A co-worker has asked my help in securing a r/t ticket for his student son who wants to get home for Christmas. Since there are more savvy FTers who know the ins and outs of "cheap" tickets, I would appreciate your help!
The dates he can travel are beginning Dec 20 & returning on/about Jan.15/16. No airline preference. He is not a member of any student advantage program.
Depart MSN Arrive GSO(prefers) or RDU.
The lowest I've come up with is $240 on US.(includes tax, tip,license,etc)
Thanks in advance for your help.

Go to sta travel or council travel. Also student universe, buy a 15 dollar or
20 dollar student discount card.

Give em a call.

You can take your pick of airlines. These based on departure 20 Dec, return 15 Jan.

CO: MSN-CLE-RDU = $230
NW: MSN-CLE-RDU = $236
DL: MSN-CVG-RDU = 236

US: MSN-PIT-GSO = $264
CO: MSN-DTW-GSO = $267
UA: MSN-ORD-GSO = $270


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Be careful and do some research before buying tickets from student agencies like Council and STA. They offer unique fares but there is usually a processing charge tacked on later (I think Council's was $25 but that might have changed). The advantage of using these agencies is that they are better for international/long-haul fares.. the savings is better, percentage-wise, .. and the ticket is a little more flexible, like a free stopover or two.

When I was a student, a lot of my friends were using Priceline/Hotwire instead of Council Travel.

TWA used to have student coupons similar to senior coupons. In the olden days (pre 9/11) the coupons were a good deal pricewise, and offered flexibility such as staying beyond 30 days for your return trip. This can be important when you fly out in the fall and return at christmas or in June (which makes most tickets outrageously expensive). But that was then TWA is very different now and so are fare options.United has a student flyer plan but I see no advantage to it. I'd go the priceline/hotwire route or use miles if it were me.

Since you don't seem to have any preference about airline or frequent flyer miles accumulation, I'd try priceline or hotwire.

Hotwire will give you the price before you book, but won't give you the exact flight until you pay.

It's probably too late to do this in time, but the American Express student discount program on Continental is outstanding. You have to pay with an AmEx Blue for Students card (or the old one if you've been on board since the pre-Blue days). In fact, I keep the card around just for the travel deals.

There's a gradiated discount scale for international flights. I think they'll give you $100 off a ticket under $400, $150 off a $400-$600 fare, $200 off $600-$800 fares, and $250 off fares over $800. That might not be exactly right, but it's something like that. You are allowed to use this privilege about 10 times per year, and you can bring a companion for the same discounted fare (although it counts against your total annual allowance).

Domestically, there are set fares depending on the distance flown. I believe there are four increments, with the most expensive cross-country flights falling below $300.

I could be off on these details. See www.americanexpress.com.

There is also a Citibank student card that gives you great discount fares (based on flight miles) on AA. I recommend this...

Some comments:

Neither Council Travel nor STA have charged me a "processing fee" on tickets. If it's less than three weeks away I know STA will charge you $10 for FedExing the tickets, unless you go to one of their offices to pick it up.
Their tickets have the advantage of (usually) allowing you to change dates (technically called "revalidating") for $25.

That having been said, they tend to specialize in international tickets, and only offer domestic savings for things like one ways or last minute bookings.

Northwest always peppers my college campus with zoned travel certs (sort of like the CO ones you get with Amex) - maybe see if you can get a hold of one on CC (I'll try to remember to check if I still have one floating around somewhere myself).

Yonatan

On Orbitz, I see $203 on CO from MSN to RDU via CLE, Dec. 20/Jan. 15.

Another option: Why not drive to MDW and fly WN Dec. 23/Jan. 15 for $104 RT?

Don't most airlines have college programs with special deals for students? I know United does ( www.collegeplus.com ), and while I have never found a cheaper fare there than on ual.com, signing up will get you bonus miles when you fly. I forget how many, but its not bad, looking at my mileage history I've gotten 6250 collegeplus bonus miles over the past 2 years, and may have had some before that.

If the student happens to be a member of student advantage ( www.studentadvantage.com ), Priceline will add $25 to whatever you bid on airline tickets.

[This message has been edited by whlinder (edited 10-31-2001).]

Thanks to all for your help. You've given us lots to consider. We'll try to get him in a student program (at least for the extra miles).

Some discussion about Student Advantage and USAirways:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/001234.html

I believe markbach is a member and has gotten some good deals and good mileage bonuses.

anz,
today is the last day to get a student advantage membership for $10 (half-price)
http://navisite.collegeclub.com/serv...vlet?areaid=38

As a member he would be able to fly MSN-GSO on US for $198. The certificates come with the enrollment kit, but I have some extra, so all he'd need would be a student advantage number.

BTW, MSN - RDU for your dates is $177 on Hotwire vs. the $203 on CO if he does not care what time the flights are

[This message has been edited by mashav (edited 10-31-2001).]

I forgot about the Student Advantage- US Airways partnership. I signed up for that but haven't flow US since I did (and I doubt I will soon since they cancelled SEA-BWI). There should be some discount certs with that too...

(Edited to add)

I was just emailing student advantage because I realized they never sent me my USairways coupon. Its a $20 coupon so the membership pays for itself immediately if you use that, or the $25 on Priceline.

[This message has been edited by whlinder (edited 10-31-2001).]