Nov 20, 2013, 7:48 am
Last edit by: Pat89339
Do not call the airlines under any conditions! This is the fastest way to kill the trick and bring unwanted attention to your itinerary! And do not post precious deals in this thread, this is by far the fastest way to kill the trick!
************************************************** ******
This is NOT the right place to ask: "Can you help me with a low fare for AAA-BBB?" This is not the beg-it thread, but the trick-it thread.
This thread deals with unique combinations of routes and booking tricks in order to lower prices on airline fares. Prices that would astound the general public are often achieved by the posters in this thread.
Many people, including airline representatives, monitor this thread. For that reason, it is unorganized, very content heavy, often lacking details, and written in shorthand. It takes patience and effort in order to understand the conversation and be able to participate as an active member.
We encourage you to read the entirety of this thread if you would like to get started and to experiment as soon as you understand the gist of Trick It. Lots of time spent reading, practicing, and learning is the only way to be able to reproduce our tricks and discover new ones yourself. There are many, many people who ask for advice here, so productive members are only able to help those who have shown a concerted effort and progress over a long period of time (months).
If you have no idea what this thread is about, a good place to start are various blogs' posts on the subject. At the very least, read the Rules for posting in this thread. They're also listed in the very first post, below.
Older portions of the thread have been separated into archive thread by year. They are listed below
2008 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2009 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2010 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2011 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2012 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2013 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2014 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
************************************************** ******
This is NOT the right place to ask: "Can you help me with a low fare for AAA-BBB?" This is not the beg-it thread, but the trick-it thread.
This thread deals with unique combinations of routes and booking tricks in order to lower prices on airline fares. Prices that would astound the general public are often achieved by the posters in this thread.
Many people, including airline representatives, monitor this thread. For that reason, it is unorganized, very content heavy, often lacking details, and written in shorthand. It takes patience and effort in order to understand the conversation and be able to participate as an active member.
We encourage you to read the entirety of this thread if you would like to get started and to experiment as soon as you understand the gist of Trick It. Lots of time spent reading, practicing, and learning is the only way to be able to reproduce our tricks and discover new ones yourself. There are many, many people who ask for advice here, so productive members are only able to help those who have shown a concerted effort and progress over a long period of time (months).
If you have no idea what this thread is about, a good place to start are various blogs' posts on the subject. At the very least, read the Rules for posting in this thread. They're also listed in the very first post, below.
Older portions of the thread have been separated into archive thread by year. They are listed below
2008 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2009 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2010 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2011 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2012 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2013 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
2014 Trick It / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
Trick it / negotiate it / special savings lounge thread
Oct 3, 2021, 10:02 pm
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,249
Oct 5, 2021, 6:09 am
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: MEL, LHR
Programs: VA, QR
Posts: 24
Can't remember if the fares were always structured like this, but it looks like you can run a double decker C6-C2 so as to remove the fat on the second deck. A variety of strikes can easily remove some from the first deck too. Total cost ~AU$2K in cattle class (and I'm sure others can do better)
Obviously the more decks you add the better the savings, but I'm struggling to find OTAs to ticket beyond the double decker (even if it's still ITAble) - any tips would be much appreciated!
Obviously the more decks you add the better the savings, but I'm struggling to find OTAs to ticket beyond the double decker (even if it's still ITAble) - any tips would be much appreciated!
Oct 5, 2021, 10:29 am
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL plat
Posts: 318
Can't remember if the fares were always structured like this, but it looks like you can run a double decker C6-C2 so as to remove the fat on the second deck. A variety of strikes can easily remove some from the first deck too. Total cost ~AU$2K in cattle class (and I'm sure others can do better)
Obviously the more decks you add the better the savings, but I'm struggling to find OTAs to ticket beyond the double decker (even if it's still ITAble) - any tips would be much appreciated!
Obviously the more decks you add the better the savings, but I'm struggling to find OTAs to ticket beyond the double decker (even if it's still ITAble) - any tips would be much appreciated!
Oct 5, 2021, 11:32 am
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: RIC
Programs: AA, Marriott
Posts: 103
Can't remember if the fares were always structured like this, but it looks like you can run a double decker C6-C2 so as to remove the fat on the second deck. A variety of strikes can easily remove some from the first deck too. Total cost ~AU$2K in cattle class (and I'm sure others can do better)
Obviously the more decks you add the better the savings, but I'm struggling to find OTAs to ticket beyond the double decker (even if it's still ITAble) - any tips would be much appreciated!
