Priceline.com skepticism...need feedback
Apr 18, 1999 | 7:31 am
#16
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,619
Catman ~ I wasn't talking about you! I was referring to some other postings I had seen either here or in USENET of people saying it was a BAD service just because the company had not accepted their bids ... although maybe I shouldn't have addressed that comment specifically at you!
Sorry for the misunderstanding!
On another note ... I flew the first leg of the trip yesterday, everything went fine. Priceline had originally had me leaving at noon and arriving at 5:00 PM, but I wanted to try and get in earlier, so I went to the airport and stood by for an earlier flight. First leg was fine, but the second leg (ATL-PBI) was going to be tough. I was waiting patiently in the boarding area for them to call my name for the second leg (never even asked the desk agents once about my status because I had already checked on it in the CRC and they were busy enough as it was), and they called my nameright after first class boarding, so I hop up quickly to the counter wanting to get my boarding pass and board with the Medallion members so I won't have trouble finding overhead space for my roll-on. The nice young lady hands me by boarding pass and my jaw drops ... FIRST CLASS BABY!
Sorry for the misunderstanding!
On another note ... I flew the first leg of the trip yesterday, everything went fine. Priceline had originally had me leaving at noon and arriving at 5:00 PM, but I wanted to try and get in earlier, so I went to the airport and stood by for an earlier flight. First leg was fine, but the second leg (ATL-PBI) was going to be tough. I was waiting patiently in the boarding area for them to call my name for the second leg (never even asked the desk agents once about my status because I had already checked on it in the CRC and they were busy enough as it was), and they called my nameright after first class boarding, so I hop up quickly to the counter wanting to get my boarding pass and board with the Medallion members so I won't have trouble finding overhead space for my roll-on. The nice young lady hands me by boarding pass and my jaw drops ... FIRST CLASS BABY!
Apr 18, 1999 | 2:31 pm
#17
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: RIC
Posts: 120
As long as you are willing to put up with Priceline's limitations (no control over times of travel is a BIG limitation to me), Priceline *can* work. I have used it for business and leisure travel, and once for hotel ($85 hotel room for $50, with an additional 1 free night promo deal).
Yes, it's best for short-notice travel when regular prices are a fortune, and you have the flexibility of traveling anytime on a given day. Theoretically, however, you need not use the magic Saturday night stay.
About FF miles: I recommend you send your ticket stubs through the mail, and see what happens. You might get lucky ...
Yes, it's best for short-notice travel when regular prices are a fortune, and you have the flexibility of traveling anytime on a given day. Theoretically, however, you need not use the magic Saturday night stay.
About FF miles: I recommend you send your ticket stubs through the mail, and see what happens. You might get lucky ...
Apr 18, 1999 | 3:18 pm
#18
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: OMNI Award Winner, Recipient: Ol' Goal Personal Sootkase Tag Award. The Very Special Punki Authentic PiP Sootkase Tag, Pin, & T-Shirt. .........PRE-
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arturo themk yu peepl krezie. yu argie ovr nuthin. et jist a por quito aerolin teckit. arturo es imbareassed bye yur jibberesh.
Apr 18, 1999 | 3:37 pm
#19
Commander Catcop
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
Beckles, thanks for understanding that I do not attack anything or anyone. Friends, OK?
I hope PriceLine works for you. And if you can post a trip report reflecting your Priceline experiences (maybe we need a new tread talking about purchasing airline tickets and hotel reservations this way.
And arturo: sometimes your jibberage makes a lot of sense! For YOU: HAVE A MEOWY DAY!!
I hope PriceLine works for you. And if you can post a trip report reflecting your Priceline experiences (maybe we need a new tread talking about purchasing airline tickets and hotel reservations this way.
And arturo: sometimes your jibberage makes a lot of sense! For YOU: HAVE A MEOWY DAY!!
Apr 19, 1999 | 2:09 am
#20
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 164
I have submitted two reasonable bids. Both were rejected. Got a better deal than even the submitted price through a travel broker. I don't trust them is all. If you know how to hook up why bother with such a service?
Apr 24, 1999 | 6:15 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 52
I tried priceline a couple of months ago to get some tickets from SFO to New York.
My offers were rejected.
HOWEVER:
a couple of weeks ago, I bid $350 for a ticket from SFO
to Tokyo. It was accepted and the whole thing cost me:
350
54 tax
---
$404
The flight was on ANA, and Ana gives you a 20,000 Yen (~$180) gift certificate on top of that. (as a promotion of starting service in San Francisco). And I still got FF mileage on United.
The second best deal I could find were AA e-fares for $454, but I could not stay as long as I wanted (only 8 days).
Conclusion:
I am satisfied and will try priceline again.
My offers were rejected.
HOWEVER:
a couple of weeks ago, I bid $350 for a ticket from SFO
to Tokyo. It was accepted and the whole thing cost me:
350
54 tax
---
$404
The flight was on ANA, and Ana gives you a 20,000 Yen (~$180) gift certificate on top of that. (as a promotion of starting service in San Francisco). And I still got FF mileage on United.
The second best deal I could find were AA e-fares for $454, but I could not stay as long as I wanted (only 8 days).
Conclusion:
I am satisfied and will try priceline again.
Apr 27, 1999 | 7:25 am
#22
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Atascocita, TX, USA
Programs: CO Plat, HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 421
one (more) caveat of using priceline...
flying out of jfk last night, i chatted with a student trying to get to chicago. her nonstop jfk-ord twa flight was cancelled, and no other airline would honor the priceline-issued ticket. she eventually got on a very late jfk-stl-ord twa flight which was delayed on the tarmac for an hour due to weather in stl (i know because i was on the jfk-stl leg), and missed a reunion -- a problem which may not have happened had she had a published fare.
flying out of jfk last night, i chatted with a student trying to get to chicago. her nonstop jfk-ord twa flight was cancelled, and no other airline would honor the priceline-issued ticket. she eventually got on a very late jfk-stl-ord twa flight which was delayed on the tarmac for an hour due to weather in stl (i know because i was on the jfk-stl leg), and missed a reunion -- a problem which may not have happened had she had a published fare.