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DEL.ICIO.USLooking for bargains
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A couple of callers and I have had disappointing experiences lately. We both missed out on incredible travel deals. Has this happened to you and are you still kicking yourself? I’m just wondering when I’ll be able to get this off my mind and move on. With airlines posting and removing deals hourly, what do you do — take a leap of faith you’ll be able to arrange your life to make the trip and book it? Or delay even a day and risk missing out?
I should have known better and jumped on the deal as soon as I saw it, but my life with three dogs is not as simple to arrange as it once was. By the next day, when I’d arranged a pet-sitter and decided on dates, the British Airways deal — about $550 for roundtrip airfare to London, plus three nights in a four-star hotel — wasn’t available (well, they could get me there, and get me the hotel stay, but they couldn’t get me back — all the bargain seats on the returning flights were full).
My two callers were trying to nab a deal in Clara Maerz’ Budget Travel column to New Zealand, and they too were out of luck. They were none too happy, either.
I was particularly vexed about the BA deal because I wanted to use it as part of a budget travel story. And yes, I know there’ll probably be a similar deal to London in the fall shoulder season, but I wanted this deal! I’ve been kicking myself for five days — is it time to get over it or can I wallow for a few more days?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: About the airlines
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By Lisa Stauffer
March 7, 2006 2:07 PM | Link to this
Are you finished wallowing yet? I, too, recently lost out on something I wanted VERY much, although it wasn’t as big as your trip. I will be in NYC over spring break, and months ago had noticed that Harry Connick, Jr., was going to be starring in a remake of “The Pajama Game.” I have been a fan of Harry’s music for years, and this was THE ONE must-see for me in NY. Well, life happens and I forgot to keep checking on the show. It opened to rave reviews a couple of weeks ago. When I looked online last Monday, there were only a few of the less-expensive seats for only one of the days I’ll be there. Not wanting to leave anyone out, I emailed the rest of my group (it’s a 3-generation girls’ trip). In the 24 hours it took for the group to reply, the show sold out. Bummer. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that someone with a subscription to the theater turns in their tickets for resale. Already, though, seats seem to be being re-sold for $300 and up — way out of my budget…. sigh…
By sunny
March 16, 2006 4:21 PM | Link to this
Looking for cheapest way to go to Switzerland two weeks in June. Air prices jump for summer travel and I wonder if I could fly to London (or somewhere) cheaper and take a discount airline or a train ticket to Zurich for less than airfare direct? Has anyone done this and saved money?