Cheap flight tickets

[Goi]

I'm not sure if this is hot or legit, but I was looking for cheap international flight tickets and this site came up about half price compared to priceline or orbitz. It's travel-depart.com. Does anyone have any experience with this site, and are they legit? If they are then it seems to be a hell of a deal.

 

[911paramedic]

Well, they sure didn't spend any profits on that website...

 

[mikeford]

Really low prices on commondity items make me REAL suspicious, because there is no need to reduce the price more than even 10% to sell out. Plenty of people shop listing lowest fare first, and even a few bucks will get them preference.

Look for hidden charges, or serious restrictions, or outright fraud.

I tried a few places and dates and got no fares at all.

 

[Goi]

Yeah, I tried several domestic flights and didn't get anything as well, but their international flights seem to turn up flights.

 

[SurgicalShark]

They seem to have very unusual way of presenting itinerary let alone booking tickets.
=========================
The Fare
Total Price: $1130.00 + Taxes/Security Charge


1 Adult @ $1130.00


Possible routing(s) for this fare
Departure: Houston-Bush (IAH) to Mumbai (BOM) / Sat, 26-Aug-06
CX881731 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX)
CX873751 Connect in San Francisco (SFO)
CX889751 Connect in Vancouver (YVR)
CX881731 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX)
CX881731 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Los Angeles (LAX)
CX873751 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and San Francisco (SFO)
CX873751 Connect in Denver (DEN) and San Francisco (SFO)
CX889751 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Vancouver (YVR)
CX889751 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Vancouver (YVR)
CX881 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX883 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX873 Connect in San Francisco (SFO) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX839 Connect in Vancouver (YVR) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX889 Connect in Vancouver (YVR) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX885 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX881 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX881 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX883 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX883 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX873 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and San Francisco (SFO) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX873 Connect in Denver (DEN) and San Francisco (SFO) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX839 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Vancouver (YVR) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX839 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Vancouver (YVR) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX889 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Vancouver (YVR) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX889 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Vancouver (YVR) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX885 Connect in Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)
CX885 Connect in Denver (DEN) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG)

Return: Mumbai (BOM) to Houston-Bush (IAH) / Wed, 27-Sep-06
CX750882 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX)
CX750872 Connect in San Francisco (SFO)
CX750838 Connect in Vancouver (YVR)
CX750882 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX750882 Connect in Los Angeles (LAX) and Denver (DEN)
CX750872 Connect in San Francisco (SFO) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX750872 Connect in San Francisco (SFO) and Denver (DEN)
CX750838 Connect in Vancouver (YVR) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX750838 Connect in Vancouver (YVR) and Denver (DEN)
CX880 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX)
CX882 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX)
CX872 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and San Francisco (SFO)
CX838 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR)
CX888 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR)
CX884 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX)
CX880 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX880 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Denver (DEN)
CX882 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX882 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Denver (DEN)
CX872 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and San Francisco (SFO) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX872 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and San Francisco (SFO) and Denver (DEN)
CX838 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX838 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR) and Denver (DEN)
CX888 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX888 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Vancouver (YVR) and Denver (DEN)
CX884 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)
CX884 Connect in Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Denver (DEN)


Rules & Restrictions

Minimum Stay -- 6days Maximum Stay -- 180days
1 Year Ticket -- One Way Fare x 2
Weekend -- Friday and Saturday
Free Stopover is Permitted in Los Angeles/San Francisco/New York/
Hong Kong. Only 1 Stop in Vancouver per Round trip
Refund : $225 Fee for Totally Unused Ticket
Changes : Prior to Departure -- $200+Any Fare Difference
After Departure -- Fare Difference if Any
Open Return Permitted, Must Use Weekend Fare for Return.

AA : Not Applicable Flight 6000-7999
AC : Valid Only with Super Discovery Fares. Not Valid from/to LAX or
SFO. Not Valid on 4 Digit Flight Numbers except Operated by
AC and QK or 3J
CO : May Only be Used to/from Houston and Cleveland
DL : Not Applicable on 5950--6119, 6550--9024
F9 : Not Applicable on 3000--6999
NW : Applicable on 1-12, 14-899, 920-1999, 2600-3699, 5603-5979
UA : Not Applicable on 1700--5199, 8000 and Above
Except Codeshare Flights with Skywest, Air Wisconsin and
Atlantic Coast Airlines
US : Not Applicable on 5600--8799

 

[Scarpozzi]

I did business with 1800cheapseats.com last year. They looked suspicious and ended up saving me about $50 a ticket. Just check them out with the BBB and do a whois on their website....it might save you cash in the long run. Maybe use a one-time credit card number with them though.

 

[Goi]

Yeah, the itenary format looks really weird. Here's what I was looking for, a one way flight from syracuse to singapore on june 8.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fare
Total Price: $510.00 + Taxes/Security Charge


1 Adult @ $510.00


Possible routing(s) for this fare
Departure: Syracuse (SYR) to Singapore (SIN) / Thu, 8-Jun-06
UA895 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD)
UA837 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO)
UA881 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT)
UA883 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT)
UA895 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and Hong Kong (HKG)
UA837 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT)
UA853 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT)
UA869 Connect in Chicago-O Hare (ORD) and San Francisco (SFO) and Hong Kong (HKG)


Rules & Restrictions

***Fuel Surcharge $75 each way***
Must issued within 14days of Booking.
If Reservation is Made within 14days prior to Departure, then 72 hours
from Booking.
1 Stopover Permitted for $100 expt Honolulu for $150

Change : $325+Fare Difference if Any
Cancellation -- $350 Penalty
E-Ticket Allowed. No PTA. No Upgrade Permitted.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The cheapest tickets I could find on priceline or orbitz were over $1000, which makes them twice as expensive.

