OnlySunshine Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 My mom and I were planning to travel to Los Angeles together next month so she can get medical tests and I'm helping her with finding the cheapest airfare. The problem is, airfare to LAX is so expensive! I've looked on the major airline websites and discount websites like Travelocity, Cheap-O-Flight, and Orbitz. Everything keeps coming up over $450 per person round-trip. It's nuts! I've even looked at surrounding airports like Burbank and Santa Ana, but my mom doesn't want to travel in a taxi that long because she thinks that the difference between taxi fare will make up for the discounted rates to the airport. I'm at wits end. My dad is supposed to be checking with the travel agent at his company tomorrow and my mom is thinking of calling her twin sister who booked the flights before at her job, but we don't know if she can help since she is not in the same job role with her company. I don't know what to do. Does anyone know how to find cheaper rates that are unknown or have any promo codes and/or coupons? I could really use the help. Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Can you fly not into LAX but a smaller regional airport? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1308102861' post='2253843'] Can you fly not into LAX but a smaller regional airport? [/quote] In my experience that's the most expensive option of all. Higher upkeep costs. I'd recommend trying one of those name your own price services. Basically the airlines treat that price as a bid that they may or may not use to fill extra seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1308102861' post='2253843'] Can you fly not into LAX but a smaller regional airport? [/quote] That's what I tried, though. I tried looking at Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Burbank. Santa Ana was cheaper, but my mom said that since it is over an hour to where we are staying, she doesn't want to pay for a long cab ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1308103248' post='2253848'] That's what I tried, though. I tried looking at Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Burbank. Santa Ana was cheaper, but my mom said that since it is over an hour to where we are staying, she doesn't want to pay for a long cab ride. [/quote] See if there is a phatmasser out there. lol. Nihil, I think it depends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1308103029' post='2253846'] In my experience that's the most expensive option of all. Higher upkeep costs. I'd recommend trying one of those name your own price services. Basically the airlines treat that price as a bid that they may or may not use to fill extra seats. [/quote] Like Priceline? I've heard bad things about them. Have you used them before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1308103327' post='2253849'] See if there is a phatmasser out there. lol. Nihil, I think it depends. [/quote] It's more expensive for me to visit Katy now that she's Indiana than it was when she was in Maine, because Boston is a major hub and therefore less expensive, but all the nearby airports are more like local ports or regional hubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1308103422' post='2253850'] Like Priceline? I've heard bad things about them. Have you used them before? [/quote] I don't have any experience. Just kind of how it works in theory. I know that you'd have a lot more difficulty making firm plans, because you'd never be sure if an airline was going to sell you a ticket for the day you want... so you'd potentially run into a problem if you bit the bullet and bought a ticket, only to get it at the lower price a few days later. Also you'd probably expect the airlines not to go out of their way to help you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Are you a student? Try Student Universe. Otherwise, try some of the predictive tools on Kayak - flying a few days before or after (or waiting a few days to book) can save a lot of money, and their tools can help you strike while the iron is hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1308103612' post='2253854'] Are you a student? Try Student Universe. Otherwise, try some of the predictive tools on Kayak - flying a few days before or after (or waiting a few days to book) can save a lot of money, and their tools can help you strike while the iron is hot. [/quote] Thank you for the suggestions. I looked on Student Universe and found that the fares were exactly the same as on the airline website. Since my mom and dad already booked the hotel and made the appointment for tests, we are really not flexible on dates. It would be better if we were coming in on the day that she set to have tests, but she doesn't want to move the appointment. It's a big difference too--from $240 to $180. I'm planning to look online tonight at the prices after midnight. That's when I looked last night and there was fare that was lower through American Airlines. I just didn't see it today. Hopefully it will reappear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 (edited) Have you already tried the LCCs? (E.g., jetBlue, Southwest, Alaska, Frontier, Airtran (I don't know where you're departing from, so I don't know if all of said airlines fly to where you are). They won't show up on Priceline/Travelocity/&c.) Edited June 15, 2011 by USAirwaysIHS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 (edited) [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1308104198' post='2253859'] Have you already tried the LCCs? (E.g., jetBlue, Southwest, Alaska (I don't know where you're departing from, so I don't know if JB or AS fly to where you are). They won't show up on Priceline/Travelocity/&c.) [/quote] Yes. I am a big AirTran traveler but they are actually more expensive than Delta and AA. I also tried Southwest, US Airways, JetBlue, etc. Basically all of them that fly from our area to LAX. So far, no luck. Alaska Airline does not fly from here to LAX. Edited June 15, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 And Frontier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Frontier is not available for departure here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Well I'm starting to run out of ideas. If you are between 18 and 22, you could try Airtran U. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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