Airfare Buying Quirks

this past weekend we started looking for airfare for our return to SXM/SBH next late december...when i searched for only 1 one-way BF/FC ticket, the rate was $678...when i looked for 2 tix, the price jumped to $942/each...apparently because there was only 1 seat available at the lower $678 fare, the system wanted to charge us both at the higher $942 fare when buying 2 (instead of charging 1 seat at the lower price and one at the higher)

i went ahead and put the one cheap seat on 24 hour "hold"...during that time i kept checking to see if any other seats got released at the cheaper fare...not only did they not release anymore cheap seats, the fare eventually jumped to $1,900+ with a note saying "Only 2 seats left"!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

so last night just before the 24 hour hold expired, i went ahead and bought the 1 cheap seat...telling my wife she'd most likely be riding in the back of the bus <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> ...but then this morning i check, and see they had released 2 more seats at the lower fare, so i quickly snatched one up for the wife <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

so when shopping airfares, sometimes it's interesting to compare what fare you get when searching for 1 ticket vs. multiple tix...and obviously timing is everything...fares jump around like crazy (day to day, and even hour to hour), and it's really hard to predict when to buy and when to wait...so we basically have a price range we're willing to pay, and when we see fares within that range, we grab 'em

now we still have to buy our return tix when they become available <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Hairy.gif" alt="" />

Isn't flying such fun any more??? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Crazy.gif" alt="" /> Glad you were able to get the one way ticket bought anyway!

I have discovered buying one way tickets is best for us. We take Jet Blue to SXM from Denver, $230.00 per person for June 2016. Coming home oddly most times first class tickets on AA are the cheapest. As long as you get them before they are down to two seats left. Coming home in June SXM to Denver $451.00 per person First class on AA. $681.00 round trip from Denver. Air
Buying airline tickets can be like winning a game show, you never know what's going to be behind number 3....

Similar thing with JB. Also now that they have 3 tiers and since we only check 1 bag I have to book one fare carry-on only and the 2nd fare one ch'd bag If I book both together at same time I'll be charge 2 @ which ever fare I choose.

Because of this I noticed the same situation as IslandB had; sometimes only 1 seat available. So I always search for 2 seats then buy 1 go back in to buy the 2nd. Airlines don't make it any easier that's for sure.

Yeah, Jet Blue's website has it's own problems, been that way for a while. Whoever they are paying to do their IT stuff, they are paying too much, as their website stinks..

oddly enough, when we were playing around with some random dates just to get an idea of fares, i found it actually came out CHEAPER to buy 2 one-ways than 1 round-trip...same days/flights/class, etc....not by much (~$10), but surprisingly still cheaper

Sometimes when you repeatedly go to the same site and search for the same, the site remembers the cookies that are on your computer and jumps the price up from the last time you saw them. What you need to do is delete your cookies and sometime your browser history, so that you get fresh data everytime you want to check on the same search.

i did all that...even used different computers, tablets, phones <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

The minor inconvenience I have encountered when buying two one way tickets is the inability to check in online or at a kiosk on the way down. I have ahd to show proof of a return ticket to an agent since they had none in my file record.

That's very interesting. What airline(s) was that?? Many people here purchase one way tickets and I have never heard anyone else say that. I don't consider that a 'minor' inconvenience, if you have to stand in line to check in..

Very true. We are routinely asked to show our return ticket after attempted fails at checking in online with Delta. Even though we have residence on Island and US passport, they want a return ticket. The ticket agent usually lets it go after we show her our Carte de Sojour (residency card).

Interesting. For my next trip, I bought two one way tickets, both on Jet Blue. I wonder whether I will be able to check in online or not. If I can't, at least maybe I will know why.

They ask to see the other one way ticket at the counter when checking in. This seems to happen if the tickets are on two different airlines.
When they where both Jet Blue they can see the record, no worries.

I check bags so the counter is a regular stop for me, but have used one way tickets for two years.

OK, thanks.

More often than not, over the past four or five years, we've been regularly purchasing one ways, usually to SXM on AA and home again on JB. To date, and of course, all things are subject to change, I have never been asked by either airline for any proof of return travel. I still always print it and have it with me but it's never been asked for. I guess I've just been lucky. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

What works best for us is to buy as far in advance as we can. It avoids all the b.s. of hoping to get a good flight that works for us and usually first class is pretty reasonable 6 months or more in advance. Just got tired of playing the airfare game online and ending up separated on the flights plus having to fly at inconvenient times.

On a trip to Aruba we booked AA down JB back from Boston and at TSA they DEMANDED our return info. Good thing I had it with us. So be for warned.

That I totally understand, and I certainly would be prepared with that, travelling on one way tickets. You should have that regardless. That is a different question to me, than whether you can check in online or not.

We routinely book one way's..(not this last time) and have been asked once (by JB) to see our return ticket (which was also on JB)

No clue how TSA would know it was a one way ticket purchase though..a boarding pass is a boarding pass.

I guess you're right there. And actually that really should be none of TSA's business.

I agree TSA shouldn't be asking EXCEPT, maybe something else flagged us and made them ask.

And while on the subject of TSA make sure the clothing you wear doesn't have metallic thread because I learned the hard way that it makes the body scan machine go tilt. I was wearing an Indian top purchased at Madras shop. Didn't even think about it.

I do not think it is. When we used one way tickets we could not check in online, as the airlines are required to check for a return ticket. I was told SXM required it.

The airlines online check in does not have the ability to check for return flights on different carriers, so if you are using one way tickets, you must check in with an agent at the airport. At least, that was my experience.

Ok, as I said, I just don't remember anyone ever saying that before.. Or maybe people just never connected it up, as to why they couldn't check in online.

We are traveling with another couple I have been looking for 4 tickets. Yesterday I checked Delta for 1 person and the price was $575 vs $675 earlier in the week. I checked for 4 and it was $645. Played around and discovered there were 3 tickets at $575. Bought the 3 and then paid $645 for the 1 ticket and we'll split the difference. But how effed up is that. FLYING IS FUN