SurgicalShark, I couldn't find your flight on priceline, but orbitz's price was over $3000.

I guess I'll try cheapseats too, as well as BBB.

 

[Goi]

Well I just checked cheapseats and the prices are around the same as priceline/orbitz. I couldn't find travel-depart in BBB, and a whois on www.travel-depart.com yielded the following information:

Domain Name.......... travel-depart.com
Creation Date........ 2001-07-24
Registration Date.... 2001-07-24
Expiry Date.......... 2008-07-24
Organisation Name.... Renaissance Resources, Inc.
Organisation Address. 5214 West Strong Street
Organisation Address.
Organisation Address. Chicago
Organisation Address. 60630
Organisation Address. IL
Organisation Address. UNITED STATES

Admin Name........... Motoki Kitamura
Admin Address........ 5214 West Strong Street
Admin Address........
Admin Address........ Chicago
Admin Address........ 60630
Admin Address........ IL
Admin Address........ UNITED STATES
Admin Email.......... mkitamura@renaissance21st.com
Admin Phone.......... 773481-2957
Admin Fax............

Tech Name............ Verio Hostmaster
Tech Address......... 5050 Blue Lake Dr.
Tech Address.........
Tech Address......... Boca Raton
Tech Address......... 33431
Tech Address......... FL
Tech Address......... UNITED STATES
Tech Email........... hostmaster@VERIO-HOSTING.COM
Tech Phone........... 888-663-6648
Tech Fax.............
Name Server.......... ns15a.boca15-verio.com
Name Server.......... ns15b.boca15-verio.com

 

[S Freud]

OP, did you decide to go with this place? What was the concensus on the credibility of this site? I know that I could save about $300 with this place, the weird part is that when I search the flight I want(Portland to Perth Australia) I don't have any connections which makes me a little suspicous. Listed under the possible routings is just PDX to PER AU, anyone else think this is kind of odd?

 

[Goi]

Yes, I actually got a ticket from them, and they seem legit. The price was as listed on the website, but with the addition of fuel surcharge and tax. My 1-way flight leaving next week came up to $600+, which is still very cheap compared to what priceline/orbitz came up with. The place is based somewhere in Chicago, and run by a Japanese. My advice would be to call them. I did, and I got a quote from them with detailed itenary really soon. Anyway, if you still see me posting by the end of next week you'll know I'm still alive and got to my destination

 

[psykohog]

This is the best place that I have found.

http://www.sidestep.com/air/

 

[S Freud]

The lowest fair I have found is at travel-depart.com I got a quote for $900 from portland to Perth. Thats cheaper then most of the places that I looked at by $200. I wasn't sure if the place was legit or not, I will give them a call and see what I can work out, I am just a little skeptical beucase the route plan says that its a direct flight, I've never heard of that.

 

[astrocase]

Originally posted by: psykohog
This is the best place that I have found.

http://www.sidestep.com/air/

Is that the newest "orbitz" type search engine?

I once got tickets from LAX to Moscow for $700 non-stop. Seemed very fishy to me but a friend recommended an agency that would only take cash. He'd used them. I wouldn't do it until I looked them up and found that they were operating out of the empire state building and were legit.

Turned out ok.

My point is that looks can decieve you and in this case cost you a lot more money if you pass them up because they aren't all fancy.

 

[S Freud]

Well it looks like I could save around $200 if I use this place, I can always just use my CC I guess to cover my a$$.

 

[psykohog]

I have used sidestep with no problems.

 

[mikeford]

Two kinds of risk, its a scam and everybody loses, or its just a very restricted low cost charter type thing where 95% of the travel is fine just a bit fussier in some details, but when it goes fubar its fubar. The sorts of protection you get when paying with a credit card do have real value, its just that we don't see it until there is a problem.

Please report back, I still have 3x RT LA to London I am shopping for.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: mikeford
Two kinds of risk, its a scam and everybody loses, or its just a very restricted low cost charter type thing where 95% of the travel is fine just a bit fussier in some details, but when it goes fubar its fubar. The sorts of protection you get when paying with a credit card do have real value, its just that we don't see it until there is a problem.

Please report back, I still have 3x RT LA to London I am shopping for.

Well I wouldn't be able to report back till around November thats when I plan to fly out.

 

[Goi]

I'll report back when I'm back in Singapore next Thursday

 

[freshspace]

Be careful you people. A few years ago, a college student, attending one of the Philadelphia area universities, was caught with a totally fradulent fare site. I remember a family totally robbed of their vacation because the tickets they purchased were fake. All of this was on the news. I'm not saying that this is not a legit business. Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer be aware.

 

[superHARD]

Well the unlocked lock is enough to make me think twice...or does it secure only the credit card info pages?

 

[RideFree]

Can't you get travel insurance for about $30?

 

[MOCKBA1]

Doesn't work for SVO.

 

[TrixAreForKids]

I tried searching a bunch of international flights on many dates and couldn't come up with anything. That site needs a lot of work.

 

[thoro86]

After hearing some opinions, this makes me worry... I want a cheap ticket to SE Asia for this winter (the average cost is $1200-1300)! But i want to have a safe flight too... T_T

 

[chronicdesi]

I would suggest checking out tripadvisor.com they have hooked me up with a lot of hotel rooms and flights. Good prices...