traveling in july

[lindalyn]

hi everybody i am new to this thread and i have a question. i am planning a trip in July to Santiago, D.R. and i was wonderingwhen would be the best time to purchase the tickets.... i am getting different opinions....some are saying to buy them now since they go fast for that time ( schools out) and some are saying to wait until after easter when the sales come out.... i do not know since i am not a frequent flyer...and i do not want to miss my dates...since they are locked in already ...due to work.....any suggestions will be appreciated....thanks ...lyn

 

[ricktoronto]

If You Can Afford It

Buy them now. If you fly on AA for example (and they fly to Santiago daily) and the price goes down, AND you fly other times, like within a year, you can call them and get a "rollover" which is essentially a refund on the fare in the form of a voucher for travel again within a year.

Caveat - it has to be the same class of flight, that said, generally if you buy an advance purchase ticket the "same kind" means that you are still within the advance purchase requirements ( e.g. not a fare that leaves a day later) and is restricted fare. Normally I have found when this has happened, and it has, the fare you are now finding is similar enough to what you bought ahead of time.

You can even do it more than once though it is not often the fares go down that much or that often.

OTOH, I fly to SDQ 5 or 6 times yearly, and my general pattern is to buy one trip ahead, e.g. I have my April 12th ticket now and normally when I get back I'd buy the may ticket. I usually, however use points to upgrade to 1st class so I have my may ticket as well, as lead time is usually adviseable for getting flights with upgrade seats on it.

When I get back from April I would buy my June /July ticket, and when I am back in May my August long weekend trip etc. So I have not failed to flind a flight yet.

However, I am not seeking bottom dollar either so whatever the price is I will pay it or sometimes pay for full fare 1st class if the price for advance booked is very high ,e g. each year at Xmas I don't bother to look, I just treat myself to full fare J class for maybe $600 CDN more than the cheapest coach (normally the difference is $1,800 CDN) . I get more points too when I fly that way. But really it is because the differential is so small I don't care.

If you are flying charter (I have no idea if there are charter fares to Santiago) then you bought it you live with it. But often so cheap who cares?

 

[lindalyn]

thank you so much for the info rick..... so basically the prices really wont go down right? some one from aeromar airlines said that in april they might have a sale ......but i have heard not so good news about aeromar....so i guess i'll do the AA....thanks for the info..

 

[Samana1]

>

The best is to purchase ticket now, because Santiago Cibao int is nearly new and have only the next flights.

High Season JULY 2003

New York JFK - Santiago Cibao

AEROMAR Lineas Aereas Dominicanas has 2 daily flights
American Airlines has 2 daily flights
North American Airlines 2 weekly flights

Newark - Santiago Cibao
Continental Airlines 1 daily

Miami - Santiago Cibao
American Airlines 1/2 daily flight

so i dont know from where your flying to Santiago but i can suggest you to BOOK now!!! because to Santiagi es every time FULL and also in December there was still people on airlines wait lists.

Aeromar has the best price to Santiago and has flown the first on this route.

Aeromar give First, Biz and Economy classes

 

[lindalyn]

oh ........ but you know i have heard mixed reviews about AEROMAR.. like over booking and leaving your luggage..and i am traveling w/ kids....so ...... i would be pretty ticked off w/ no luggage....or no seats..... have you traveled w/ them or have you heard bad reviews? i would rather pay less ... but like the saying goes ...you pay for what you get..and i cant afford to have slip-ups like those...... but you know everyone has different experiences... and i would like to hear others experience w/ this new airline....another thread i guess ? thanks for the info thusfar......

 

[Samana1]

Well

So Aeromar has overbooked flights i will say it,

Some peoples doesnt comes and if they not coming we need to cancell their ticket and we can only give a penalty and in this place we can give other peoples a seat so we cant lose some seats on flights and also money.

Not only Aeromar has overbooked flights also American Airlines, Continental and all airlines.

If you are travelling with kids if you want book Aeromar you can ask onyour travel agent that you are travelling with kids and query of Overbooked flights so you need to confirm the flight they will say when you need to confirm.

We are flying in the summer with B767-200EM and B757-200ER from JFK to Santiago.

LUGGAGE, thats was a problem of all Airlines travelling from New York JFK.

Ok the best i'm glad to hear that you will fly to La Republica Dominicana.

