Comments on: The black art of repricing tickets http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:23:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » When does paying more than the lowest price make sense? http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-7145 Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » When does paying more than the lowest price make sense? Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:52:52 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-7145 [...] In our case, both the existing business relationship with United and — importantly — a number of bonus offers that powerfully boost the earned mileage make the United fare more attractive than the American or AirTran itinerary. There’s a double-mile offer, plus 1000 online purchase miles, 500 miles per online check-in, plus 500 extra miles for doing both online purchase and check-in. While I hope the flights will be on-time, if the flight is late for any reason, the BusinessOne guarantee gives 500 extra miles. (Note: registration for some of these offers is necessary.) Finally, if the fare drops at any point after she purchases the ticket, she can request a voucher on UA for the difference. [...] […] In our case, both the existing business relationship with United and — importantly — a number of bonus offers that powerfully boost the earned mileage make the United fare more attractive than the American or AirTran itinerary. There’s a double-mile offer, plus 1000 online purchase miles, 500 miles per online check-in, plus 500 extra miles for doing both online purchase and check-in. While I hope the flights will be on-time, if the flight is late for any reason, the BusinessOne guarantee gives 500 extra miles. (Note: registration for some of these offers is necessary.) Finally, if the fare drops at any point after she purchases the ticket, she can request a voucher on UA for the difference. […]

]]> By: Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Reader mail: How far in advance should I reserve my rental car? http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-2105 Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Reader mail: How far in advance should I reserve my rental car? Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:36:20 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-2105 [...] Unlike buying airline tickets, you’re generally not paying any money up front when you reserve a rental car. And if prices go down, you can always make a new reservation and then cancel the old one. (Note, on some airlines, you can get a refund on your airfare when the price drops, too, but unless you’re buying higher-priced refundable fares, you can’t just cancel your old reservations and make fresh ones willy-nilly without paying fees.) [...] […] Unlike buying airline tickets, you’re generally not paying any money up front when you reserve a rental car. And if prices go down, you can always make a new reservation and then cancel the old one. (Note, on some airlines, you can get a refund on your airfare when the price drops, too, but unless you’re buying higher-priced refundable fares, you can’t just cancel your old reservations and make fresh ones willy-nilly without paying fees.) […]

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-25 Anonymous Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:20:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-25 Best Buy has the same thing within 30 days of purchase (for most items) -- plus they add 10%. The TV I bought there was advertised at Circuit City the next week for $100 less. I brought the circular and my receipt into Best Buy and they credited me $110. Awesome. Best Buy has the same thing within 30 days of purchase (for most items) — plus they add 10%. The TV I bought there was advertised at Circuit City the next week for $100 less. I brought the circular and my receipt into Best Buy and they credited me $110. Awesome.

]]> By: Better Living Through Miles http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-24 Better Living Through Miles Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:48:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-24 Katja -- Someone gave you false info. I have regularly used these vouchers by phoning in a reservation and then mailing the voucher back to United. Sorry to hear they made you make an extra trip... You're right, though, that it's not redeemable online, which stinks. By the way, you shouldn't be charged any phone ticketing surcharge when you use these vouchers. Mark -- I'm happy to learn about Sears' policy, and will keep it in mind when I buy a new washer/dryer! Note that the airlines that have such a policy (and it sounds increasingly that there might only be 2 of them left!) don't have a 30-day limit, so they're even more generous than Sears. Katja — Someone gave you false info. I have regularly used these vouchers by phoning in a reservation and then mailing the voucher back to United. Sorry to hear they made you make an extra trip… You’re right, though, that it’s not redeemable online, which stinks. By the way, you shouldn’t be charged any phone ticketing surcharge when you use these vouchers.

Mark — I’m happy to learn about Sears’ policy, and will keep it in mind when I buy a new washer/dryer! Note that the airlines that have such a policy (and it sounds increasingly that there might only be 2 of them left!) don’t have a 30-day limit, so they’re even more generous than Sears.

]]> By: mark http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-23 mark Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:39:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-23 FYI, some store merchants have similar policies. I recently bought a Sears washer/dryer combo, and shortly thereafter noticed an improved sale/promotion that resulted in a total price drop of about $75. Because it was within Sears' <a HREF="http://www.sears.com/sr/misc/sears/custserv/custserv_price_protect_policy.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=SEARS" rel="nofollow">30-day price protection policy</A>, I called the store. After a bit of confusion on the part of the sales rep, my account was credited. FYI, some store merchants have similar policies. I recently bought a Sears washer/dryer combo, and shortly thereafter noticed an improved sale/promotion that resulted in a total price drop of about $75. Because it was within Sears’ 30-day price protection policy, I called the store. After a bit of confusion on the part of the sales rep, my account was credited.

]]> By: Katja http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-22 Katja Mon, 13 Mar 2006 22:44:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-22 The last time I did this (on United), the *only* way to redeem the voucher was to go in person to Denver International Airport to buy a ticket. It was not redeemable by phone or online. The last time I did this (on United), the *only* way to redeem the voucher was to go in person to Denver International Airport to buy a ticket. It was not redeemable by phone or online.

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