www.CostaRicaTicas.com

when I first started looking into going to CR found a flight for 283 total.now that I have my passport cost 504 total.

Should I wait and see if it comes back down or book now?

I will be calling SL first thing in the morning to book a room for 7 days in mid september.

The airlines seem to lower there fares on Tues. thru Thurs. keep shopping I am sitting at the airport right now. I saw my ticket go from 246 dollars to over 700 and back to 226 and I pulled the trigger. Shop hot wire.com and then go to the main airline page, I seem to get better flight times from the airline themselves. Keep up the search it is worth it.

There have been a few sites mentioned here over the years, however this Website compares the comparers:
www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/04/07/ ... e-the-best

In addition, a site not listed in the above link has been mentioned favorably here: www.yapta.com
Yapta in particular (and maybe some others) will send you an email when there's a price drop.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I still think this is the best at finding cheap deals. http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispa ... 46F018264B Plus they don't sell tickets they just report the fares. Great for international 30 day searches.

The great part about the matrix.ita site is that they give you the fare construction so when you go to the airline site and you can not find the quoted fare you can call the airline reservations and give them the fare construction. When you do that they then seem able to locate the quoted fare.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I also have seen a pattern of Tue thru Thur for the best price on airfare. My recent travels have shown me to save anywhere from $50 to $150 if I booked on Wed or Thur nite. I use Orbitz, Expedia, etc to see who has fares, then I navigate directly to the airlines website. I seem to find that I get my best (or equal) deals directly with the airline vs a discounter, and the less complicated rules associated with cancellations, exchanges, refunds and miles.

_________________
OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

The great part about the matrix.ita site is that they give you the fare construction so when you go to the airline site and you can not find the quoted fare you can call the airline reservations and give them the fare construction. When you do that they then seem able to locate the quoted fare.


If you call the airline reservations, don't they now add in a charge for the phone reservationist?

Yeah Edgar they sure do as a "convenience fee", as in "convenient to their bottom line". What a despeation play! All the US airlines since 1926 if you aggregate their revenues vs. expenses, are money-losers. And people complain that Amtrak is a money-drain--trains are supposed to be; airlines aren't--but they are.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

That was my question as well. By the time they add the phone convenience fee, do you save any money over using the other systems? I don't know what I am doing right, but I tend to find the same or lower fare on the airline websites, direct. OK sometimes the Orbitz-like sites may be $10 cheaper, but for the hassle I have had with exchanges, cancellations, seat assignments, etc, I only use them as a last resort.

_________________
OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

Edgar wrote:


One way to get around the fee, at least with Continental is to begin your search online and then call technical support. The folks at CO's technical support have always been on the ball and been able to book the fare I was looking for.

If the computer won't let them, they can make the computer let them. They seem to have much more flexiblility and latitude to be creative than your typical sales rep.

I stress that I first attempted to do this online and that I need this to be an "online" booking so that I receive full "elite qualification miles" and other online benefits. It's never been a problem.

Have never had a problem with "a convenience fee" for telephoning reservations under these circumstances.

1. Get the fare construction from Matrix.

2. Go to the airline web site. If you find the fare great book it. If not go to step 3.

3. Telephone reservations. Tell them you have a fare that does not seem to be on their website and you have the fare construction available. Ask them since they do not have the fare on their website to waive the telephone fee. I have never had an airline refuse under those circumstances.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

WOW,now its 800. not sure if I want to go now. I sure hope the price comes down before september

MC, what city are you traveling from?

getting anxious.round trip has been at 644 for a little while now.going to give it one more month before pulling the trigger.have plans for mid sept.

Just hang in there, every since the fast raise of oil in 2008, airlines seem to be very fast on moving prices up ahead of what they think oil will be going for in the furture, and it was going up every day there for a while. And then price all seats at the higher price to cover the butts. The change the price to fill seats later. I chart out the prices 30/60/90 days and 3/17/ for possible vacations and have noticed from MSP that for 3/17 the seats are still being prices at the same as 150/oil days, but around 90 then are down then back up at 60 but around 30 days out they seem to drop- at 10 or less days either thru the roof or dirt cheap- empty or full seats—
BUT THIS is MSP, and from there a special price is considered to be they do not make the passengers shovel the landing strip –
Senordos Question of what airport makes a big difference. Some airport have deals all the time other do not, my suggestion is to get into the habit of checking airfare on a regular basis and note the price for the flight you want. And not worry about it to much for a while. .Play a few with dates and you might see a pattern by following all the other posts,
I got my MDE fare that way, checking every day and playing with dates and differant sites
If oil stays at a level price then pricing will get back to a consistent level and easer to make plans if on a budget, IMHO
Do'nt worry is well worth the effort to