When to buy that plane ticket?

[braumeister]

Interesting bit in Bloomberg today.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until Tuesday to Buy Plane Tickets

If you go there you'll find a link to a new app that purports to find the best deals using machine learning to find patterns in the airline pricing chaos.

If you’re even just a semi-regular airline traveler, and you like to hunt for bargains, you’ve probably heard that you’re supposed to buy plane tickets on Tuesdays to get the best deals. But what if you found out that this applies only if you purchase right at midnight, and that it only really matters with 1.6 percent of domestic U.S. routes?

 

[DrRoy]

The problem with Hopper is that you cannot tell it to exclude a cut rate airline that you won't fly on. They do not tell you the 2nd best, 3rd best etc.

 

[braumeister]

Yes, the lack of filters is a huge drawback.

So far I haven't found anything better than Google Flights.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

Thats too funny, When I saw the thread I was about to post "I heard some where to buy it on a Tuesday, hahah". Guess Thats old info . But as I like to tell . I want to thank the lady changing her babies dirty diaper next to me on a flight. And an honorable mention goes to the other one eating a stinky tuna fish sandwich , they cured me of flying.

 

[brett]

I don't buy the Tuesday business.

When we shop the first thing we do is understand what an average price is, what a good routing is, both based on time of year. Once we know that we wait for a good deal to come along. When it does, we hit the buy button.

 

[walkinwood]

Hopper doesn't do open-jaw flights either.

 

[Red Badger]

Thats too funny, When I saw the thread I was about to post "I heard some where to buy it on a Tuesday, hahah". Guess Thats old info . But as I like to tell . I want to thank the lady changing her babies dirty diaper next to me on a flight. And an honorable mention goes to the other one eating a stinky tuna fish sandwich , they cured me of flying.

One of the perks of being a road warrior was that my upgrade ratio was about 98%+. Now that I'm retired:
I
Can't
Sit
Back
There

So, on the few trips we make yearly now, I just suck it up and pay for 1st class. Not that there isn't an occasional dunderhead up front, it's just much less likely.

The perks of sitting in the pointy end of the plane are not worth the price. However, not sitting in the back is worth every penny.

One of my memorable flights was in Europe. The lady sitting next to me had BO so bad, it would knock the buzzards of a sh!t wagon. I seriously doubted if she had bathed in weeks / months....

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

One of the perks of being a road warrior was that my upgrade ratio was about 98%+. Now that I'm retired:
I
Can't
Sit
Back
There

So, on the few trips we make yearly now, I just suck it up and pay for 1st class. Not that there isn't an occasional dunderhead up front, it's just much less likely.

The perks of sitting in the pointy end of the plane are not worth the price. However, not sitting in the back is worth every penny.

One of my memorable flights was in Europe. The lady sitting next to me had BO so bad, it would knock the buzzards of a sh!t wagon. I seriously doubted if she had bathed in weeks / months....

Hahahahah,. And I like the analogy "...not worth the price... worth every penny"

 

[MissMolly]

I want to thank the lady changing her babies dirty diaper next to me on a flight.

So, I'm curious - where do you suggest this young mother change her uncomfortable baby's diaper? In the conveniently placed an easily accessible changing stations available on the plane? Oh, wait, what changing station on the plane?

I have never understood why people complain about this. Do you think these young mothers have a choice? It's not easy traveling with a baby. Traveling with a cranky baby in a dirty/wet diaper is miserable for anyone around. I would rather the mother would change the diaper than listen to a squalling baby any day. But YMMV.

 

[Red Badger]

So, I'm curious - where do you suggest this young mother change her uncomfortable baby's diaper? In the conveniently placed an easily accessible changing stations available on the plane? Oh, wait, what changing station on the plane?

I have never understood why people complain about this. Do you think these young mothers have a choice? It's not easy traveling with a baby. Traveling with a cranky baby in a dirty/wet diaper is miserable for anyone around. I would rather the mother would change the diaper than listen to a squalling baby any day. But YMMV.

All the planes I fly on have changing accommodations in the loo.

 

[MissMolly]

All the planes I fly on have changing accommodations in the loo.

Then you fly on better planes than I do as I have never see that - not that there is even any room to maneuver in the loo to do such a thing.

 

[Johanson]

One of the perks of being a road warrior was that my upgrade ratio was about 98%+. Now that I'm retired:
I
Can't
Sit
Back
There

So, on the few trips we make yearly now, I just suck it up and pay for 1st class. Not that there isn't an occasional dunderhead up front, it's just much less likely.

The perks of sitting in the pointy end of the plane are not worth the price. However, not sitting in the back is worth every penny.

One of my memorable flights was in Europe. The lady sitting next to me had BO so bad, it would knock the buzzards of a sh!t wagon. I seriously doubted if she had bathed in weeks / months....

I have about the same ratio and I'm still a road warrior. But, things are changing at the Big 3 with First Class Monetization. Delta plans on selling 80% of its F cabin by 2020. Just today I SDC from my 3:00 PM flight to GRR to the 8:30 PM flight. I had already been upgraded on my original flight and now I'm in an exit row. But, there were 4 seats left in F and I know my chances are good for sitting up front. When I went to check in, I was offered F for $89. I turned it down. Last I looked I am number 1 of 17 on the upgrade list. Just checked again and I'm 2 of 23. Another Diamond is on a higher fare class than me.

