Group Air?

[Tara&Jas]

There are 11 - 14 of us booked for a back to back in November/December 2008 and I am wondering if we would be better off trying to book as a group or separately?

 

Any advice?

[FlyerTalker]

Contact the group sales department of all of the majors....you will get a personalized quotation, likely much better than you would get buying tickets individually. Let them know you are shopping other carriers.

[SailingDeanna]

I always book for the same amount of people you are talking about. It has always been cheaper going thru group reservations. It seems like they give about a 10 percent discount or more. It basically pays for the other taxes and fees. It is worth doing it. A bit more of a hassle because the group leader has to pay with one CC. And everyone else has to reimburse you.

[Tara&Jas]

Thanks so much for the advice... I will start making a list of airlines and numbers for group reservations.

 

SailingDeanna: do you find that it is better to book as far in advance as possible or should I wait a while?

[notentirelynormal]

I did that for my group on Air New Zealand for 18 of us. The price turned out to be about half of the posted price PLUS all I had to do was guarantee it with a deposit and the price was fixed. Then they let everyone pay with their individual credit cards. Then we got the exact seating I wanted (everyone close and next to each other) close to the front. There was no down side to it.

[SailingDeanna]

 

SailingDeanna: do you find that it is better to book as far in advance as possible or should I wait a while?

It really varies. It's too unpredictable to have a pattern. It seems like Southwest is higher in the beginning, and has great sales later. It seems Midwest Airlines is cheaper a few weeks after they open their bookings. I'm not that familiar with other airlines. It is such a gamble though.

 

The previous poster has been able to pay with separate CC, I've never been allowed to do that.