Air Fare Savings (YAPTA)

[Mountie]

Is anyone using the new extra costPremium Service from YAPTA:



Premium Service

Don't feel like calling the airline to claim your travel credit or voucher? Yapta's Premium Service Agents will do it for you for a small fee of $15. Yapta's Premium Service is available Monday - Friday 5am - 9pm PST.

If your flight is eligible for a voucher and you want to use this service click the "Voucher" link on the eligible flight in your "My Trips" page and let Yapta get it for you! Click here to get started tracking your purchased flights.

[bonniejoy03]

Great idea by YAPTA. I think it might be worth the 15 fee to do this however, the credit might be next to nothing with their fee and the airline fee.

[travel2fun]

no way I'm going to pay the extra fee to YAPTA, but I still register my trips on their site.

[omegaet]

....no interest in paying for the Premium Service from YAPTA, but have noticed the air fares are starting to settle back down to a more reasonable buying range, at least to the business markets into which I fly.....sticking with YAPTA and using their basic service.

[bonniejoy03]

Yes. I think prices seem to have stabilized a little. The few tickets I am looking at have changed downwards slightly. Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of flights disappear with the cuts. Wonder when this is all going to finish shaking out?

[omegaet]

bonniejoy03....actually, I already seen several of the legacy carriers eliminate flights into and out of a few of the business destinations I use - "bad news"....but Southwest has increased service into a couple of the same destinations - "good news"......the only negative for me is the loss of opportunities to increase my legacy frequent flyer miles - "bad news".....on the other hand, the Southwest fares are lower and there is no extra fee for checked luggage - "good news"......so, like most of life -"good news/bad news." Of course, YAPTA doesn't carry the Southwest fares....so I have to go directly to their site....no big deal!

[bonniejoy03]

Hi O. After "losing" two airline tickets due to cancellation of flights, I am actively looking at ALL options. Sounds crazy, but I did a chart with the pros and cons of each option (ie driving 150 miles to an airport to save $100, cost of bags, etc.) It really helped analyze my options. I am now coming to the conclusion that I will have to be extremely flexible in my future travel programs. I will not have the luxury of flying out of my regional airport. I am slowing learning!!! It is difficult though!!

[jsattapr2]

Bonniejoy03, I have all but eliminated flying into smaller regional airports primarily because of some reduction in service, but mainly because it much more cost effective to fly into the closest major airport and use a rental car for my ultimate destination. Yes, it can take a few more hours, but the cost savings are substantial, or at least have been so far. Even though I place a high value on my time, such is not the case with my employer, who would rather see the bottom line dollar savings. It is a matter of making adjustments.



Now I spend more driving time listening to recorded books and my favorite music.



YAPTA continues to provide valuable information for me when I am planning my air travel.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi J. I am going to have to make the same changes as travel becomes more difficult. Though, I have priced flying from a major airport, getting an airport hotel, gas, and food, and it costs basically the same to fly out of the regional airport. IF.... (a big IF), the flight connections work..it is SUPER....now, if it doesn't it is the biggest hassle in the world. I am still weighing the options. For November and February , we will fly out of a major airport and do an airport hotel before the trip. For May, we still will probably use the regional airport......only time will tell if the regional airports survive. Our regional will be losing American Air beginning in November.

[omegaet]

bonniejoy03 & j-s-2......YAPTA remains one ofmy greatest resources for saving money on on commercial air travel. I register all of my upcoming leisure and business trips with their site.