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Pros & Cons

Quick overview of Pros & Cons

Since you are probably familiar with many advantages of using priceline, we'll start with the Cons, and then discuss the Pros.

Cons: When it's best not to use Priceline

• If you must fly at specific times.
  
  
• If there's a strong chance you might need to change dates or cancel. This applies to car and hotel reservations as well as to airline tickets. You cannot change your dates even by paying a penalty, nor can you be reimbursed if you cancel. No exceptions.
  
  
• If you are planning air travel for a very short trip, such as two or three days. Since priceline's airline partners choose the flight times, you could end up arriving in the evening and departing the next morning.
  
  
• If you are not willing to pay higher fees at deluxe hotels. You can get incredible deals using Priceline.com Hotels, but room service charges, 800-number calls, parking, and other costs often not included in your room rate at these top-rated places may be more expensive than you are used to paying.
  
  
• If you don't research the best rates on other websites. Research is your best strategy to avoid making a bid that is either too low (not accepted), or too high (not the discount you could have gotten). Remember that the main goal is to save money, not just to get your bid accepted.

Pros: When it makes sense to use Priceline and why

• If you are willing to research up-to-date fares on other discount travel websites, you'll know what prices to bid below on Priceline. You'll avoid overbidding and have the best chance of getting the best price available. See Air, Car, and Hotel for more details on bidding.
  
  
• Booking at the last minute on Priceline can make the difference between going where you want to go and not going at all.
  
  If you've missed low-fare ticketing deadlines, and air fares are now high on other discount websites, you may still get very reasonable tickets by following our bidding steps in the last-minute airfares section. You may even get close to the advance-purchase price, a huge savings in many cases.
  
  
• Although Priceline's air travel is not recommended for short trips of two or three days, you can get great savings on Priceline's cars and hotels for short trips.
  
  
• Your Priceline.com Air fare may be valid for stays of up to 11 months from the date your bid is accepted. And you can book this longer stay close to your departure.
  
  
• Priceline.com uses only well-known and established airlines—the type that offer advance seat selection on domestic routes if you book far enough in advance. See Airlines for a list of both domestic and international airlines recently used by Priceline.
  
  
• Priceline works extremely well for trips that have set dates, such as vacations, family reunions, weddings, conventions, and seminars.
  
  
• Although it does not allow you to change dates, times, or destinations once your bid has been accepted, priceline.com does offer cancellation insurance during the bidding process. This is especially recommended for higher-cost international tickets and for longer stays.

Now go on to bidding strategies by choosing Air, Last-minute Air, Car, or Hotel from the menu below: