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 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:54 -0700 hourly 1 By: Check in the mail: Orbitz refunds airfare price drops, but is it worthwhile? | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-30626 Check in the mail: Orbitz refunds airfare price drops, but is it worthwhile? | Upgrade: Travel Better Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:06:30 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#comment-30626 [...] - The black art of repricing tickets - Track airfare before and AFTER you buy? - Putting low-fare guarantees to the test - Orbitz [...] [...] – The black art of repricing tickets – Track airfare before and AFTER you buy? – Putting low-fare guarantees to the test – Orbitz [...]

]]> By: Market timing: More advice on when to buy cheap plane tickets | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-30236 Market timing: More advice on when to buy cheap plane tickets | Upgrade: Travel Better Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:16:33 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#comment-30236 [...] Added advice from me, for the truly hardcore: Even if you’ve bought the ticket, don’t stop tracking the fare. If your airline offers repricing or re-faring, stay on top of the fare trend and request a refund voucher if the price drops again. See my earlier post “The black art of repricing tickets.” [...] [...] Added advice from me, for the truly hardcore: Even if you’ve bought the ticket, don’t stop tracking the fare. If your airline offers repricing or re-faring, stay on top of the fare trend and request a refund voucher if the price drops again. See my earlier post “The black art of repricing tickets.” [...]

]]> By: Farecast expands price predictions to over 50 cities | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-30235 Farecast expands price predictions to over 50 cities | Upgrade: Travel Better Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:56:56 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#comment-30235 [...] The traveler’s crystal ball - Market timing: More advice on when to buy cheap plane tickets - The black art of repricing tickets Categorized in: FareCast, FareCompare, airfare, travel 1 CommentSHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: [...] [...] The traveler’s crystal ball – Market timing: More advice on when to buy cheap plane tickets – The black art of repricing tickets Categorized in: FareCast, FareCompare, airfare, travel 1 CommentSHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: [...]

]]> By: End of an era: United ends free ticket repricing | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-27215 End of an era: United ends free ticket repricing | Upgrade: Travel Better Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:48:57 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#comment-27215 [...] What this used to mean: If the price of a ticket would drop in the time after you bought it, and if you were alert enough to notice the change, you could go online or call the airline and “refare” the ticket. You’d receive a voucher for the difference in the mail. Three years ago, I detailed the process here. [...] [...] What this used to mean: If the price of a ticket would drop in the time after you bought it, and if you were alert enough to notice the change, you could go online or call the airline and “refare” the ticket. You’d receive a voucher for the difference in the mail. Three years ago, I detailed the process here. [...]

]]> By: Betan Testravosky http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-24649 Betan Testravosky Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:04:13 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#comment-24649 This doesn't work with Continental. Once you pay for your ticket, that is it. They neither give vouchers nor refunds. You cannot cancel either without losing the entire ticket price. You can rebook for a lower price, but you will be charged a "rebooking fee" that will curiously always be slightly higher that the difference in price, so you never win and lose. I have contacted the Attorney Generals in several states and all have pretty much said they have no power against the airline or any transportation provider (rail, ferry, bus, etc.) Buying air tickets is a gamble - once you pay, game over. This doesn’t work with Continental. Once you pay for your ticket, that is it. They neither give vouchers nor refunds. You cannot cancel either without losing the entire ticket price. You can rebook for a lower price, but you will be charged a “rebooking fee” that will curiously always be slightly higher that the difference in price, so you never win and lose. I have contacted the Attorney Generals in several states and all have pretty much said they have no power against the airline or any transportation provider (rail, ferry, bus, etc.) Buying air tickets is a gamble – once you pay, game over.

]]> 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://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#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://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#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://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#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: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/03/13/the-black-art-of-repricing-tickets/#comment-24 Mark Ashley Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:48:00 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#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://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#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://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=35#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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