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The Kitchen Table

Buying an 'Open' Airline Ticket?

16 years ago

Does anyone know--is it still possible to purchase an "open" airline ticket to use on any flight within, say, a period of a month or two? There used to be such things but I don't hear of them anymore or know how to book them. (I typically use Delta but any airline from Minneapolis to Chicago would be fine). My mom's ill and I'm thinking I may need to respond quickly one of these days. Thanks.

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Comments (6)

nicole__
16 years ago
I know you can buy a refundable airline ticket. I'm pretty sure since airlines are making fewer runs, booking flights till full.....an open ticket would NOT be possible.
okwriter
16 years ago
You might also consider just buying a one-way. Used to always be cheaper to buy round-trip tickets, but that's isn't always the case now...especially if you factor in the cost to change a ticket or buy one that is open ended.
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Could be the days you're traveling....Mondays and Fridays are two of the HIGHEST PRICED fares(along with Sundays). Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are usually the cheapest. Consumer Reports says .... and I find this to be true as well...that you pay at least $10 less per ticket by booking DIRECTLY with the airline. I often go to Travelocity or Expedia-type sites to see which airlines fly to where I wanna go. Some airlines charge the same 14 days in advance as they do for 3 days in advance. Most charge a premium for booking 3 days or less in advance. Oh yeah, one more thing...a ticket costs MORE if you CALL the airline rather than book online.
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We just got our tickets yesterday for flying to France in May. However, we are using frequent flier miles and we have to do that quickly as there is a limited number of seats. When will prices change? That always depends upon the rate at which seats are selling out for different routes. It's like trying to win the lottery to figure out when airlines will put tickets on sale unless you know it's seasonal. For example, from here, we can count on winter flights to Europe to drop below $400. However, after May 15th, they will be hard to find for less than $1,000. May 15th seems to be the magic date when the airlines consider the "summer season" to start up and flights to sell out. If you are flying before May 15th, you might get a better deal in January. However, if you are flying after May 15th, it's less likely the fares will drop much. Don't hold me to this as there just aren't any guarantees! There can be a big difference on the DAY of the week that you choose for flying. For business locations (like NYC, Chicago, etc.) the weekday prices will be high due to business fliers and lower on weekends. To vacation areas, Tuesday and Wednesday will be cheaper than flying on weekends. We use the linked site to get a big picture of the prices, but we always end up going directly to the airline to purchase tickets. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: compare tickets
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I mentioned to DH last night that I thought we should buy a ticket. He said no way was he going to why don't I do it? For one thing, I am seldom anywhere that I would have the opportunity. Secondly, I am tightfisted when it comes to things like that. The few times I've been in a casino I've won a couple hundred dollars and then cashed out as soon as I won. I never played after winning and never played with more than $25. Still, it's nice to dream of what you would do with a win. We have been using our pastor's home for years because we are too small of a congregation to afford a church so that would be first on my list. The SPCA and animal rescue organizations would be next. There are so many worthy organizations. I would gift each of my children with a home, each getting the same amount dollar wise. I would set up college funds for my DGC. As for us, we could put an addition on the house to get an upstairs laundry and I would hire a lawn crew and a full time housekeeper. I think the key to a successful win would be to do as much good as possible with the windfall.
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Did they know before boarding took place that they needed those "reserved" seats? If so, announce to the pre-boarding gathering that you need to have four folks agree to stay off this flight and go later ... who's willing to do that? Probably no one ... so you offer an incentive ... if still no takers, up the offer, until you get four to agree. If already boarded, same announcement ...and increased incentives, until four agree. Didn't someone say that this fellow had agreed to not go ... but then found no flight available that day, so boarded anyway ... which makes him the miscreant, in my view ... but, even so, no reason to treat him as they did. And whatever other parts of his lifestyle there may be aren't part of this equation, in my view. In the States, they have a Passenger Bill of Rights, I hear, and also in other countries ... but Canada has none, it appears ... (so reported by some who've been claiming such in the past few days ... and that it's time that we get one!!)! Hey, Canadians ... look up your M. P.'s phone number, O.K.? ole joyful ... who doesn't fly often
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sjerin
16 years ago
I think Southwest is the only airline (that I know of) that allows a credit for the amount paid if a ticket, or one way of a ticket, isn't used. And yes, it's not nearly as relatively expensive to fly one-way as it used to be. Use one of the travel websites; often they only list tickets as each way.
carol_in_california
16 years ago
I bet your travel agent would have some useful information.
lynn_d
16 years ago
Yes you can still buy an open airline ticket but there is no reason to do so. The fare is no cheaper than buying two one way tickets. Southwest is not the only airline that will refund an unused ticket, all airlines will do so, depending on the rules of the airfare purchased.

PS, incase you are wondering, I am a certified travel consultant.
nicole__
16 years ago
Open airline tickets used to cost double what a coach class ticket costs. Refundable, meaning , without a change fee ticket also costs more than a regular coach class ticket. Change fees start at $50 a ticket and go up from there. They give you a year to rebook.

I was a travel agent for 4 years......but would I buy an open ticket. No. Change fees are fine with me. I'm holding 2 tickets now that I did not use. Note: You have to call the airline before the flight to let them know your not using them & you want to hold them for 1 year.

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