Airfare for the holidays

[Kim]

I am again looking for airfare deals.  My son and his girlfriend are flying home.  There where a lot of good suggestions last year.  There too many pages to scroll back and find them.  Has anyone had any luck this year?

[Carol]

Kim, I would recommend visiting this link: http://www.mwr.navy.mil/mwrprgms/itt_airlines.htm

You have to actually call, but it's worth it if they have fares available. These are #'s to airlines specifically for Navy personnel discounts that you won't find published. We saved a LOT last Thanksgiving booking through the American Airlines#. I tried this summer, but they didn't have anymore available. Now would not be too soon to book for Christmas. Good luck and let me know if you get a good deal!

[Kim]

I am trying that route. Delta is less, but his girlfriend can't get the rate and he would have to get to Tokyo.
Continental regular rate is $1500.00 from Tokyo to Newark (2 hour drive for me).
United has outsourced their customer service. The guy came up with a military discount of $4,400.00. What a joke.
I still have to wait until his dates are confirmed.

[BHappy (Sharon)]

Thank you for the link Carol!

[MarianneKT's Mom]

Kim not a deal, but this is what Katie emailed me about her flights....Total airfare: $2,477.95USD (including taxes and insurance). Think that is DOUBLE what she paid coming home last year over Christmas. One advantage of the 2nd leave week is that a cousin of hers may be getting married New Year's Eve/Day. I just hosted the wedding shower and the date is still TBD as my nephew is graduating from Army BC on 10/15 and then will be going to Jump School and then MAY be picked up for the Rangers Training beginning in January.

[Kim]

Did she get her chit. Jonathan is still waiting. I am finding $3300.00 for the both of them.

[MarianneKT's Mom]

You mean their tickets were $1650/per ticket for a total of $3300? That's so much better than what Katie booked. Yes her chit has been approved. She was waiting until it was official before she bought her ticket. Just found out yesterday at the wedding shower I hosted for my nephew's (age 18) fiance (18), that they may get married New Year's Eve or Day while Katie is here. They are trying to plan his date around leave from the Army. He graduates from BC on 10/15 and then goes to airborne training. The are sooo young.

[Kim]

I booked Jonathans airfare through travelocity.com. It was $1750.00 each. I had to change the date to December 31st instead of the 30th. The cheapest on the 30th had an overnight stay in Tokyo and he was arriving early December 31st (a little more). The others arrived at midnight for $400.00 more. I also had to pick an airport 2 hours away. Otherwise it would have cost him over $1000.00 more for the two of them.

The best deal I found was phoning United directly and asking for the military rate. It was $2100.00 each and is totally refundable and modifiable. It was for the 30th and into my closest airport. They hold it for 3 days without a credit card. That way the sailor can confirm it and pay for it themselves. Unfortunately, it would have been another $700.00 for the two of them.

Beware of cheapoair.com and sky-tours.com. They have some complaints with the BBB. I read through them. Most of them where complaints about trying to change their itinerary and flights that changed and they weren't notified. Reduced U.S. airfares are not modifiable. I check the airlines myself. I tried to book cheapoair because it was $1450.00 each. I put in my credit card information and it came back sold out. I kept trying but when the amount got up to the travelocity fare, I switched. I book through travelocity all the time and they have no booking fees. Also, I have a upromise account and get 1% back for the booking. That is $35.00. I told him to deduct $35.00 from the check that he wrote me.

His flight is with Japan Airlines. I went to their website and selected his seats. I was able to email the itinerary from Japan Airlines to them. Now I am trying to figure out how to apply his airmiles to united since they are both part of star alliance.

[BHappy (Sharon)]

I just booked airfare for my son about 50% cheaper than anyplace else at militaryfares.com I hope this might help someone else!

[eehhhlieshhhaa]

Anyone know, even though I'm a navy girlfriend do am I qualified privileges as well if I wanted to get special discount on on airfare visiting my boyfriend

[Arwen]

There really aren't any airline discounts, for anyone. Militaryfares.com is just another low-fare finder website, it's rare to find better prices there than you can find at other low-fare sites such as priceline, travelocity or orbitz.

Girlfriends and fiancées have no status or privileges in the Navy. The Navy does not acknowledge the existance of a "significant other" until there is a marriage certificate.

[Kim]

Some airlines have a military rate (not much during the holidays). There is also hotel discounts, Amtrak discounts and others discounts. They will all require you to show proof that you are military or "immediate family". Girlfriends are not immediate family. Neither are moms!

However, he can rent a room at a navy lodge for you to stay at.

Here is a website that might be helpful with military discounts.
http://www.military.com/Travel/Home/0,13396,,00.html

I doubt you will find any discounts in Japan.

[Wendy Joes Mom]

Trying to help my son obtain airfare for his leave December 28-Jan. 2, 2011. I used the sites listed below any other ideas?

Thanks!