Obviously the more decks you add the better the savings, but I'm struggling to find OTAs to ticket beyond the double decker (even if it's still ITAble) - any tips would be much appreciated!
- I see the airline / one of the partners does allow you to book up to 6 segments - so you may try that
- Deeplink into a OTA - you can search FT for "powertools" so that whatever you put in the matrix it gives you the result that you want. I checked and PL OTA seems to comply with a sample of a 3x decker
- Call a travel agent (I know, we are always told not to), provided you are not including a strike - bunching together many round trips should not alarm usually (no strikes, pls). Just have a logical justification so that people don't ask too many questions (e.g., making life easier for you and just inserting your passport details once when flying).
Oct 5, 2021, 12:14 pm
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: QF LTG
Posts: 1,200
It is usually hard to find OTA that correctly price more than 4 segments (they are out there, but extremly rare after 5 segments). If you are trying to price a triple or quadruple deck you have a few options:
- I see the airline / one of the partners does allow you to book up to 6 segments - so you may try that
- Deeplink into a OTA - you can search FT for "powertools" so that whatever you put in the matrix it gives you the result that you want. I checked and PL OTA seems to comply with a sample of a 3x decker
- Call a travel agent (I know, we are always told not to), provided you are not including a strike - bunching together many round trips should not alarm usually (no strikes, pls). Just have a logical justification so that people don't ask too many questions (e.g., making life easier for you and just inserting your passport details once when flying).
- I see the airline / one of the partners does allow you to book up to 6 segments - so you may try that
- Deeplink into a OTA - you can search FT for "powertools" so that whatever you put in the matrix it gives you the result that you want. I checked and PL OTA seems to comply with a sample of a 3x decker
- Call a travel agent (I know, we are always told not to), provided you are not including a strike - bunching together many round trips should not alarm usually (no strikes, pls). Just have a logical justification so that people don't ask too many questions (e.g., making life easier for you and just inserting your passport details once when flying).
Oct 5, 2021, 12:36 pm
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: RIC
Programs: AA, Marriott
Posts: 103
Oct 6, 2021, 2:31 am
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: MEL, LHR
Programs: VA, QR
Posts: 24
Thanks 15cats/Timidocvl/PbodyPhoto!
I'll play around with different city pairs for the 2nd/3rd deck - easy to do as the trick seems to work with all major cities. That said, the cost to reposition will significantly diminish the value of the trick, so perhaps the double decker is as good as it gets from that perspective.
I have considered going to a TA (without the strike of course
) but am worried it looks too suss and/or will result in them getting an ADM.
I'll play around with different city pairs for the 2nd/3rd deck - easy to do as the trick seems to work with all major cities. That said, the cost to reposition will significantly diminish the value of the trick, so perhaps the double decker is as good as it gets from that perspective.
I have considered going to a TA (without the strike of course
) but am worried it looks too suss and/or will result in them getting an ADM.
Last edited by wendyc12; Oct 6, 2021 at 2:32 am Reason: Edit
Oct 6, 2021, 6:57 am
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL plat
Posts: 318
Thanks 15cats/Timidocvl/PbodyPhoto!
I'll play around with different city pairs for the 2nd/3rd deck - easy to do as the trick seems to work with all major cities. That said, the cost to reposition will significantly diminish the value of the trick, so perhaps the double decker is as good as it gets from that perspective.
I have considered going to a TA (without the strike of course) but am worried it looks too suss and/or will result in them getting an ADM.
I'll play around with different city pairs for the 2nd/3rd deck - easy to do as the trick seems to work with all major cities. That said, the cost to reposition will significantly diminish the value of the trick, so perhaps the double decker is as good as it gets from that perspective.
I have considered going to a TA (without the strike of course
) but am worried it looks too suss and/or will result in them getting an ADM.
Oct 7, 2021, 4:25 pm
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,425
So, as you said, a good TA won't touch it.
Oct 8, 2021, 12:31 am
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,249
Oct 12, 2021, 6:29 am
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New York Metropolitan Area 45 km from JFK
Programs: UA,AA,AS,BA
Posts: 4,607
Unfortunately, you are starting trip in the least desirable direction.
If you start in Florida you can go to India One Way and then several months later you can have a trip from India to Beer Capital of Germany for 173.44 € All-in. Most of the operating flights are Lufthansa.
I.e USA INDIA One Way AND INDIA - Germany One Way 173.44 € All-in
And Yes there is even a € 0.42 base fare USA India and € 0.42 Base fare India Germany bringing the final price down to 158.86 € All-in
Last edited by WingedWorldExplorer; Oct 12, 2021 at 12:50 pm