Hello guys, I have written a few times to this forum, and received some good input, so I thank you for this. In the past 2 days I have been on line searching for best fares to Russia. My final destination will be Irtkuske, which is another world away from even Moscow. Most of the flights from St. Louis to Moscow that I have looked at run anywhere from 900-$2000 then additional to Irtkuske. Are there better discounts that I am missing, and any airlines to stay away from. Thanks Bob
RR Check the airlines directly and there are many different agencies that offer decent flights. Cheaptickets.com and Voyager travel aren't bad, but I signed up directly with northwest airlines and I am flying from Chicago to Kiev for 597.00 roundtrip. I would check flying out of O'Hare since you live in St.Louis. I live in Southern Indiana on the Ohio River. Irtkuske is a different world unto it's own.
RR,
Check out your itinery as one flight like STL to Irkutsk, it should automatically come up with MOW connections but as one all inclusive air fare, Also try STL-MOW then MOW-Irkutsk. Yes, some airlines are more preferable to others but you're not going to be able to avoid this by travelling to Irkutsk, it'll only be served by FSU airlines.
Nas
$597 - that is amazing! I have not beena able to find anything close to the prices I have seen posted on this forum. I tend to fly out of Miami because Ft Lauderdale still doesn't quite have the muscle of MIA. It is a major hub but I can't find anything much in the way of a deal. I am hoping to go again June 24th return July 2. Nothing under $1500. I have tried a dozen travel engines. Nought.
My flight on Friday cost $1073. The price has dropped for that a bit now. Also everyone is flying out of Moscow now. I was able to go through a European city before but now it is always through Moscow.
Try:
http://yahoo.farechase.com/travelmate/home.jsp
or
http://www.ch eapairlines.com/paxi.php/flights/search
or
http://www.online-translator. com/url/tran_url.asp?lang=en&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aviabilety.ru%2Fcgi-bin%2Favia bilety%2Fshow.cgi%3Fsearch%3D41card&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO& autotranslate=on&transliterate=on&psubmit2.x=41&psubmit2.y=10
I'm leaving March the Third, Flying from Ohare to Amsterdam, then Amsterdam to Kiev, 597.00 buddy no shit, Maybe because O'Hare is such a large hub the discount is there. I just logged on to Northwesterns website and found that. I could have flown out of Lousiville for 689.00 to Kiev but I decided to visit my daughter in South Bend before I leave for Kiev. Hell Iz it might be worth looking at some flights to Chicago then a connecting flight I bet you could save some money, hell as far as we are flying a couple extra hours is better that spending a thousand dollars. Also I have found that leaving from Newark can be pretty cheap also. I've seen some specials on flying to Miami Roundtrip from Chicago for 184.00 ad that to 597. thats a hell of a lot less than the 1500 and more money for your trip to entertain your princess.
Accessing cheap airfares all about learning and knowing your way around the various websites and airlines that operate a particul route, some websites offer genuine bargains, some don't but give the impression that they do.
It's perfectly feasible that 2 guys, sitting next to each other on the same plane, paid totally different fares for the same seat. I've learn't my way around the UK travel websites and my knowledge of working inside the airline industry helps, but afraid I can't assist with N. American websites.
I recall the first time I travelled to Uzbekistan, some years ago, I spent days trawling the websites for the best fare but it was a good learning experience. I know the websites now and these days it may take me 30 minutes before I've achieved the best fare.
The moral of the story, don't stick with the same website all the time, search the internet, even if you're not travelling, find these websites, add them to your favourites, and next time you're travelling, compare all these websites prices against each other.
Getting the best price is a matter of many factors. How early you book your trip, what days you fly on, which airlines you fly, which airports you fly out of and into, where you bought your tickets, and which day you buy your tickets.
Book early while the cheapest seats are still available. Fly on "off days", during mid week if possible. You will get better prices using large major airports. Check many ticketing websites such as expedia, orbitz, cheaptickets, and do not forget the airlines themselves like Northwest, Delta, Luftansa, etc. When I have booked my flights I noticed the prices were like the stock market...changed almost every day. I use Delta (not the cheapest but best connections), and I purchase online or buy calling them. My last trip I called and they gave me a better price than they were advertising on their web site. I could have saved some money using Aeroflot and other connectors, but the connections were not as good... Another thing to look for as some itineraries I was offered ended up taking many more hours or an extra day in transit.
Neonred,
Just one point to add to that. If you're now planning a trip, let's say, in October then not many of the airlines will have released their cheap seats yet, Octobers falls into winter 2005 and some airlines, particularly FSU airlines, may not get around to that until perhaps August or September.
Yes, but only as a rule of thumb, book early to get the best deal but also note different seasons. If you're planning to travel in October then check-out this summer seasons prices first, perhaps in August or September, learn what the 'going rate' is to establish if you're getting a good deal or not. Sometimes it pays to wait.
I found a flight from dusseldorf right into ft myers for $300, now all i need to do is get her to germany from st petersburg. I think i can get a pulkovo air flight for a few hundred more. not bad but still looking. you can find pretty good deals if you look hard enough. and these prices so far are for flights in 10 to 14 days from now
Crash,
But will she have a visa for Germany, whilst she might only be transitting it will be on 2 seperate recervations which could possibly cause a last minute catastophy at the check-in desk.
Toad
Check America West You might have to fly from Lax to Phoenix first then to Chicago, I think the best fare I've seen from LAX to Chicago was $189.00 roundtrip. You might do some flight juggling but if you search hard you can find some great deals direct with the Airlines. I know this is a little late, but for future flights I will book myself again. It is like playing the market sometimes you just have to know when to pull the trigger. Also some ticket wholesalers are out there looking to dump tickets that they don't want to eat.
Crash,
On 2 seperate tickets the chances that they will check her baggage in all the way thru are very low. So, if she is travelling with baggage then she will probably have to clear immigration in DUS to collect her baggage.
If she is travelling on 2 seperate airlines, on 2 seperate tickets they don't normally check bags in all the way thru because then there becomes an argument if it is lost or damaged, which airline accepts liability!
This may all come down to the check-in clerk on the day but the general mentality in FSU, if it ain't in their job description then they're afraid of making a decision or using their initiative.
Good deals on www.skyscanner.net. It searches all the bargain basement and also lists BA, etc..
BA are competing with the cheap deals and it's always a more comfortable flight. Not so many tattooed ladies with rings through their noses.
If you really want to save, try RyanAir UK to Helsinki, then Russian coach to St.P, then if you are moving on... overnight train to Moscow, followed by train or flight to nowheresville. It can be done very cheaply.