I just got a call tonight that my dad is in intensive care because of his heart.( Hes had 2 bypasses) Im in Charlotte and hes in the Cleveland Clinic. Im not rich, if I have to go soon whats the cheapest way to go, its a last minute fare! Please help!

I don't mean to be facetious, but if money is a major issue, you might want to consider Greyhound. It's about a 12-hour ride for $95. Any last-minute airline fare (even with a possible humanitarian discount) will most likely be at least $400-$500.

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Vasant

I guess if you have any accumulated miles-- this is the time to use 'em. Best of luck, hope eveything works out.

You might just want to goto priceline.com and lowball an offer, who knows you might get it!

Especially if it would cost almost $100 to take grayhound. We just got tickets for fri to today from CMH to IAD and it was $115, shouldn't be much more for you.

Isn't this a Travel Buzz thread?

You will indeed get more and wider help in Travel Buzz, which is where I'm going to move this.

Please continue to follow there.

Chuck
aka cblaisd
Moderator, Coupon Connection

If you opt to use Priceline, do your homework. Check for the lowest fare available on the Orbitz matrix and offer Priceline 24.5% below that fare. Your bid should be accepted.

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop --- "You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." - Frank Zappa (1940-93)

How about driving? 8 hours max, no?

Some of the discount airlines are not listed in the regular online travel agent sites, such as Expedia. If you could make Southwest or Jetblue, or one of the other discount airlines work, you could save a lot of money, so you might want to check on their websites for their schedules and list of cities served.

Also check at www.hotwire.com which, like Priceline, doesn't reveal flight details until you have already paid for it. However, you do know up front how much it would cost. Once Hotwire gives you a price for a flight, you are given a time by which you must either buy the flight or let it go. That is enough time to go to Priceline and bid slightly lower than the Hotwire price. If Priceline rejects your bid, you can then buy the Hotwire flight, as long as it is within your budget. Don't forget to take fees into account when deciding what to bid for Priceline.

Also, if you plan on visiting your father over the weekend, you should check out the various airlines' Internet weeekend specials for the weekend, which will get posted on Tuesday or Wednesday. You might be lucky enough to get an ultra-cheap flight to precisely where you need to go -- or close enough that you could rent a car and drive the rest of the way at cheap weekend rates. The danger in waiting until Tuesday or Wednesday is that Hotwire and Priceline might have less inventory by then, and thus have higher pricing. On the other hand, sometimes airlines dump inventory on the opaque market at the last minute, so prices could get better later in the week. Of course, if you wanted to stay longer than Monday or Tuesday (most Internet special flights require flying out on Saturday and returning the following Monday or Tuesday) then all of this stuff about the airlines' Internet specials really doesn't mean much.


[This message has been edited by amanuensis (edited 05-12-2003).]

djrules,

In my opinion, this is not a situation where money should be the deciding factor. If I was in your situation, I would be there in the quickest way possible... and not spend time asking the travel board for advice. Ask yourself "How would you feel if your dad passed away before you got there and you knew you could have been there if you did not choose the money-saving option?"

Get to your DAD!!!! Quickly.

William

Having been is this exact situation twice in the past year, I could not agree with this post more.

The first time I had about a day to figure it out and ended up on an Expedia disount fare. The second, I booked the the first flight I could get on and just bit the bullet. Both times, I was ready to use what miles I had, but was able to find a decent fare. I also found that every airline I called was more than helpful in offering options when I explained my situation, including how to purchase the miles I lacked to make the award, if needed. I also was told that there are certain fares that may apply, if a Doctor can certify the emergency (this can happen after you get there).

There will not be a third time for me, if you catch my drift... GET GOING!

just another POV..

my mother was in extremely poor health the last year of her life. She in LAS, I in SFO. I roundtripped 10-12 times that year, as "each time might be her last" I don't regret it, but if it's a chronic health situation (like 2 bypasses MIGHT be) it is tough to make that call to jump on a full fare flight...

I was not there whn my mom passed on, and again, I don't regret it.... I feel good that I was there for her in life...