Budget Travel - Refundable Tickets

Hi Everyone, I'm new to this board but very glad I've found this site! I'm looking at unlikely but possibly going to the NCAA Final Four and Championship games, but unsure if my team is going to make it. I was just curious if anyone knows any ways to get a good deal on refundable tickets, or if it would be better for me to wait until the week before the game to get the tickets. I'm unsure as to if that would more expensive than a refundable ticket though. Thanks very much for any input!

1) Welcome to Flyertalk laangelsfan!
2) Refundable tickets are almost always very expensive so the "Budget" forum may not be the right place to ask about that.
3) Most of the Regional/Final Four games are sold out. But I assume you know that, right?
4) What city are you in? L.A.? And where you are trying to get to? Atlanta?
5) Like the Superbowl airfares, hotels and game tickets will be very expensive.
If you provide some more details I am sure someone will do their best to answer your questions.

Welcome to FT.

As westcoastman noted, refundable tickets are typically very expensive! If you go that route, it probably makes sense to look at the "discount" airlines like Airtran, Southwest, or even US.

Personally, my suggestion would be to buy the cheapest ticket available on an airline you fly regularly. If you end up going to the game, you're all set and you haven't overpaid for your flight. If you end up not going to the game, you'll pay $100 plus fare dif to change it to a ticket for a new trip. But this all depends on how likely it is that you will be going to the game - I'm assuming there is a relatively good chance that you'll go.

Welcome indeed !

I think schmare gives excellent advice on both points. This would be one of the few times I would recommend flying Greyhound (with wings) Airlines, because their fully refundable tickets are indeed much, much cheaper than legacy carriers.

Unfortunatelly, westcoastman is also right on all counts, perhaps most importantly that if you are thinking of buying tickets to the game(s) you will have to go the scalper / eBay route and pay an arm and a leg, if not more.

EmailKid

Another idea- if your team doesn't make it, perhaps you could go to ATL anyway and explore the city if you haven't been there before. There's all sorts of things to do if you're the adventurous type.

While i know its too late now, if you need refundable options consider Southwest. Any ticket can be canceled w/o a fee, you get credit towards a future booking. If you can't use it yourself you can always sell it on eBay or trade it on Coupon Connection.