NYC --> TLV by LOT - booking question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 23
NYC --> TLV by LOT - booking question
Hi,
Flying to Tel Aviv, probably Sept. 23 .. returning two weeks later. Best fares are on the Ukranian, Russian, and Turkish, Jordanian and Polish. Passenger would rather go on Polish.
LOT now seems to have a solid booking online, any particular advantage or disadvantage to booking direct versus Travelocity, BestTravelStore, Vayama, etc.?
Plus, any experience with the "Semi-Flexible" economy fare ? I am especially considering paying a bit more on the return, if experiences with that are good, say you might want to return earlier or later.
Thanks.
Steven
Flying to Tel Aviv, probably Sept. 23 .. returning two weeks later. Best fares are on the Ukranian, Russian, and Turkish, Jordanian and Polish. Passenger would rather go on Polish.
LOT now seems to have a solid booking online, any particular advantage or disadvantage to booking direct versus Travelocity, BestTravelStore, Vayama, etc.?
Plus, any experience with the "Semi-Flexible" economy fare ? I am especially considering paying a bit more on the return, if experiences with that are good, say you might want to return earlier or later.
Thanks.
Steven
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Montréal
Programs: Air Canada, Hyatt
Posts: 1,376
Hi,
Flying to Tel Aviv, probably Sept. 23 .. returning two weeks later. Best fares are on the Ukranian, Russian, and Turkish, Jordanian and Polish. Passenger would rather go on Polish.
LOT now seems to have a solid booking online, any particular advantage or disadvantage to booking direct versus Travelocity, BestTravelStore, Vayama, etc.?
Plus, any experience with the "Semi-Flexible" economy fare ? I am especially considering paying a bit more on the return, if experiences with that are good, say you might want to return earlier or later.
Thanks.
Steven
Flying to Tel Aviv, probably Sept. 23 .. returning two weeks later. Best fares are on the Ukranian, Russian, and Turkish, Jordanian and Polish. Passenger would rather go on Polish.
LOT now seems to have a solid booking online, any particular advantage or disadvantage to booking direct versus Travelocity, BestTravelStore, Vayama, etc.?
Plus, any experience with the "Semi-Flexible" economy fare ? I am especially considering paying a bit more on the return, if experiences with that are good, say you might want to return earlier or later.
Thanks.
Steven
And if not, then go with Turkish, they offer a great product.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
Hi,
Flying to Tel Aviv, probably Sept. 23 .. returning two weeks later. Best fares are on the Ukranian, Russian, and Turkish, Jordanian and Polish. Passenger would rather go on Polish.
LOT now seems to have a solid booking online, any particular advantage or disadvantage to booking direct versus Travelocity, BestTravelStore, Vayama, etc.?
Plus, any experience with the "Semi-Flexible" economy fare ? I am especially considering paying a bit more on the return, if experiences with that are good, say you might want to return earlier or later.
Thanks.
Steven
Flying to Tel Aviv, probably Sept. 23 .. returning two weeks later. Best fares are on the Ukranian, Russian, and Turkish, Jordanian and Polish. Passenger would rather go on Polish.
LOT now seems to have a solid booking online, any particular advantage or disadvantage to booking direct versus Travelocity, BestTravelStore, Vayama, etc.?
Plus, any experience with the "Semi-Flexible" economy fare ? I am especially considering paying a bit more on the return, if experiences with that are good, say you might want to return earlier or later.
Thanks.
Steven
I don't know about the flexible fare issue you raised, though.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 23
Hi,
The layover can be a plus to see Warsaw during the day. I've done similar on trips to Copenhagen, Bucharest and Athens, with 8-10 hour layovers, (Warsaw is 13 one way, the other is short) with a lot of fun. Bucharest was a little dour, but all three experiences were great.
Flying through Switzerland, France, etc. right now can be an extra $300 and more. Turkey is fine in some ways, but the passenger prefers Poland. Sometimes issues like where your family is from is a factor. And cultural / political / spiritual issues come to play as well.
Overall, I thought what I shared on the first post was pretty straightforward, and I was mostly wondering about the difference in booking from Expedia type websites and LOT directly. Any thoughts on that ? The same can apply to any international airline that surprisingly has competitive prices right on their website. (Often they do not, understandably.)
Thanks.
Steven
The layover can be a plus to see Warsaw during the day. I've done similar on trips to Copenhagen, Bucharest and Athens, with 8-10 hour layovers, (Warsaw is 13 one way, the other is short) with a lot of fun. Bucharest was a little dour, but all three experiences were great.
Flying through Switzerland, France, etc. right now can be an extra $300 and more. Turkey is fine in some ways, but the passenger prefers Poland. Sometimes issues like where your family is from is a factor. And cultural / political / spiritual issues come to play as well.
Overall, I thought what I shared on the first post was pretty straightforward, and I was mostly wondering about the difference in booking from Expedia type websites and LOT directly. Any thoughts on that ? The same can apply to any international airline that surprisingly has competitive prices right on their website. (Often they do not, understandably.)
