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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Sleep Tight
September 27, 2006 at 10:55 AM | 0 Comments
Indianapolis-Tulsa, $184 RT on NWA
It's not that we have anything against Indianapolis or Tulsa per se; it's just that this sale fare (part of a huge domestic sale that's running on Orbitz at the moment) may be the least sexy sale fare in the history of mankind--and we've been to Tulsa, which has more to recommend that you'd expect. Even so, can you imagine Condé Nast Travelver's cover mentioning either of these cities? We thought not.
If you must, the sale is running through mid-February, 2007; lowest prices are, as always, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and blackout days will crop up on any holiday you've heard of. Good luck getting to Indy.
[Image via Ant/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Eat Caribou this Weekend
September 20, 2006 at 10:50 AM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: Newark-Montreal, $109 RT on Continental
We're not picking this as a bad fare because we paid one and a half times as much for our ticket to Montreal next week--you wouldn't even think of accusing us of sour grapes, anyway. No, it's a more practical reason that this is a bad fare: hotels.
Yup, this is a pretty popular time to go to Montreal, it being nearly the end of fall up there, with the leaves changing and the caribou migrating through. As a result, hotel rooms (especially cheap ones) are a bit scarce. So don't say we didn't warn you on this fare ($109 RT on Continental, without taxes, for this weekend only). Unless you've got a couch in mind, or you're ready to shell out some extra dough on a fancy-fancy room--in which case, go for it.
[Image via IrenaS/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Decidedly Not Irie
August 23, 2006 at 11:35 AM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare:Detroit-Montego Bay, Jamaica, $1439 RT on NWA
Boy, this one just seems like a bad idea. Northwest is offering Northwest is offering package fare deals to Jamaica, combined with a stay at the Sandals resort. The concept is cool: For $1439, you get seven nights at Sandals plus a free upgrade to first class on NWA--the package is for October to mid Novemeber--from NWA cities in the Midwest. ">package fare deals to Jamaica, combined with a stay at the Sandals resort. The concept is cool: For $1439, you get seven nights at Sandals plus a free upgrade to first class on NWA--the package is for October to mid Novemeber--from NWA cities in the Midwest.
Sadly--for vacation planners anyway--NWA flight attendants are currently considering a strike. Not the best time to book your vacation, even if it's possible things will be resolved by October. You can always get silly looking cornrows in your hair here at home.
[Image via zickie/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: The Friendly Skies Ain't Cheap
August 9, 2006 at 1:10 PM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: New York-Beijing, $1,040 RT on United
C'mon, guys. United is advertising this bad boy as part of their summer sale--although it's for travel from the end of August to middle of November--but we're not impressed by the dealiness of this one at all. The price doesn't include taxes, FYI. But why fiddle with United when you can get there nonstop from Newark on Continental? What'samatter, afraid of New Jersey?
Mostly, we just get annoyed when these crummy fares get lumped in with a sale. We guess the airlines hope that magic sale dust will rub off or something, but we're not buying, even if that famous United parrot can play the piano like nobody's business.
[Image via psrman/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: It's Too Damn Hot
August 2, 2006 at 10:15 AM | 0 Comments
Milwaukee-Fort Myers, $193 RT on Midwest
Hooray! It's the service between Milwaukee and Fort Myers that we know we've been clamoring for. How have we lived without it? Except, well, we don't care. It's nothing against Milwaukee (Fort Myers is still on notice, sorry) or Midwest Airlines, though we've never flown on them. In all probability, the citizens of these respective cities are very happy about this fare.
As of 8am, it was already 84 degrees here in New York City. In short, it's too damn hot to care about Fort Myers or Milwaukee or Midwest Airlines. At least with the Good Fare between Rome and Bucharest, we could imagine eating a gelato or fending off a gypsy from stealing our wallet--genuine summertime activities. But it's impossible to think about Milwaukee when the thermostat cracks 95. Sorry.
[Image via Hello Doodle!/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Too Cold, Don'tcha Know?
July 26, 2006 at 1:26 PM | 0 Comments
Minneapolis--Reykjavik, $548 RT on Icelandair, via Travelzoo
Iceland, at long last! This fare is on Icelandair (natch), and runs from mid-August to the end of September. It's part of larger sale, from U.S. destinations to all parts of Europe. You must book by the end of the month, however.
And yet, those poor Minnesotans! Do they really need to go someplace blonder than their homeland? It just sounds too much like Children of the Corn for our taste. In other words, this fare is far too disturbing to recommend.
