PHL-LIH Delta

[njrktect]

Planning trip from PHL to LIH (Kauai) for 10 days in early October 08.

Looked at Travelocity for best prices and restrictions in flex fares for October and found most low rates require flying MTWTh (or MTW out, TWTh back). The lowest of these fares I saw was $650 but none of the dates I wanted were ever available! grrrr! The lowest available ones were over $800.

(I even looked at flying out of Newark which is about an hour away from Philly because those fares were often $200 less per person! But it would have required a stay at a hotel the night before leaving, plus the hassles of getting there and back...

I also looked at flying to HNL and then making separate connection on Go! or other inter-island flight, but the combination never saved much money and only created baggage connection hassles.)

Then played with Kayak.com a lot to see which days of the month flying was cheaper. Then started keeping track of how fares changed for about 4 weeks. There was a regular cycle where fares dipped every 5 to 9 fays. But the lowest I ever saw was $808 total per person. (By the way, I highly recommend this site for research and their automated tracking of fares!) I think I could have saved more in the end by flying different dates, but those were moving into the rainy season in Kauai...

Made offer on Priceline starting lower than any known fare ($500!) and got counter offer of $720 incl. fees. I allowed 2 connections. I did not allow overnight connections at first because I knew there were flights that had an overnight layover in SF for low fare. (Not so low when you add in hotel!) The counter offer included next day arrival but they all do!!

I had time to be patient, so I went back several times over the course of a 10 days with best offers ranging up to $808.

Finally got a counter offer of $705 and took it!

Somewhat odd outbound flying pattern (Delta PHL to ATL then on to LAX and LIH, but total travel time is not awful.)

I went to Delta to see what the same flights would cost and they wanted $945 each!! The next day, the best fares on Kayak went over $1000.

Am happy as long as fares don't take a miracle dip below $700 in the intervening months. That's one of the risks. But hey, now I can relax and feel confident the fare I paid was not outrageous.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Thank you for sharing your winning bid and history with the board.

Can you please let us know the bid price (before taxes and fees) as well as the dates of your stay to that we can add this information to the topic title.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.

[njrktect]

My last request was $600 (plus taxes and fees).

Accepted counter offer was $705 total (which included $72 in fees/taxes)

depart 10/6/2008 Delta1005/110/1735

return 10/16/2008 Delta 1736/1768/5058

(Still glad I accepted this one. Fares may take a freaky nose dive but I doubt it, and I don't want to watch it for 3 months!)

michael

Congratulations on your win!

Thank you for sharing your winning bid and history with the board.

Can you please let us know the bid price (before taxes and fees) as well as the dates of your stay to that we can add this information to the topic title.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.