Group Airfares III
What to do if your airfare bid is not accepted
Strategies to increase your chances for a low fare
You can immediately re-bid on Priceline.com Air if you change one aspect of your bid (other than price).
Change one of the following at a time and submit a new bid each time. This markedly increases the chance that you will get a low price.
- Okay non-jet aircraft (necessary to reach some smaller airports),
- Okay red eye flights (particularly helpful to get you out of Las Vegas and Hawaii and from the west coast to the east coast),
- Try a new airport at either end (You can still keep your original choice, e.g., bid on LaGuardia and JFK, instead of just LaGuardia), and
- Travel on a new date (either going or returning--one at a time).
You may increase the price you are willing to pay on new bids to increase your chances, but make sure that your bids with taxes and fees stay under the Hotwire.com price you found in Group Airfares I.
Consider inexpensive options
If your new bids do not work (or you do not have the flexibility to use them), you can go back to Hotwire.com and accept its price. This price is usually less expensive than those on sites where you pick your times.
If you missed Hotwire's deadline (usually two hours), you can change your request just as you did on priceline—new dates, airports, red eye flights, etc.—and get another chance.
Like priceline Air, Hotwire works only with major full-service airlines.
Other options
If both Hotwire and priceline Air do not work, your group should seriously consider significantly changing dates more than just a day or two. You may be up against a large convention or other activity.
If you cannot change dates, you need to decide whether the type of fares you found using Expedia.com's Flight Reservation Wizard and from airline group desks you contacted are good enough.
If not, you may wish to consider another destination for your trip. Do like more and more travelers and let low fares decide where you go.
Good luck!
Once successful, be sure to go to
What to do if your group bid is accepted.
This contains very helpful smooth travel hints for all group leaders and travelers, regardless of how they brought their tickets.
Group Airfares I (how to get cheapest group airfares)
Expedia.com's Flight Reservation Wizard