Thanks.
Steven
Last edited by Steven Avery; Aug 16, 2012 at 10:16 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 23
Hi,
One more point about going LOT. My understanding is that they are pretty decent, one friend has used them a few times from Israel to Poland and I think from Israel to the US as well, with fine results.
And they are one of the most inexpensive airlines now from Israel to the USA, basically the same price as Turkish (more flights on Turkish, though). On my checking, only the Ukrainian or Ruski might at times be cheaper. One website showed an inexpensive Jordanian flight, which was a surprise, actually going NYC-->Amman-->Tel Aviv.
So I welcome informed notes about airlines comparison as well . So far, LOT has seemed to be ok from what I have heard.
This is not to begrudge all the Swiss Air, Air Canada, Air France, SAS, Olympia, Malev Hungarian, Tarom Romanian, Iberia, Delta, British Air, various charter, and Virgin with El Al, et al connections.
My friends and myself have used those, at times they come in as economy, and each one has its place in the sun (at least if they are still functioning).
Steven
One more point about going LOT. My understanding is that they are pretty decent, one friend has used them a few times from Israel to Poland and I think from Israel to the US as well, with fine results.
And they are one of the most inexpensive airlines now from Israel to the USA, basically the same price as Turkish (more flights on Turkish, though). On my checking, only the Ukrainian or Ruski might at times be cheaper. One website showed an inexpensive Jordanian flight, which was a surprise, actually going NYC-->Amman-->Tel Aviv.
So I welcome informed notes about airlines comparison as well . So far, LOT has seemed to be ok from what I have heard.
This is not to begrudge all the Swiss Air, Air Canada, Air France, SAS, Olympia, Malev Hungarian, Tarom Romanian, Iberia, Delta, British Air, various charter, and Virgin with El Al, et al connections.
My friends and myself have used those, at times they come in as economy, and each one has its place in the sun (at least if they are still functioning).
Steven
#6
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Montréal
Programs: Air Canada, Hyatt
Posts: 1,376
Anyways, LOT is a decent airline, being part of Star Alliance they have to live up to a certain basic standard.
And as for what the "semi flexible" ticket is it may just be a fare bucket that earns 100% mileage on Miles & Less and allows for changes to the ticket (for an exorbitant fee of course)
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 244
However on long haul with their old 767 they seem to be really "basic"... Intraeuropean is another story, as they often use rather new Embraer jets, not sure about TLV though. And if price is right I would rather use LOT than let's say Aerosvit. I would go for it, but I wouldn't expect too much, especially for the long haul flight.
Agree with the long transfer. Would use the time to visit Warsaw.
Agree with the long transfer. Would use the time to visit Warsaw.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
I fly LOT from time to time - mostly OK.
- the WAW-TLV route seems to have become more crowded recently (perhaps it's just the summertime effect) and yes, old 767's (I think) and fairly grumpy stewardesses. Not an amazing flight (hope you like a red cream cheese roll as breakfast).
- booking on LOT - I have always found the LOT online fares to be a little bit more expensive (bar the "first minute" fares). Cannot think of any advantage to booking with LOT as opposed to a consolidator.
- I like Warsaw. Long stopover means time to get into town, go shopping, have a good meal, etc etc. If can access the lounge, LOT's is reasonable. Showers.
D.
- the WAW-TLV route seems to have become more crowded recently (perhaps it's just the summertime effect) and yes, old 767's (I think) and fairly grumpy stewardesses. Not an amazing flight (hope you like a red cream cheese roll as breakfast).
- booking on LOT - I have always found the LOT online fares to be a little bit more expensive (bar the "first minute" fares). Cannot think of any advantage to booking with LOT as opposed to a consolidator.
- I like Warsaw. Long stopover means time to get into town, go shopping, have a good meal, etc etc. If can access the lounge, LOT's is reasonable. Showers.
D.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
Some consolidator fares do not accrue miles which are important to some of us. If you are looking to upgrade to Business, some consolidator fares do not allow that option. Also some consolidator fares may be non-refundable at all and non-changeable even with a fee.
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 244
Generally correct. That said, this can happen when you book directly with the airlines as well. Obviously it makes always sense to look at the fare rules, no matter which fare is booked. Concerning miles, it is important that a booking class which allows mile accrual or upgrades is booked, which again can or can't be the case with flights booked with the airline directly as well.
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
Booking with a consolidator makes no difference. As stated below - fare class is all that matters and I find it's often easier to find when booking on a consolidator site than Lot's....
Generally correct. That said, this can happen when you book directly with the airlines as well. Obviously it makes always sense to look at the fare rules, no matter which fare is booked. Concerning miles, it is important that a booking class which allows mile accrual or upgrades is booked, which again can or can't be the case with flights booked with the airline directly as well.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
But I agree that it is all about the fare and not where it was purchased. I have to admit I am not familiar with LOT's website