to find a 3rd party site that has prices any better than the Continental site, at least for the SFO-CZM trip.

Right now the best I can do with the 4hr30min layover on the return is $372.

Don- I did not book that primo return flight that no longer exists, I'm still hoping the fares come down a bit between now and the end of April. There are still very few seats sold on all 4 legs, so I hope they drop the fare rather than eliminate more flights...

 

[DandyDon]

Well the Vets program would save you $15/ticket after program fees.

 

[jayjoans]

I don't qualify to enroll in their Vets program.

 

[DandyDon]

I don't qualify to enroll in their Vets program.

Did you read the qualifications? No vets in the family...?

 

[jayjoans]

I did read them, which is why I know it isn't an option.

 

[jayjoans]

fares just jumped up today $20pp. Still very few seats sold an all legs....

C'mon, big money no whammies..!

 

[DandyDon]

fares just jumped up today $20pp. Still very few seats sold an all legs....

C'mon, big money no whammies..!

I just saw that on my Roatan trip: $20. May be a system wide increase. We might see a change if air travel business suffers with current news, but looks like the hit was industry wide: Airlines Raise Fares on Higher Fuel Costs - FOXBusiness.com

 

[jayjoans]

Well, today the fare dropped back to $343 for the week I needed, originally it was $373, then went up another $20 due to "fuel charges" to $393. Today it dropped to as low as I've seen it for this trip, so I pulled the trigger.

Stevenq's recommendation to search as one passenger as opposed to our group of 7 proved valuable, my home computer has all 7 of us as the default setting, but my iPhone only had 1 passenger priced. The home computer quoted $373, and the iPhone quoted $343 at the same time but with only 3 seats left.... Even after clearing my desktop Continental cookies.

I ended up purchasing tickets in 2 groups of 3 and a single. If I inputted more than 3 the fare jumped back to the $373. Obviously there were more than 3 seats left, since I booked all 7 at the $343.

I'm happy, saved $210 over what I was willing to pay, so that will help with diving and activities while in Coz. Thanks everybody for your help, I just wanted to close out the thread.

Now my biggest worry is they go down again...

 

[DandyDon]

Hehe, if I were mean - I'd tell her I found them all for $299.

Sounds like you did great, and that really is a cheap fare from that far. I know you want the best deal possible, but I'm impressed at how good you did. Interesting that buying in smaller groups was cheaper; you'd think the opposite, huh?

Now my biggest worry is they go down again...

Keep watching. If they go down within 30 days, Continental.com does have a credit provision for that.

 

[jayjoans]

Don- the 30 day thing is great news, but I can't find it anywhere on Continental's site. Do you know where that policy is stated? Thanks again for your help.