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Frequently Asked Questions

Priceline Airfare Bidding

1. I don't have time to read all your airfare bidding tips. I am leaving tomorrow. Could 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.
  
  
• 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 Air.
  
  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 you do this within Hotwire’s deadline of one or two hours.

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 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 (e.g., in an effort to save money, as many are now doing), and wants to change your itinerary significantly, U.S. Department of Transportation regulations say you should get a refund.

If you find that you will be unable to travel, keep a look out for any significant 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, 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 sure are. Most airlines allow you to stand by for other flights on the same day without paying extra. I do this all the time. See BidonTravel’s Standby Rules and Tips.

You may also get a good fare on Hotwire.com. Although you can’t pick specific flights for the lowest fares, you can at least pick the time of day on most routes. Look for "Flexible Fares."

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

In 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.

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. It has no long-term debt.

9. Does Priceline accept a Canadian credit card?

It accepts a Canadian credit card only with an American billing address. However, Hotwire does accept a Canadian billing address, so you may wish to try them.

Priceline.com Air