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Frequently Asked Questions

Priceline Airfare Bidding

You save most with Priceline "Name your own price" airfare bidding when you have missed advanced purchase deadlines or when you are traveling overseas, especially to places that do not currently have vigorous fare competition. Be sure your savings are worth not usually being able to change your dates even for a fee.

1. I don't have time to read all your airfare bidding tips. I am leaving tomorrow. Would you give me a summary?
2. Which airlines does Priceline use?
3. I really need to cancel or change my Priceline flights—how can I do this?
4. Can someone else use my Priceline air ticket?
5. I know that Priceline’s bidding rules won’t let me pick my travel times. Are there ANY workarounds for that?
6. How long will Priceline make me wait for connections?
7. How early or late could I depart using Priceline?
8. What’s the financial condition of Priceline.com?
9. Does Priceline accept a Canadian credit card?

1. I don’t have time to read all your airfare bidding tips. I am leaving tomorrow. Can you give me a summary?

Okay—this is for last-minute reservations:

• Use a typical airfare site, such as Travelocity, to look up what airfares cost leaving tomorrow, if you haven’t already done so. Priceline also lists retail fares and charges no booking fees for these:
  
  Priceline.com - no one deals like we do!
  
  
• Then use the same or a similar site to find out what flights would cost three weeks from now if you were:
  
  • leaving on the same day of the week,
  • coming back on the same day of the week, and
  • staying the same length of time.
  
  In other words, everything’s the same, except the dates are moved ahead three weeks.
  
  Check for flights that use no more than one connection (if these are available to your destination).
  
  
• Next, look up what Hotwire.com charges for your intended dates. Like Priceline, for its lowest fares, Hotwire doesn’t tell you your times or airline until you pay. And, like Priceline, it uses major airlines.
  
  
• Finally, pull up Priceline.com - no one deals like we do!.
  
  Bid whichever is less: 15 percent off Hotwire’s price OR 20 to perhaps 25 percent above the best advanced purchase fare you found on another site.
  
  
• If this bid fails, change some aspect of your bid (date, willingness to use red-eye or non jet flights, arrival or departure airport) to be able to bid on Priceline again.
  
  Or, you can always go back and grab Hotwire’s fare, if still available..

2. Which airlines does Priceline use?

Major airlines like Air Canada, American, America West, Continental, Delta, KLM, SAS, Singapore, South African, United, and their code-share partners. Priceline does not use Southwest Airlines.

3. I really need to cancel or change my Priceline "Name your own price" flights—how can I do this?

You normally can’t. In order to get the lowest fares, Priceline’s contracts with airlines do not allow for refunds. And, you can’t pay a fee to change.

However—this is the loophole—if the airline cancels one of your flights for reasons under its control (for example, in an effort to save money), and wants to change your itinerary significantly, U.S. Department of Transportation regulations say you should get a refund. Significantly means significantly, not an hour or two.

If you find that you will be unable to travel, keep a look out for any major changes in your itinerary on the airline's website. You may get lucky. Contact Priceline customer service at 1 800-PRICELINE prior to the date of travel, and have your transaction number handy.

4. Can someone else use my Priceline air ticket?

Since 9/11, TSR security will not allow anyone to use a ticket if the name on her or his government-issued photo ID does not match the name on the ticket.

5. I know that Priceline’s bidding rules won’t let me pick my travel times. Are there ANY workarounds for that?

There surely are. Most airlines allow you to stand by for earlier flights on the same day for a nominal fee. I do this all the time. See BidOnTravel’s Standby Rules and Tips.

You may also get a good fare on Hotwire.com, which allows you to choose departure times.

6. How long will Priceline make me wait for connections?

Within the U.S., connecting times are limited to three hours, unless nothing better is available. Usually, layover times are under 90 minutes. Priceline also tries to put you on non-stop flights, if these are available.

International travel may involve longer connections, regardless of how much you pay or where you book.

In addition, Priceline bookings are limited to one connection each way, unless you give Priceline permission to use more than one, in order to reach a smaller airport or to get a better fare.

7. How early or late could I depart using Priceline?

For domestic flights, you won’t be scheduled to depart earlier than 6:00 a.m. or leave later than 10:00 p.m. (with a scheduled arrival of no later than 12:30 a.m.), unless you tell Priceline that you’re willing to use “red-eye flights” for a better fare.

International itineraries typically involve overnight travel, so there are no time restrictions on these.

8. What’s the financial condition of Priceline.com?

Amazingly strong for a post-9/11 travel company. Check out its stock performance.

9. Does Priceline accept a Canadian credit card?

Yes, both Hotwire and Priceline accept credit cards with Canadian billing addresses.

Priceline.com - no one deals like we do!