You can always book other airlines but their are peoples will start their vacation with an Dominican Airline thats serve Dominican food and service. ok by the best Aeromar has lower fare then American Airlines

 

[lindalyn]

ok when you said "WE = FLYING W/ B767-200EM etc....." i gather you work w/ AEROMAR? Just curious...... and you mentioned "confirming" w/ travel agent... i was thinking of booking the flight myself..or do you think its best to go through a travel agent ? do they get discounts? oh b/t/w....i really appreciate your response.....as you may see..... i am nervous already about flying and its still months to come ;0)

 

[Samana1]

BQ travel agents

No problem if you dont want book Aeromar there is no problem but you can call New York office of Aeromar http://www.aeromarairlines.com

Ther is not problem ther is a lot of demand.

Cristian Garcia Polanco

 

[lindalyn]

Thanks Cristian

 

[Escott]

I find the fares high in July for some reason from NYC JFK to POP Puerto Plata. I never understood it because it is hotter than I like it then. I would book early and anything that you get close to 400 including taxes would be a decent fare in my experience. Under 400 is a good buy.

 

[lindalyn]

the prices i have been quoted are :

continental $572 per adult
$456 per child under 11

aa i believe $613

and AEROMAR= i think it was $500 something ...not too sure on but these prices are nothing like what you mentioned Jazz......WOW i would love to find a quote even in the high $400. where do you look for your fare? what am I doing wrong?

 

[Samana1]

Yes

Aeromas has 500 USD included taxes and fees and maybe we can give you an 10% discount ask the travel agent

 

[lindalyn]

really??? ok ... i'll try that then..... but would you sugget i book it now....or wait until after "semana santa" like the travel agent said from AEROMAR.....He said " wait until after easter ...thats when the sale comes in,......and he also said that he believes that it went down as low as $350ish? can that be right? ........B/T/W you guys are awesome w/ your info.........Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aviastar]

Linda, well this is not clear now. If USA will go to war with IRAQ then you'll have a lot of last minutes offers from all airlines. The traffic will slow down in this case, we have so many carriers between US and DO, so they'll keep prices low. Also there are rumors that Aerocontinente and Air Santo DOmingo will serve USA, so this could help to keep low fares even during high season. In case there is no war and new carriers prices will be normal as for that period. I would recommend you to buy it 1 month before departure, all lowest available fares will be on sale, if you'll buy it 1 day before departure it will be like Y full fare. I would strongly recommend you to use AA for your flight to Santiago, they are more reliable, have more flights, they don't depend on 1 previos delay like Aeromar, for example if BQ's previos flight was delayed it will cause delay for the next flight, they have few planes so

 

[lindalyn]

aviastar.... you response made so much sense...WOW .... now you made me think ? war ? ugh....... a different topic on its own ... but its so true .... w/ war and all that ....traffic would be slow..... and B/T/W/ ......i think i would be a bit skeptical traveling w/ AA if theres war..... I know its a messed up way to think.... but what happened before ...happened w/ AA...... i dont mean to sound ...i dont know.... but lets hope theres no war....


Oh and when are these 2 airlines opening up? any one know?

thanks guys !!!!

 

[Samana1]

Ok by the way,

It's planned to fly JFK-SDQ 3 daily and 2 daily STI-JFK so if you are talking about


Aero Continente [Dominicana], Air Santo Domingo

They will not fly to JFK if they have permise of Gov Aproval i can give you some licences where you can read about it.

But you can trust Air Santo Domingo their are really have the aircrafts and schedules but not published because the have no permissions. they will have 2 daily on STI-JFK route and 1 daily JFK-SDQ and 2 SDQ-SJU and 1 SDQ-MIA and SDQ-CUR.

What you need to do is waiting till April we ALL will publish our new updated fares and schedules. But how earlyer how cheaper!!!, if they changes departure times their is no problem all airlines wil garantize your flight.

 

[aviastar]

these airlines announce all the time their plans.

I recommend you to buy now then, use North American Airlines, their fare is 384 USD with all taxes, here an example:

NA 87 V JFK STI 24JUL 757 1600 1940
NA 88 V STI JFK 14AUG 757 2110 0050+

fare basis : VXNR30
300 USD + taxes 84 USD = 384 USD

 

[lindalyn]

very , very, much THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Samana1 & Avistar....and everyone else who has helped me w/ this .....

 

[aviastar]

Linda, grab North American Airlines 384 USD rt, this is the cheapest option!

 

[lindalyn]

i am going to check them out..... i'll let you know how it goes... thanks !!!!!!!!!!