I've been trying all day to book a round-trip flight to Dulles International Airport (Virginia) via Kayak.com, but every time I enter my personal data and try to process the transaction, I get a "Sorry, something went wrong" notification. There's nothing wrong with the information I'm submitting. So for lack of better options (unless you have some, Dear Reader), I might just have to bite the bullet and hit a travel agent. When I did that for my flight to Jeju Island a couple years back, this proved almost twice as expensive as a ticket via Kayak. God only knows how much a trip to the States might cost.*
I have several errands I need to go and do tomorrow, so maybe I'll visit the travel agent then. Unless I somehow get through online via Kayak or United or Korean Air...
UPDATE: ticket purchased directly via Korean Air. I still feel cheated.
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*Way back in the 90s, a round-trip ticket to the US east coast was around $650, and that was with a travel agent's help. Christ.
Why are you not using google.com/flights? It's less than $700 on American airlines in March. Google shows you the best prices day by day and the cheapest carrier option. You buy through the carrier's site online or via the phone. Only Southwest airlines isn't listed in the states.
ReplyDeleteI just checked, and for my travel dates, the ticket I ended up getting via Korean Air is only $100 more expensive than what Google Flights is showing for the same dates. I'll keep Google Flights in mind for future reference. How do you always find these deals and shortcuts? Just type "cheapest deals" into Google? Some people have a knack for finding deals; I'm not one of them. What's the secret?
DeleteYears of online trial and error (paying too much). I used to so hate overpaying for flights that I'd book flights with 4 or 5 layovers to get the cheapest fares. I no longer do that.
ReplyDeleteThe ITA Matrix an advanced version of google flights. If you are doing just a round trip, google flights or Kayak is probably sufficient. But if you are looking at a multi city trip, or a weird routing, etc., I use ITA matrix to get an idea of pricing and then see if going directly to the airline website will have equivalent prices. I also look at seat pitch and seat maps also. I am at the point where I am willing to pay a bit more to increase my comfort level on a long flight. I don't think you fly that much, but if you have status with an airline, you may get some perks (free checked bags, better choice of seats, lounge access, etc.) that may offset that airline being slightly more expensive.
ReplyDeleteBrian
Good to know, Brian. Thanks.
DeleteFWIW (which is next to nothing), my trip last year was about $2k round trip, but I upgraded to "premium economy." That meant that I was in Business class going to Korea but I was in an exit row coming back. Coming back was much more crowded than going over. It was worth it for the extra legroom and wider seats. I've grown soft in my dotage.
ReplyDeleteMy round-trip ticket is $600 less than that, but then again, it's also regular economy class. I normally suffer during long flights, trying to minimize the suffering by sleeping, sometimes while leaning forward, but I always worry I might end up leaning and drooling on a fellow passenger, which is why I prefer aisle seats. (Also: quicker access to the restroom!) The problem with aisle seats is that I often end up leaning out into the aisle, which means I get bumped all the time by rolling carts and traversing passengers.
DeleteI found $617 round-trip tickets on American for March and April, but they include 2 stops and times of 29 and 35 hours for each way. One has an 8 hour overnight layover in Greensboro. For a little more money and a more direct flight, I'd pass at my current age. Just make sure not to travel in August. The prices are brutal.
ReplyDelete