Topic: Our U.S. airlines are on CRACK COCAINE!

[Iceman]

Quote:
I've said for a long time the use of computers in fare setting should be banned.  The array of fares is bewildering.

The fares you saw are designed to stick it the last minute business traveler.  Booking a flight at the last minute can be hazardous to your wallet.  Or expense budget.  

And to your person. Little story follows.

As a sophomore in high school (re age 15-16) I went on the trip to Wyoming (Jackson Hole) to go skiing for a week. It was me, 2 teachers and 5 other kids, small trip. So we get to Logan and everythings cool. Then I get handed the last ticket as the moderator hands them out. Except its not my ticket. Its a ticket for one of the kids who didn't end up going. The fool crossed my name off the list instead of his.

So about 25 minutes later, all is sorted but I've got a ticket that was just purchased an hour before the flight, as opposed to my friends tickets, which were all bought a month in advance.

Do you know the kind of screening one has to go through with one of those dammed tickets?  I had to totally unpack my backpack at the metal detector, then put it all back in. Then as we were boarding, I got pulled out of line and had to do it all again. Of course, I took off my belt, jewelery etc at the metal detector. But now I had it all back on. Had to take all that stuff off too (shoes included) and get the wave over with the wand.  

Thank god my return ticket was a week in advance.  

[SL-Punisher]

Ask about emergency travel rates. Airlines often offer discounted fares for times like this. You can't get them online, so you'll have to call in person.  

[Sethan]

Quote:
Ask about emergency travel rates. Airlines often offer discounted fares for times like this. You can't get them online, so you'll have to call in person.  

Those rates often require that you produce a death certificate on the return trip, or they charge you the difference.  Given that death certificates are often not issued for months, and it is awkward to ask the deceased's immediate family for them, the airlines make out like bandits.

[Iceman]

I know thats not true in at least some cases. A friend of mine's, her family is from minnesota and when her mother died, the airline was very giving when she asked for a next day flight. They even offered IIRC to shuttle her to the airport. Very nice.