Emergency flight, need advice
 

I have a friend who needs to get from GSO to her aunts' funeral in Portland (PDX). My friend can leave Sat. Jan. 7 and return Wed. Jan 10. I've searched and can't find anything under a thousand. Any ideas where to look for a lower fare? Thanks in advance!

I also tried to search a few booking pages on the net but I couldnt either find something cheap, maybe Priceline.com is the answer in this situation or?

Ring the airline direct, explain the situation, and ask for a compassion fare.

. I called AA and the compassion fare was still a thousand. They have a senior coupon book for $676 (2 r/t tickets) and she can fly standby. The rep. said the flights look excellent for the dates my friend needs to fly.
Thanks for the help, I knew I could count on my FT friends.

If the times are completely flexible both days, you might try Hotwire in addition to Priceline. Normally, Priceline is cheaper, but it sounds like time is of the essense here. The question is how to get a reasonably priced routing not necessarily the absolute cheapest.

Always check alternate airports.

Using www.Expedia.com :

$950.49 r/t UA between RDU and PDX, changing in ORD and SEA.
$632.50 r/t CO between RDU and SEA, changing in IAH.

Amtrak runs between Seattle and Portland four times a day.


[This message has been edited by JS (edited 01-05-2001).]

I realize that this may be presumptuous of me to suggest, but in similar situations, I have given friends free tickets. If you have lots of miles and this person is really a friend, you might consider that. Maybe she'll do something nice for you someday. (Note that this is not a suggestion to sell or barter frequent flyer miles!!!!!)

Bruce

<< My friend can leave Sat. Jan. 7 and return Wed. Jan 10. >>

Saturday is January 6. The fares I posted before were for January 7 departure.

Leaving Saturday, January 6 is cheaper:
$586 r/t on any airline between RDU and SEA.
$739.24 r/t on UA between RDU and PDX.



[This message has been edited by JS (edited 01-05-2001).]

I tried everything including hotwire;itasoftware.com; all the cyber specials that I subscribe to/monitor; and even flying one airline RT from GSO into one city and out on another RT to PDX, and I can't do better than the under-$700 quoted above, even trying different days - leaving Saturday 1/6 is definitely cheaper. Best of luck.

Sorry for the date errors. Her departure dates are flexible, Sat. or Sun. I didn't check RDU since that's a 4 hour drive for her but I did pass that info on to her.
So far she likes the AA senior coupon booklet deal.
Again, thanks for ALL your help and suggestions. I'm always overwhelmed by your willingness to take your valuable time to help someone not so "travel savy".
BTW, she said if I would give her enough miles for a ticket she would give me 12 jars of pickled beets next Christmas. You don't know how tempted I am to trade. I LOVE PICKLED BEETS! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I don't know all of the restrictions, but you could purchase 2 e-fares for this weekend. Most of the fares are departing on Saturday, return Monday or Tuesday.

GSO-PHL 189 r/t USAir
PHL-SEA 289 r/t USAir
Then take the train option or I imageine weekend airfare between SEA-PDX can't be more than $150. Travelocity pulled up $217.

Another option, CLT-DEN is only $158 r/t. It is not PDX but is closer to your destination and Frontier may have driven prices down there.

To search for fares and more info: www.webflyer.com/deals/

DEN to PDX is never cheap, esp. at the last minute. Frontier has had little effect on this market.

BTW, travel by Amtrack SEA to PDX is 4 hours.

Since U mentioned the senior coupon book, exactly how old is the psgr? Over 62 or over 65...?

Check the fares out of RDU. Always much cheaper.

tvl4free, with AA senior is 62.

I am well aware of that... but how old is the passenger?

Sorry!!! I think she's 63.

We have been trying to help you... but we need specifics here... otherwise we are just spinning our wheels. . EXACTLY how old is she?

If 65, I have it down to $ 219.25!

Use miles or partner miles, if at all possible. For GSO-PDX try: [*]AirTran[*]American[*]Delta[*]Continental [*]Northwest[*]United[*]US Airways[*]others ?

tvl4free: So THAT's why you wanted to know her exact age. I was beginning to think you wanted me to fix you up with her. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif She isn't 65.
That is a terrific fare. Care to share how you unveiled that low price? I'm sure others would be interested as well. Thanks for researching those fares for me!
While we were going over her options I reminded her that she had allowed a pilot to use her cabin and land to hunt on for several years and could she possibly call in a favor. Bingo! He arranged a ticket for her. The details I don't know but my friend is happy with the arrangement and that she will be able to attend the funeral.
My friend and I thank everyone on this board for sharing your wisdom and knowledge.
Have a great weekend.

Anne

[This message has been edited by anz5708 (edited 01-05-2001).]

I'm so glad that a good solution was found.

Greetings Anz5708;

Regarding "tvl4free", whatever he asks, suggests, etc, just do it. He helped my wife, son, and me on a last minute basis before on an international trip, a domestic trip, etc. I understand he has helped other Flyertalkers in urgent times also so, given the short time frame you are dealing with, let him take the lead. I'll vouch for him (meaningless I know). Ask him questions later, and maybe he'll share some thoughts with you but for now, let him complete the "knight in shining armor" role he has chosen to accept. Then send him some of those beets.

Whoops, just realized you got a good deal. Maybe still send him some of those beets. You never know when you'll need his help in the future.

[This message has been edited by crankyusi (edited 01-05-2001).]

crankyusi, point well taken. That's why I came to this board Friday, I knew I would get the best advice here. I consider most of the posters on this board to be "travel savvy gurus" when it comes to uncovering deals for 11th hour flights. As I've said in earlier posts I am grateful for EVERYONE's suggestions, tips, advice, I realize people are using valuable time to help and I don't take that lightly. Time is precious.
Part with a jar of beets? I dunno, they're precious too. Some nights they are my entire dinner. Plus a glass of iced tea. Yum!