Airline Fees - Why are they so crazy to squeeze a buck out of us?

[JJReyes]

3 hours ago, Old55 said:

11 hours ago, JJReyes said:

For next week's flight, our reservation are Las Vegas/San Francisco/Hong Kong/Manila on Cathay Pacific Airlines.  Las Vegas/San Francisco is on Alaska Airlines.  Approximately 23 hours including stops.  Philippine Airlines, because they fly directly San Francisco/Manila and Los Angeles/Manila, is more expensive. It was more than $1,000 economy.  The reason is the approaching holiday and the 2 to 4 million Phil-Am market desiring to spend the holidays with their relatives.  Adding a few hundred dollars, we are flying premium economy.  More comfortable seats and better service.

I recommend Cathay Pacific although in all honesty, we haven't flown using this airline recently.  By the way, Dragon is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific.  

We also researched and found cheap tickets from China and Taiwan carriers.  But watch out for total flight time.  Some were over 30 hours. 

 

 

JJ, just to be clear the premium seats were with Cathay or with PAL? I'm only through my first half cup coffee.

The premium economy seats are on Cathay Pacific Airlines. 

Philippine Airlines from Manila to San Francisco and Los Angeles, at this time, only offers economy and business class.  The previous "game" on Philippine Airlines was to purchase the cheapest economy class ticket, then you placed a bid for a business class seat.  There is a range of suggested amounts, but everyone offered the minimum because the business section is usually empty.  Philippine Airlines got wise.  So now the minimum bid is $850 for a one way ticket!  That's on top of the economy class fare.  Still cheaper than outright purchasing a business class ticket, but no longer cheap.  

I have a bad back.  Any flight using economy class seats lasting more than three or four hours will result in back pains lasting several days.  

[JJReyes]

4 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

5 hours ago, Old55 said:

JJ, just to be clear the premium seats were with Cathay or with PAL? I'm only through my first half cup coffee.

I didn't see any premium economy for only a few hundred more.  Usually 2-3 times the lowest economy fare.

Searching for hotels and airline tickets online has become one of the craziest games.  Unfortunately, the consumer is the usual loser.  As a retiree with plenty of time, I sometimes try to play their game.  It could potentially save me some money, but still a loser.  Just like in a casino, you can't beat the odds. 

The first step is to remove all cookies from your computer.  This is how the booking companies keep tabs of your preferences.  Knowing that flights to Mexico City should cost between $200 to $400 roundtrip, I was shocked that everyone offered in the range of $400 to $600.  Forgot to remove cookies.  After I fixed the problem, prices returned to normal.  The alternative Is to login "incognito" or use another computer.

The next step is to visit different websites.  They require such information as destination, travel dates and class of service.  You are creating a new profile after removing cookies.  For the next few weeks, your screen will have pop-up messages from Travelocity, Expedia, etc. making all kinds of offers.

Most important step is to check airline websites.  They have calendars showing which dates have cheaper fares.  The reason is the bookings on those days are still low so they offer price incentives.  Note that 3 or 4 weeks before the flight, the prices go up.  Best window for me is 60 days before expected departure date.  Others say it's 30 or 45 days before.

Finally, there are the clubs.  I have AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and AAA (American Automobile Association).  Supposedly, the best is Costco Travel for their members.  For some unknown reason, certain flights don't sell.  The cost of operating the aircraft is approximately the same.  Rather than flying with empty seats,  it is better to dump them at a low price to wholesalers, consolidators and clubs with multi-million members. They won't advertise the prices through the online booking companies because it exposes prices to the public.  Years ago we were able to purchase round trip tickets for the family from Honolulu to Vancouver for $99 each during Christmas.  It was cheaper than going to a neighboring island.

Our tickets to Manila were purchased from a consolidator.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by JJReyes

[OnMyWay]

Now I found another one.  Singapore Airlines no longer has free seat selection for their two lowest economy fares.  For an Auckland trip, it is $5 for MNL-SIN and $15 for SIN-AKL.  So that is $40 RT for all 5 of us, $200.

Correction:  When traveling with a child you can still select the seats for free.

Edited November 18, 2018 by OnMyWay

[JJReyes]

2 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

Correction:  When traveling with a child you can still select the seats for free.

Usually, when traveling with a child less than 2 years old, the airlines will give you a bulkhead seat.  The reason is they can add a small bed anchored to the wall.  I have also seen infant beds made of cardboard box with blankets.  During other times like a short trip, the bulkhead seats are sold at a premium price.

[Clermont]

On 11/15/2018 at 1:25 AM, JJReyes said:

The first step is to remove all cookies from your computer.  This is how the booking companies keep tabs of your preferences. 

What I do when surfing the web looking for airline tickets, I use the wife's Ipad then when I've settled on an agent, I go to the computer and book the ticket using my email address. I have been caught out though, most agents have a time clock that you must finish your booking by. Once, and only once I didn't have all the relevant paperwork in front of me and the site timed out, I went back into the site and the tickets were $50 more per ticket, same dates, same plane, only ten minutes later from first contact, figure that one out. 

[GeoffH]

3 hours ago, Clermont said:

the tickets were $50 more per ticket, same dates, same plane, only ten minutes later from first contact, figure that one out. 

 

Possibly a cookie was saved on your device?

[OnMyWay]

4 hours ago, GeoffH said:

 

Possibly a cookie was saved on your device?

Wait a minute!  Those "we use cookies" messages I get on the websites say the cookies are used to improve my browsing experience!  Not true?  

[JJReyes]

23 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

Wait a minute!  Those "we use cookies" messages I get on the websites say the cookies are used to improve my browsing experience!  Not true?  

Good one.  Another is a supermarket sign, "Carts are located outside for your convenience."

[earthdome]

On 11/19/2018 at 7:56 PM, JJReyes said:

Good one.  Another is a supermarket sign, "Carts are located outside for your convenience."

Another one is... "We are from the government and we are here to help you".