[Image via wildsheepchase/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Bari None
July 19, 2006 at 10:39 AM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: Stansted-Bari, $1.50 on Ryanair
It's hard to argue with a fare that has an advertised price of $1.50, and even more so with one that transports you the South of Italy--what's not to like? But hasn't Ryanair being reading the travel press these days?
Surely they must know that Puglia is the new Tuscany, a fact confirmed by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel and Leisure, and just about every other outlet in the last year. Unspoiled! Wild! Huge! Well, we certainly can't have grubby, democratic Ryanair flying there. Perhaps MAXjets will pick up the route instead?
[Image via daffodil/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Cheerleader-Run Airlines Remain Suspect
July 12, 2006 at 2:19 PM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: Boston-Las Vegas, $300 RT on Spirit
Maybe it's the phrase "Catch the Spirit!" which makes us think of enforced high school revelry. Maybe it's the fact that they name their sales, which approaches a Sufjan Stevens level of cloyingness. Maybe we don't trust anything based out of Detroit. Any way you slice it, we're not fans of Sprit's current sale, especially their transcontinental fares.
A $300 RT (before taxes) ticket between Boston and Vegas, for example, isn't much different from the average cost of that fare on JetBlue or on any other carrier on a route that often is host last minute sales. So, no Catching the Spirit for us. We'll be at the cafeteria table with all the misfits.
[Image via Arbon/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: We Love You to the Max
July 5, 2006 at 10:34 AM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: Washington, D.C.--London, $1200 RT on MaxJet
Ahh, Maxjet. We think it's a faboo idea, those all-business class planes, and their fares are indeed cheaper than business class on many of the other carriers plying the routes between London and the East Coast. But MaxJet's current sale, which is good for travel from mid-September to mid-November, pitches the fare as a value proposition. It's not.
Forget that few business travelers pay full price for their business class tickets anymore, even with the many blackout dates for using miles. Who wants to drop that much cash on a ticket only to arrive in Stansted instead of Heathrow? We still think this a scammy aspect of the whole operation, Sir Norman Foster designed airport or not. They might want to factor in the $100 cab ride it costs to get to Central London into the fare--after all, the bigwigs who fly business class don't take the train.
Sigh. We miss the Concorde. Now there was a way to waste money.
[Image via roomman/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: BA Gets All Snidely Whiplash
June 28, 2006 at 12:31 PM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: JFK-London, $551 RT on British Airways
Veddy interestink. Remember how British Airways is under investigation for padding the cost of their fuel surcharges on transatlantic routes? Now they're announced cheap fares on their JFK-London service, and yet, sniff sniff, something smells fishy.
Could it be that clearly beneath their published fare of $219 between the two cities, it says, "not including taxes and fuel surcharge" in bigger letters than usual? In fact, the taxes and fuel surcharge practically doubles the fare: It works out to $551 round-trip, $243 of which are taxes and fees. Heathrow and Kennedy are expensive, tax-wise, but this is still a ballsy way to sell tickets. We are not amused.
[Image via mpieracci/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Spirit in the Sky
June 21, 2006 at 11:27 AM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: Myrtle Beach--LaGuardia, $432 on Spirit
Spirit is giving the hard sell for their business class fares this summer on many of their fares. They call it "Business Class for Economy Class prices", as this business class fare on Spirit is close to what it would cost at a peak time on a traditional carrier like Northwest or Delta.
But Business Class on Spirit? Really? In our heart of hearts, when we are jammed into a seat in the back of the bus on a long-haul flight, we don't fantasize about being in Spirit's Business Class seats. Singapore or Emirates, sure, but not Spirit. Stick with their "Economy Class for Economy Class" prices, which will run you about half as much, and save the luxury for your hotel room.
[Image via andertho/Flickr]
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Bad Fare
Bad Fare: Brotherly Love Doesn't Extend to Pricing
June 14, 2006 at 10:15 AM | 0 Comments
Bad Fare: Philadelphia-Istanbul, $1346 on Air France
Air France is pushing their "Summer Sale" with last minute fares to Europe from select cities in the U.S., including Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago to cities all over Europe (through Paris Charles de Gaulle) like Istanbul, Athens, and London. Tomorrow is your last day to buy the fares, but they seem rather high for something to purchase on a whim.
We understand that summertime fares to Europe can be pricey, but who is just going to drop $1346 for a round-trip fare between Philadelphia and Istanbul? Best to keep things simple, get to London (which is more reasonable, even through the same Air France deal) or another LCC hub on go on from there. Otherwise, you'll end up paying more than you should--it's just an Air France trick to get you to use them for intra-European fares.
[Image via Fen Branklin/Flickr]
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