Question about Priceline.com

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by tamor

I've thought about airline tickets, but my concern is timing. I know you don't know what airline you will be flying but you don't have control over the time of flight either, do you?

If I fly, I almost always book through the airline themselves.

You have better results if you have to cancel, as sometimes external sites like Travelocity and Hotwire don't do refunds.

And the airlines will match the rates many times. These sites buy blocks of reservations from hotels and so discount them accordingly..... plane tickets change sometimes many times in a day.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

If I fly, I almost always book through the airline themselves.

You have better results if you have to cancel, as sometimes external sites like Travelocity and Hotwire don't do refunds.

And the airlines will match the rates many times. These sites buy blocks of reservations from hotels and so discount them accordingly..... plane tickets change sometimes many times in a day.

You're right. I have seen ticket prices change more than once in a day's time. Weird....

[LadyRev]

Well...

I've flown multiple times by "naming my own price" through Priceline and I've saved alot of money. I've also had SEVERAL flight cancellation issues and overbooking issues. They have always taken care of things and I have never had to spend the night in an airport or hotel. Even at Christmas time, when things were just nuts cancellation wise due to weather and then theres the holiday crowd besides...they put me on another flight and I got to my destination within 2 hours of my original arrival time.

I love Priceline...can't you tell?

[tamor]

Originally Posted by LadyRev

Well...

I've flown multiple times by "naming my own price" through Priceline and I've saved alot of money. I've also had SEVERAL flight cancellation issues and overbooking issues. They have always taken care of things and I have never had to spend the night in an airport or hotel. Even at Christmas time, when things were just nuts cancellation wise due to weather and then theres the holiday crowd besides...they put me on another flight and I got to my destination within 2 hours of my original arrival time.

I love Priceline...can't you tell?

That's cool though. And that's why I asked for help. I've never used it but I hear stories like these of people getting incredible deals and want a piece of that pie!

[Hoovie]

When I "Named my own Price" I always made it about half of any published fare/price. If it's lower than the acceptable amount they will most likely offer you the lowest acceptable price.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by tamor

That's cool though. And that's why I asked for help. I've never used it but I hear stories like these of people getting incredible deals and want a piece of that pie!

Gotta watch for departure/arrival times and number of connecting flights. OK for a single person with flexible schedule though.

[CC1]

I have not read but the first few posts on this thread but I am the Priceline king!!!!

I use it extensively and have been 98% very satisfied. Here are some critical things to know when using Priceline;

1. There are two ways to use Priceline. The website first just lists their supposedly good prices on flights, hotels ,etc. Secondly, and the much cheaper way, is to use their "name your own price" option where you bid on what you want.

2. When bidding for hotels you are bidding for the quality of hotel (one through four or five starts depending on availibility) and location (most towns are split into two to five or more geographic areas).

Once you bid for whichever star quality hotel you want and the area of the city if Priceline accepts your bid your credit card or check card is charged immeditaely and THERE ARE NO REFUNDS if you change your mind or your plans change.

I have stayed at many nice hotels bidding just two stars but the last three our four years the two starts have tended to be older properties that sometimes are hit and miss. If you bid for a 2 1/2 star hotel you cannot go wrong as they are always nice.

In July I stayed at a Radisson hotel in Austin, TX for about $45.00 per night thats rate on any of the travel sites was over $100 per night.

In March I stayed at a Holiday Inn Resort in Anaheim, CA near Disneyland for about $50.00 per night and the cheapest I could find that same room anywhere else was $120.00 per night.

Last summer I stayed two nights at the Thistle Kensington hotel in London for $58.00 per night for a $260.00 per night room!!!

Just remember you can only bid the exact same dates, location, quality of hotel, once every 24 hours if your bid is rejected. You can rebid again immediately if you change one of those though.

Anyone can PM me for additional info or ask on this thread.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by CC1

I have not read but the first few posts on this thread but I am the Priceline king!!!!

I use it extensively and have been 98% very satisfied. Here are some critical things to know when using Priceline;

1. There are two ways to use Priceline. The website first just lists their supposedly good prices on flights, hotels ,etc. Secondly, and the much cheaper way, is to use their "name your own price" option where you bid on what you want.

2. When bidding for hotels you are bidding for the quality of hotel (one through four or five starts depending on availibility) and location (most towns are split into two to five or more geographic areas).

Once you bid for whichever star quality hotel you want and the area of the city if Priceline accepts your bid your credit card or check card is charged immeditaely and THERE ARE NO REFUNDS if you change your mind or your plans change.

I have stayed at many nice hotels bidding just two stars but the last three our four years the two starts have tended to be older properties that sometimes are hit and miss. If you bid for a 2 1/2 star hotel you cannot go wrong as they are always nice.

In July I stayed at a Radisson hotel in Austin, TX for about $45.00 per night thats rate on any of the travel sites was over $100 per night.

In March I stayed at a Holiday Inn Resort in Anaheim, CA near Disneyland for about $50.00 per night and the cheapest I could find that same room anywhere else was $120.00 per night.

Last summer I stayed two nights at the Thistle Kensington hotel in London for $58.00 per night for a $260.00 per night room!!!

Just remember you can only bid the exact same dates, location, quality of hotel, once every 24 hours if your bid is rejected. You can rebid again immediately if you change one of those though.

Anyone can PM me for additional info or ask on this thread.

CC1, Thanks for sharing... I have booked a few few rooms that way, and one flight.

On a side note: PLEASE, PLEASE start a thread recounting your near death/drowning while on your trip (in UK?) That was such a great story! I promise I won't laugh.... much.

PS I really am glad you didn't drown, but, I just remember the way you told the story had me in stitches.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

CC1, Thanks for sharing... I have booked a few few rooms that way, and one flight.

On a side note: PLEASE, PLEASE start a thread recounting your near death/drowning while on your trip (in UK?) That was such a great story! I promise I won't laugh.... much.

PS I really am glad you didn't drown, but, I just remember the way you told the story had me in stitches.

My poor wife has heard that story so many times she has forbid me from telling it in front of her again!

I still miss my brand new camcorder that is resting at the bottom of that Scottish loch!! But at least I am alive.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Originally Posted by CC1

I have not read but the first few posts on this thread but I am the Priceline king!!!!

Anyone can PM me for additional info or ask on this thread.

can you post your credit card number?

I have 4752 5860 5548 0910 and it seems to not work!