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Is cheapair a good alternative? #58902
06/18/2015 01:36 PM
06/18/2015 01:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
Biturbo Offline OP
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Biturbo  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
For years, we've flown Continental/United out of EWR, and gotten good prices by dealing directly with the airline. Now that United has either cancelled or substantially raised the prices on so many flights, we need an alternative. For the days we want to go in Nov., United wants more than $800 RT. We can get $522 on cheapair.com. It's still more than we're used to paying, but the best we can find at this point. Plus, they claim that if the prices decrease we'll get a voucher for up to $100. If anybody has had experience with cheapair, good or bad, I'd appreciate hearing about it.


I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Biturbo] #58903
06/18/2015 01:59 PM
06/18/2015 01:59 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
What about Jet Blue or AA? To me, that seems a lot of money, out of the NY area, which is by far the cheapest in the nation for air to SXM.


Carol Hill
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Carol_Hill] #58904
06/18/2015 03:34 PM
06/18/2015 03:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
Biturbo Offline OP
Traveler
Biturbo  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
The price is AA from Newark to Charlotte, USAir from CLT to SXM. The return is on United (direct). I don't think JB flies from EWR, and I'd rather not go into JFK. We unchecked JFK & LaGuardia, but even with those options the lowest was $501. I think we paid a little under $400 last July on United. I just checked JB's site (they list each way separately) and the lowest right now is $604, from JFK.

Last edited by Biturbo; 06/18/2015 04:12 PM.

I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Biturbo] #58905
06/18/2015 04:29 PM
06/18/2015 04:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
I don't know, you folks from the NY area are just too spoiled, I guess, to have potentionally the choice of three different airports to depart from. We regularly drive 3 1/2 hours one way for a non stop from Miami which always costs more than flights from NY..


Carol Hill
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Carol_Hill] #58906
06/18/2015 04:57 PM
06/18/2015 04:57 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
4
4Driver4 Offline
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4Driver4  Offline
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4
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
I always book directly with airlines and hotels. Much better chance of correction if there is an error.

Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Biturbo] #58907
06/18/2015 05:18 PM
06/18/2015 05:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 760
Chicago area & St-Martin
ChiTownHarry Offline
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ChiTownHarry  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 760
Chicago area & St-Martin
Quote
Biturbo said:
United wants more than $800 RT. We can get $522 on cheapair.com.


I use Kayak.com to shop for flights. When I find one I like, I select it, and it usually links directly to the airline's site to book the flight. Other people on TTOL like to use ITA Software, which looks like now is Google Flights. I ALWAYS book my flights on the airline's site.


--ChiTownHarry
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Carol_Hill] #58908
06/18/2015 06:01 PM
06/18/2015 06:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
Biturbo Offline OP
Traveler
Biturbo  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
We're actually from the Philadelphia area, but getting a decent fare is even harder from PHL. In the past we had found that we got the lowest fare directly from the airline's site, but not at this time. We'll just follow Harry - find a price we can live with, book it & don't look back.


I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Carol_Hill] #58909
06/18/2015 06:22 PM
06/18/2015 06:22 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline
Traveler
wilsonck  Offline
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W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
Quote
Carol_Hill said:
What about Jet Blue or AA? To me, that seems a lot of money, out of the NY area, which is by far the cheapest in the nation for air to SXM.


Are you counting just direct flights? Though it is has a connection, I would say Tampa is the cheapest in the nation. $303 RT vs $398 out of JFK.

Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Carol_Hill] #58910
06/18/2015 06:32 PM
06/18/2015 06:32 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 520
New York, New York
G
gracie105 Offline
Traveler
gracie105  Offline
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G
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 520
New York, New York
Quote
Carol_Hill said:
I don't know, you folks from the NY area are just too spoiled, I guess, to have potentionally the choice of three different airports to depart from. We regularly drive 3 1/2 hours one way for a non stop from Miami which always costs more than flights from NY..



Wow Carol, 3 1/2 hours is a long ride. I never thought of myself being spoiled leaving from JFK, but I guess I am. I have a 20 minute ride to JFK from home. I have to say we usually fly JB, we pay anywhere from $480-$560. This year we decided to fly Delta and got a great deal $402 direct. We visit the island in July, it is considered low season, but I find a lot of people now traveling to St. Martin in July. it used to be very quiet in July now it is pretty busy.

Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: gracie105] #58911
06/18/2015 06:43 PM
06/18/2015 06:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
We drive 1 1/2 hour for a connecting flight or 3 1/2 hours for a nonstop. Usually we opt for the non stop.


Carol Hill
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Biturbo] #58912
06/19/2015 07:15 AM
06/19/2015 07:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
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boucharda  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
If you actually know the flights that CheapAir is giving you then go to the AA and United sites and book two one way tickets....

I doubt if the fare would be different and MUCH safer booking direct with the airline.

Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: boucharda] #58913
06/19/2015 11:03 AM
06/19/2015 11:03 AM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 520
New York, New York
G
gracie105 Offline
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gracie105  Offline
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G
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 520
New York, New York
Quote
boucharda said:
If you actually know the flights that CheapAir is giving you then go to the AA and United sites and book two one way tickets....

I doubt if the fare would be different and MUCH safer

booking direct with the airline.



I agree.

Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: boucharda] #58914
06/19/2015 01:40 PM
06/19/2015 01:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
Biturbo Offline OP
Traveler
Biturbo  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
We just booked with cheapair - the rate was $507. As the ad says "you can search till your fingers fall off". But, I'm curious as to why you said "safer". I was hoping that someone had some experience with them, good or bad, that they could share. Anyway, we have a seat assignments and a countdown - 147. This is the 1st time that we booked airfare before we booked lodging.


I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Biturbo] #58915
06/19/2015 03:11 PM
06/19/2015 03:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
The problems come up if there are problems!! If for example, they cancel the flight, or if they change the equipment, or if you miss a connection, etc., etc., it's always easier dealing with the airline itself, versus with a consolidator.


Carol Hill
Re: Is cheapair a good alternative? [Re: Carol_Hill] #58916
06/19/2015 06:51 PM
06/19/2015 06:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,080
Massachusetts
Quote

The problems come up if there are problems!! If for example, they cancel the flight, or if they change the equipment, or if you miss a connection, etc., etc., it's always easier dealing with the airline itself, versus with a consolidator.


Bingo!

If there is zero difference in fare why worry whether an in between agency will notify you of any changes that may occur....

Now if it was multiple hundreds of dollars difference then it might be a consideration...zero difference...not worth the potential grief


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