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It really has been a yo-yo of sorts; one day, an airline announces a big fat rise in their fuel surcharges, and within a few days, most of the airlines have fallen in line. Then poof! The surcharges are rolled back. Then, they’re on again. But you can beat this. Over the past 2 years, I’ve noticed that the fuel surcharges are typically filed on Thursday night or Friday morning. And rollbacks occur Monday evening or Tuesday morning. |
So, start buying your tickets Tuesday afternoons, or on Wednesdays or Thursdays to avoid the surcharge increases - 3 attempts every week this year with 2 failures so those who shopped on these days in the past 2 weeks have saved $20-30.
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Was in the site enjoying reading about cheap dentistry in Ecuador - by a man named Gary….signed up for his newsletter and my connection failed. Now I can’t find that link. Do you have any idea on how I can access that again?
Comment by Joan Biliski — January 24, 2008 @ 11:12 am
I wish I had read this before. 3 nonrefundable tickets for the same itinerary that I bought at continental.com on Sun are now 190$ less on Thu. Since they charge 100$ per e-ticket for reissue they say I can’t change them… Or can I?
I can hear my wife screaming: “I told you not to buy the tickets”
Comment by Andy — January 24, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Joan, try this: http://www.garyascott.com/2008/01/09/1954.html
Comment by Google — January 24, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
Hi Andy,
If the tickets are $190 less per person, they will not reissue you a credit of $90 ($100 change fee).
I know this is seems crazy but that is the policy.
You can however buy the 3 new tickets at the cheaper price and then cancel the other three and get a credit (minus the $100 fee) for future flights on CO that must be used within a year (I would have to check CO official policy). This doesn’t help if you are not planning on flying them soon though.
Comment by Rick Seaney — January 24, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
Hi Andy,
United Airlines will give you a paper voucher for the difference in price to be used for a future flight, valid for 1 year. I just did that by phone. are you sure Continental doesn’t do the same?
Comment by Dodie — January 24, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Thank you guys. The decrease is 63$/person i.e. ticket — 190$ total. The 100$ threshold is to high…
The lesson is to read Rick’s, follow farecompare.com and not act in a hurry…
Comment by Andy — January 25, 2008 @ 10:04 am
My daughter is booked on a tour with about 20 classmates from Philadelphia to Spain. Our final payment was made in September [paid early to get free insurance](Officially due by Dec 15, 2007). Today I received a letter with an updated invoice, they want $150 more for fuel surcharges and to compensate for the falling dollar against the Euro. Tour operator claims their costs actually went up $350/pp. They are ‘only’ charging the $150. If this was actually booked way back when (last May) shouldn’t the prices have been locked in?
Comment by Karen — January 26, 2008 @ 12:39 am