Hotwire.com Launches
Oct 1, 2000 | 8:09 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold
Posts: 3,640
I used Hotwire for a Christmas holiday trip from AUS to DEN. This is a high fare market (best I could find was $350 on connecting flights, and about $450 on the UA nonstops). Also, the latest sale didn't help, because it was only good til Dec 14 and travel wad Dec 24 to Jan 2.
Paid $208 on Hotwire, including all taxes and fees, and got a routing on AA through DFW with normal connection times. Since the lowest fares in the market were connections, and this was $150 cheaper, it was a great deal.
But looking at other markets, Hotwire doesn't seem to offer very good deals.
Paid $208 on Hotwire, including all taxes and fees, and got a routing on AA through DFW with normal connection times. Since the lowest fares in the market were connections, and this was $150 cheaper, it was a great deal.
But looking at other markets, Hotwire doesn't seem to offer very good deals.
Oct 1, 2000 | 11:33 am
#17
In memoriam
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 1,697
I'd like to offer comments regarding both MarkB and das's posts.
MarkB, I don't think you are being fair. Neither Hotwire nor Priceline were meant to offer a better alternative on a very low fare compete route on an advanced purchase basis. Considering that DL and Airtran serve that route non-stop, neither of which airline is used by Hotwire, you were attempting to do the impossible. If you want to test Hotwire, pick a reasonable itinerary.
das, I feel confident that Priceline could have beat Hotwire's $208 fare on your itinerary (yes, I realize your dates). You had the perfect opportunity to see so for yourself. After all, the restrictiveness of Priceline is exactly the same as that of Hotwire.
Recently, there was a winning bid on AUS-DEN posted on the board that I host to discuss bidding. At the time, Hotwire's price was $177. Their total out of pocket per ticket on Priceline was $147, and they got UA non-stops.
http://pub4.ezboard.com/fpricelinean...picID=44.topic
Early this morning, I helped someone in a bereavement situation obtain 3 tickets SAN-DTW 10/2-10/6. Hotwire's price was $262 (even I was surprised at how low this was) when selecting only full jet service, max 1 connection and no redeye. They got their tickets through Priceline for $235 total per ticket. UA flights connecting at DEN on the outbound and a stop (no plane change) at ORD on the return. No very early departure or very late night arrival. Incredibly, the bereavement fare was $700+. They paid less for 3 tickets total than it would have cost for 1 ticket.
MarkB, I don't think you are being fair. Neither Hotwire nor Priceline were meant to offer a better alternative on a very low fare compete route on an advanced purchase basis. Considering that DL and Airtran serve that route non-stop, neither of which airline is used by Hotwire, you were attempting to do the impossible. If you want to test Hotwire, pick a reasonable itinerary.
das, I feel confident that Priceline could have beat Hotwire's $208 fare on your itinerary (yes, I realize your dates). You had the perfect opportunity to see so for yourself. After all, the restrictiveness of Priceline is exactly the same as that of Hotwire.
Recently, there was a winning bid on AUS-DEN posted on the board that I host to discuss bidding. At the time, Hotwire's price was $177. Their total out of pocket per ticket on Priceline was $147, and they got UA non-stops.
http://pub4.ezboard.com/fpricelinean...picID=44.topic
Early this morning, I helped someone in a bereavement situation obtain 3 tickets SAN-DTW 10/2-10/6. Hotwire's price was $262 (even I was surprised at how low this was) when selecting only full jet service, max 1 connection and no redeye. They got their tickets through Priceline for $235 total per ticket. UA flights connecting at DEN on the outbound and a stop (no plane change) at ORD on the return. No very early departure or very late night arrival. Incredibly, the bereavement fare was $700+. They paid less for 3 tickets total than it would have cost for 1 ticket.
