Some Air Fares Dropping More

[DandyDon]

Normally we can find better rates and more days to choose from out of Atlanta into Cancun and Keep in mind that there is a puddle jumper from Cancun to Coz. I think $56 + taxes One way. Maybe $63 total. Time you figure the bus/taxi and the ferry against the short plane ride not to bad and from what I hear a great view. We will be doing this in November. But only only if you travel light. One 55 lb bag and a personal bag, Guess that leaves out Don

Totally. I heard there was one flying again. How is the performance? The old one had a very poor rep. My bus from downtown Cancun was $3 US, I think, $5 to the trike porter working late to haul my load, $11 for the ferry = $19 or so, but - I didn't have to ride a CZM airport van. Something to be said for that, too...~!

The puddle jumper could be fun and fast if dependable, tho - maybe worth the money for the light packers. Thanks!

 

[pidgiepoo]

Saw on one of the talk shows that the best time to get the low fares with all airlines is to call one minute after midnight on Tuesday in the time zone where their headquarters is located. You cant do it on the internet...you need to call. Apparently, that is when all of the seats that are on hold for travel agencies and 24 hour weekend holds expire and those seats go back into the system.
Do you know about this Don..and if ya do, have you checked it out yet? Just wondered if it holds true.

 

[DandyDon]

Saw on one of the talk shows that the best time to get the low fares with all airlines is to call one minute after midnight on Tuesday in the time zone where their headquarters is located. You cant do it on the internet...you need to call. Apparently, that is when all of the seats that are on hold for travel agencies and 24 hour weekend holds expire and those seats go back into the system.
Do you know about this Don..and if ya do, have you checked it out yet? Just wondered if it holds true.

Ah the things I miss by not having TV. I knew that used to work and I wondered why it didn't seem to work anymore, but I was checking online - not by phone. Certainly worth trying, if it saves more than the $15 charge for buying by phone. There's no charge for shopping by phone. I don't think you'll get the computer cookie entrapment mentioned above either. A few other tricks that may help at times...

Call the airline to research target prices: With pen & paper in hand, ask "what is the cheapest RT fare for travel from the origin city to the destination city for my preferred dates if the cheapest inventories were available?" That'll give you an idea of how close you may be already to getting the best price, and you can also ask the agent to check various possibilities for you - like what if I left a day earlier, returned a different day, etc.

Ask the agent to "break the fare" in Houston, DFW, Atlanta, whatever the connection city is, to see if it saves money - and if so, to explain any risks? It's often cheaper for me to fly from Lubbock thru Houston to Cozumel for example than it is for Houston passengers, but at some times it's just the opposite. There might be a fare war from the connection city and in some rare cases it's cheaper to book a fare from Origin to Connection Plus Connection to Destination - but airline rules on such vary at times, and there may be some risks. My experiences of when I use that tho were that they'd build the fare that way, but still give me Origin to Destination protection, like if my first flight was late and I missed my connection flight - they'd still give me full rights for changing the second flight, not penalize me for being a no-show on the second.

You can also call the airline and request their Internet Help Desk when you don't think you're getting the best deal on their online site.

 

[pidgiepoo]

thanks for the info. I think you meant there is no charge for the internet not phone.Also, I like your new avatar.

 

[DandyDon]

thanks for the info. I think you meant there is no charge for the internet not phone.Also, I like your new avatar.

No, what I meant by "There's no charge for shopping by phone" is there is no charge for calling to ask - only charged if you buy the ticket by phone. It's free to call for quotes, rules, explanations, etc. I am often not clear, tho - sorry, I try. :blush:

[-]You know, I think maybe I had my mask upside down there?[/-] Nah, just looks like it at a glance. I can't take good self pics, so I go for silly at times.

 

[pidgiepoo]

Oh- sorry..I read it kinda fast and I see what you meant now. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[blue steal]

Well DandyDon, I may need your expert advice on airfare also.
I am looking to fly out of LAX-CZM October 24 around 12:30 Saturday morning and arrive CZM 1120 via continental. Return November 3 on the 1220 flight. I signed up for sidestep and have been watching for a few days now. Continental has the best time for me so far with the least amount of layover time in Houston. Still about 100 days away. I saw a $406 for a brief moment and would have snaged it, but was waiting for my confirmation on the BA, which just came thru....... and now it's $516:shocked2:

 

[DandyDon]

Well DandyDon, I may need your expert advice on airfare also.
I am looking to fly out of LAX-CZM October 24 around 12:30 Saturday morning and arrive CZM 1120 via continental. Return November 3 on the 1220 flight. I signed up for sidestep and have been watching for a few days now. Continental has the best time for me so far with the least amount of layover time in Houston. Still about 100 days away. I saw a $406 for a brief moment and would have snaged it, but was waiting for my confirmation on the BA, which just came thru....... and now it's $516:shocked2:

Yeah, saw that on your planning thread. Do see my notes on clearing cookies anytime you shop Continental.com. As we both said there, midweek is the best time to shop, but since you missed that this week, waiting for next midweek is risky. I wouldn't do it. The fare was down briefly a few days ago, but back up...

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With the flu scare over, it's going to be difficult to find those cheap fares into CZM. For your dates, now that you've got them, after so many changes, give up on CZM and enjoy your flight to Cancun. The cheapest fare requires a too long layover in IAH on day 1, but the earlier arrival is not much higher.

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Into CUN by 10am, on the bus by 11, in PDC by 12 noon, next ferry, short cab ride - no cramming into an overpacked van at CZM. On return day, you'll need to leave right after an early breakfast to do the noon return, but it'll work.

After all the changes you have been thru, grab this one...!

Or, Sidestep can get you $337 RT, thru Orbitz, on Continental, leaving at 7am to arrive in CUN at 3:30pm, into Blue Angel around 8pm. I arrived later in March and still made the 8am boat. You're going to be there for 10 days. So you might do the afternoon boat instead the first day if you will need to check out gear and stuff.

 

[chrisc]

We just booked for Oct 22 to Nov 2, 2 people, Air & Hotel (Wyndham AI), insurance, and shuttle for $1534 total price from Pensacola to Cozumel on Continental. We checked airfare alone and it was $512/pp, so we paid airfare and stay at the resort for ~$25/night per person (thats 6 drinks a day to recoupe the hotel).

Orbitz has a promo code entertain200 for $200 off trips to Mexico

 

[DandyDon]

We just booked for Oct 22 to Nov 2, 2 people, Air & Hotel (Wyndham AI), insurance, and shuttle for $1534 total price from Pensacola to Cozumel on Continental. We checked airfare alone and it was $512/pp, so we paid airfare and stay at the resort for ~$25/night per person (thats 6 drinks a day to recoupe the hotel).

Orbitz has a promo code entertain200 for $200 off trips to Mexico

Yep, that is a good approach, and we discussed that in this thread. I showed some possibilities using that coupon, but thanks for bringing it up again. Was a 5 day minimum, now 6 I think. Eh, I would have declined the shuttle and got it there for less I think, and declined the insurance as I like to get it elsewhere - but those are differences of opinions on small points only.