Author Topic: Last Minute Flying Advice Please  (Read 6150 times)

Offline queensdeals

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 254
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« on: March 02, 2010, 10:40:22 PM »
Gonna book Continental EWR-SAN  3/28 7:30PM  -  4/6 9:30 PM.  
Gonna book in next 24 hrs...3 Coach.
Price is $419 a ticket x 3 = $1257.

Dan...your thoughts are always appreciated...
I know you're in love with Continental.  
I have nothing with Continental...hate going to Newark.

There is also a comparable United flight from Newark at similar times...better idea?
Anyone wanna suggest something I should be doing smarter?
Anything I can do in terms of earning extra points for flight, or buying/reward upgrade to business?
Should I book on Continental.com over expedia/priceline/kayak...all same price...any benefit?
Anyone wanna make a pitch on selling 3 reward upgrades for the flight?

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2010, 11:15:38 PM »
If you have no status on Continental don't expect anything extraordinary. DirecTV may be available, but it'll be $6.

The flight attendant's generally aren't surly like some of the other major carriers, the call centers are US based instead of Indian, and they have a great online liaison to communicate policies, fix problems, and listen to feedback.

Plus their miles are very valuable, much better than Delta's Skypesos, United's Starnet blocked miles, or USAirways fuel surcharged miles.


Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2010, 11:33:51 PM »
BTW if you want I can hold your ticket price until the day of travel, send me a PM for more info.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2010, 12:13:42 AM »
Well if you hate Newark, why don't you listen to me:
Take Delta direct from JFK on 3/28 at 7:30 pm for $195, and return with Jetblue on 4/6 at 8:49 pm direct to JFK for $220 =$415 (plus Jetblue has free entertainment, and one free bag :)

Offline queensdeals

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 254
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2010, 12:30:26 AM »
Would love to...
Yom Tov ends at 8:00 and we're half an hour from the airport.
I would show up 20 min before my flight.

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2010, 12:37:41 AM »
just realized that a couple of min ago.
Well, if you must leave that night, the only nonstop is CO, so you dont have much a choice. And once you need to take them on your way back, you also need to do so on your way out, since the one way tickets are very high

Offline queensdeals

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 254
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2010, 12:42:59 AM »
but is there anyway i can buy an upgrade to business for the 3?
someone selling/trading?
Have starpoints/AA/BA

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2010, 12:58:59 AM »
but is there anyway i can buy an upgrade to business for the 3?
someone selling/trading?
Have starpoints/AA/BA
Confirmed domestic upgrades would be 30,000 miles round-trip, plus a $150/ticket copay for non-elites.


Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline queensdeals

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 254
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2010, 01:17:43 AM »
I know this sounds a little weird, but would continental status match me to silver from SPG Gold?
I know apples/oranges but SPG does flight bookings too?
Is it even worth a call?

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2010, 01:43:22 AM »
I know this sounds a little weird, but would continental status match me to silver from SPG Gold?
I know apples/oranges but SPG does flight bookings too?
Is it even worth a call?
Not a chance.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2010, 07:10:05 AM »
Continental has to my opinion the least polite US-based customer service.

As they get paid commission for issuing tickets, if your routing isn't a straightforward and simple return, and especially if they are not CO flights*, they lose their cool. They are probably thinking that they could have earned in the meantime more with other customers.

*they get paid more for CO flights.

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2010, 07:10:58 AM »
Just for a reference purpose, I am around 100 hour per month on the phone to airlines.

Offline md

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 397
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2010, 08:43:41 AM »
Just for a reference purpose, I am around 100 hour per month on the phone to airlines.
can you please elaborate?

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2010, 08:53:16 AM »
Are you doing statistics? Or working for a telecom company.

Offline md

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 397
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2010, 09:22:12 AM »
Are you doing statistics? Or working for a telecom company.
I missread the post, I originally thought you meant that you charge $100 to speak to airilines. (i'm on the lookout for a mileage guru travel agent)

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #15 on: March 03, 2010, 09:30:19 AM »
I missread the post, I originally thought you meant that you charge $100 to speak to airilines. (i'm on the lookout for a mileage guru travel agent)

don't look further, you just found the guy  :-)

Offline md

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 397
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #16 on: March 03, 2010, 09:43:10 AM »
don't look further, you just found the guy  :-)
please pm with details, thanks

Offline ChaimB

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 109
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #17 on: March 03, 2010, 09:55:03 AM »
Would love to...
Yom Tov ends at 8:00 and we're half an hour from the airport.
I would show up 20 min before my flight.

 color me DUMB but No Way would I book such a return! , you do realize that many carriers have their computers shut the flight to both checking in bags and checking-in at 60 mins before flight time.

As an Elite Ive had my share of problems finding a Mgr to override the system since I got to checkin at 58 mins before the flight. Then after finally getting that taken care of ran my (you know what off) and barely made it to the Gate just as they started to close the door

 www.orbitz.com is what you need! I saw a DL flight to SAN and a 10:55pm to ATL then a 7:27am arriving JFK @ 9:50am for $465. Whats good about Orbitz is they will on their own pair up more then 1 Carrier and price it as RoundTrip if you try to do that youd get hit with 2 1 ways being priced out

 Both DL and UA have 10pm something flights with a stop into JFK

 If U need a non-stop to get to work or something, then SAN is the wrong place to be for Pesach! You should have booked Vegas or something up in the LA area where there are tons of very late non-stops

 before purchasing your air tkts call the people running your program and make sure they will still be there, so far 2 places have CLOSED up already. The DoubleTree in SAN and Smilow who had The 4 Seasons WestLake Village North of LA. I imagine a number more will be joining them :-(

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #18 on: March 03, 2010, 10:07:40 AM »
ask your local rabbi whether permissible, but if you don't have luggage let a non-jew make a check-in for you online, and when you get at the airport, you just lost your boarding pass......

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Last Minute Flying Advice Please
« Reply #19 on: March 03, 2010, 10:31:50 AM »
When you checkin for your outbound flight Continental.com allows you to select "Auto check-in" for the return flight.  Auto-checkin boarding passes can automatically set to be faxed, emailed, or sent to your cell phone at 24 hours before departure.

When I have already been checked in for my flight I've checked luggage at even 35 minutes before departure numerous times without issue.  With an hour you'll be fine.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2010, 11:33:59 AM by Dan »
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.