When I'm paying for my flights (vacation), I almost always book F or J except for two international trips/year where I apply global upgrade certificates. Otherwise, I book F/J and use pay with miles. I have over 3/4 of a million Skymiles and I keep racking them up faster than I can use them.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

So, I'm curious - where do you suggest this young mother change her uncomfortable baby's diaper?

Well for starters I suggest she changes it next to you.

 

[braumeister]

Then you fly on better planes than I do as I have never see that - not that there is even any room to maneuver in the loo to do such a thing.

You can generally find out in advance if your plane will have it.

For example:

Delta: Planes With Changing Tables In Delta's Fleet

United: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/infants/default.aspx

 

[Red Badger]

I have about the same ratio and I'm still a road warrior. But, things are changing at the Big 3 with First Class Monetization. Delta plans on selling 80% of its F cabin by 2020. Just today I SDC from my 3:00 PM flight to GRR to the 8:30 PM flight. I had already been upgraded on my original flight and now I'm in an exit row. But, there were 4 seats left in F and I know my chances are good for sitting up front. When I went to check in, I was offered F for $89. I turned it down. Last I looked I am number 1 of 17 on the upgrade list. Just checked again and I'm 2 of 23. Another Diamond is on a higher fare class than me.

When I'm paying for my flights (vacation), I almost always book F or J except for two international trips/year where I apply global upgrade certificates. Otherwise, I book F/J and use pay with miles. I have over 3/4 of a million Skymiles and I keep racking them up faster than I can use them.

I burned the bulk of my FF miles on some 1st class travel to Asia and Europe. While working, one thing I did to improve my odds in the upgrade "run-off" was to get the Delta Amex card (was a Delta guy - for better or worse). In case of "status tie," the card gave me the edge. After retirement, I retired the card.

 

[Johanson]

I burned the bulk of my FF miles on some 1st class travel to Asia and Europe. While working, one thing I did to improve my odds in the upgrade "run-off" was to get the Delta Amex card (was a Delta guy - for better or worse). In case of "status tie," the card gave me the edge. After retirement, I retired the card.

I've had the Reserve for about 7 years now. I may drop it to the gold or platinum when I retire. I like the PWM feature. You can pay the ticket down to $100 but still collect all the MQMs. I roll over 60-75K MQMs every year.

 

[MissMolly]

Well for starters I suggest she changes it next to you.

Not a problem. It's just baby poo. There are far worse things out there in the world.

 

[MissMolly]

You can generally find out in advance if your plane will have it.

For example:

Delta: Planes With Changing Tables In Delta's Fleet

United: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/infants/default.aspx

OK, I did not know this, but if you are limited on what flight(s) you can take, you really don't get to pick and choose like that. And I have frequently been booked on one particular plane and then due to whatever problems - weather, mechanical, whatever - the plane that shows up is a different type of plane. It happened again to me just last week (Friday) and this happens a lot (at least for me).

 

[medved]

<<Not a problem. It's just baby poo. There are far worse things out there in the world.>>

It would be better for the parents to send the kids the night before, by Fedex. It is pretty cheap if they don't weigh much. Or if that proves impossible, at least store them in the overhead compartments, where the noise is muffled a bit.

 

[travelover]

<<Not a problem. It's just baby poo. There are far worse things out there in the world.>>

It would be better for the parents to send the kids the night before, by Fedex. It is pretty cheap if they don't weigh much. Or if that proves impossible, at least store them in the overhead compartments, where the noise is muffled a bit.

+1. Especially the kids that kick the back of the seat.

 

[2017ish]

So, I'm curious - where do you suggest this young mother change her uncomfortable baby's diaper? In the conveniently placed an easily accessible changing stations available on the plane? Oh, wait, what changing station on the plane?

I have never understood why people complain about this. Do you think these young mothers have a choice? It's not easy traveling with a baby. Traveling with a cranky baby in a dirty/wet diaper is miserable for anyone around. I would rather the mother would change the diaper than listen to a squalling baby any day. But YMMV.

Not just young mothers. Some 25 years ago, I had the experience of being stuck on tarmac, in small plane, with a very dirty diaper on the baby I was lugging (DW was entertaining the toddler). Even worse, I was seated next to Lou Brock--one of my childhood athletic idols. . . .

Needless to say, I did not chat him up or ask for an autograph!

 

[MissMolly]

But did you change the baby's diaper?

 

[2017ish]

But did you change the baby's diaper?

Of course. He was really stinky and noisily uncomfortable. That's why I didn't want to introduce myself to Lou Brock. ("Man, flying back from Syracuse with my family, and I met this big firm lawyer who actually changed his kid's diaper on the seatback tray sitting right next to me.")

(I did have the tray covered by a blanket at least!)

 

[MissMolly]

Of course. He was really stinky and noisily uncomfortable. That's why I didn't want to introduce myself to Lou Brock. ("Man, flying back from Syracuse with my family, and I met this big firm lawyer who actually changed his kid's diaper on the seatback tray sitting right next to me.")

(I did have the tray covered by a blanket at least!)

 

[Nemo2]

(I did have the tray covered by a blanket at least!)

I hope you moved Lou's meal first?