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Northwest Travel Planning
Cheap Airfares
(page 3 of 3)
List with Go Northwest!
Disclaimer:
This information is provided as a service to Go Northwest! visitors and no guarantee is
made as to its completeness or correctness. All information should be independently
verified.
BUYING TICKETS
Here are some issues of which you might want to
be aware, when dealing with the web
sites that sell air tickets.
Booking process
Usually online booking only, so no "person-contact". You will
want a web site which offers excellent security and privacy. You will also want a
web site that is user-friendly. For example one that gives pricing information
before you need to make a selection from a series of flight choices. Or, one that
saves your searches and allows easy changes of itinerary. Economy
Travel 
has a user-friendly interface.
Ticket type
Do you prefer electronic tickets, known as "e-tickets" or traditional
paper tickets? Tickets are often only issued electronically. A way to see if
paper tickets are offered is to check for home-delivery if that is your preference.
There are pros and cons with both types.
- Paper tickets.
Need to be treated like cash. Losing a paper ticket can be costly.
They might attract a fee if you want to pick the ticket up at the
airport.
Not as readily available and convenient as e-tickets.
- E-tickets. Their main drawback
is that
the computer system in which they reside cannot always be flexible enough to deal with
changing circumstances in the "real" world. For example when a passenger
cancels an e-ticket, it can disappear altogether before the passenger is reimbursed.
Another problem is the computer systems used by the various airlines can't
"talk" to each other, although the airlines are working to resolve this.
In the meantime passengers can have difficulty moving between airlines, for example in the
case of delayed or cancelled flights, or even connecting flights.
They still do not offer access to the full range of carriers
and itineraries.
Time frame
Check whether there is a limited time frame between booking, paying for and using the
ticket. This is often the case with airlines posting last minute bargains.
For example, specials are often posted on the Wednesday before the weekend they are good for.
There might be certain required days of the week for departures and returns.
Make sure all these suit you.
Additional costs
Check whether quoted prices include additional mandatory costs. For
example:
- tax charges such as US$2 on each flight
segment
- other airport taxes
- passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to
US$12
- ticket processing charges
- fuel surcharges
Changing your mind
Check whether the ticket is refundable. Online "specials" often are
not. How long will you have to wait for your money if you do get a refund?
If you can cancel a ticket, check whether there are penalties for doing
so. In the case of consolidators, this could be up to half of the
ticket price. You
can sometimes change flight schedules for an administrative fee; usually US$75.
Multiple specials
If you put several web specials together will they be ticketed separately?
Frequent flyer programs
Will the purchase go towards your frequent flyer account? Sometimes bonus miles for
booking online apply. If using an airline's own web site, can you enroll in its
frequent flyer program online? Can you access your account online?
Choice of airline
Related to the above is the issue of whether or not you are allowed to choose
your carrier. Online travel auctions allow you to name your price, but you might not
be able to name your airline. And as mentioned above, you might want to check
whether your ticket (paper or e-ticket) will be honored by another carrier in the event of
flight delays and cancellations. Can you risk disruptions to your itinerary?
Payment
Look for the site's customer service section describing security, privacy, returns policy
and guarantees. When purchasing from any site, avoid those requesting cash.
Cash on delivery or credit card are the best options (often credit card is the only method
offered). With credit card you can dispute charges if goods are misrepresented or
don't arrive. In the USA, under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your bank cannot hold you
liable for more than $50 of fraudulent charges. You will probably get credit card
charges of 2-5% added to the price of your ticket, but it is an easy form of insurance.
When sending your credit card number you will
want the transmission scrambled so it cannot be read by unauthorized parties. This
is done using security protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Secure Electronic
Transaction ™ (SET). Ensure both your browser and the merchant with whom you're
dealing, support security protocols. For example, search under “security”
in the browser's "help" file, and look for merchant security information under
headings like "Help," "Information" or "About us."
If you are buying your ticket though a third party using check or money order,
after booking but before paying, call the airline directly to ensure you
have a confirmed booking.
When
paying for your ticket, note the confirmation number, and if possible get
a copy of the itinerary to print out and take with you.
For auction sites check whether they will supply
the goods via an intermediary who holds both the money and the purchased item in
"escrow" before sending these on to buyer and seller. Auction fraud accounts for nearly nine out of every 10
Internet-related complaints filed with the National Consumer League's National Fraud
Information Center and in the case of disputes between buyer and seller, the auction house
is not accountable. Read more at AuctionWatch.com,
and the Better Business Bureau.
Last, but by no means least... Credentials
When booking any kind of travel service online, make sure the company is who you think
they are. (The law recently intervened in a dispute between "quikbook.com"
and "quickbook.com".) Look for contact information in addition to an email
address, that is, a physical address and/or phone number. Verify the contact
information by calling them, or, by checking with directory assistance.
You can also find out who is behind a "dot
com" domain (for example, economytravel.com) by searching for it on the
Network Solutions web site.
Their database only includes businesses who have registered their domain through them, but
Network Solutions is one of the larger registration companies.
Also look for industry affiliations, company
background, and areas for user feedback. If you are booking through a
travel agent, look for membership in
organizations such as the American Society of Travel
Agents (ASTA). If you are booking through a tour operator (they
usually specialize in package deals), look for membership in
organizations such as the United States Tour
Operators Association (USTOA). Our affiliate, Economy
Travel , is fully licensed by the International Air Transport
Association (IATA).
Check up on a company through the American
consumer protection agency, the Better
Business Bureau. Check what others are saying by doing a search on the name of
the web site in newsgroup search engines such as Deja.com, Remarq or Talkway. I did
this for our affiliate, Economy Travel, and it is nice to see that people are
recommending Economy Travel to each other. The only complaint is that Economy
Travel has a smaller selection of airlines than some other ticket sellers. The
following links show what people are saying about Economy Travel, via Deja.com:
Deja.com
message: Re: Air Tickets to India
Deja.com
message: Re: Best airline prices on the internet?
Deja.com
message: Re: Best internet travel agency?
Deja.com
message: Re: Does Anyone Know About Airline Consolidators?
Deja.com
message: Re: Airlineprices
Deja.com also has a section where their users
have provided feedback about their experiences of buying airfares online. We
interpret the "no news" about Economy Travel to be "good news".
But you can read about other online ticket sellers at: Deja.com
ratings category: Online Transportation Reservation Sites In summary, we
would describe Economy
Travel as small, but good value, and we are comfortable to be
promoting them on Go Northwest! We look forward to any feedback you have
about their service.
MORE USEFUL
LINKS
Aviation Consumer Action Project
A non-profit organization which seeks an increase in air safety and
security while protecting consumer rights. The project was founded by
consumer advocate Ralph Nader in 1971.
eComplaints.com
This consumer web site has a section on travel, including airlines and car
rentals. Find out how companies are doing, how to post a complaint, compare
your complaint with others, and learn from other people's experiences.
Federal Trade
Commission
Obtain advice, report complaints.
The Fly-Rights: a consumer
guide to air travel web page is packed with advice pertinent to both the online and
offline consumer.
PassengerRights.com
is a service which helps consumers who have received bad service (such as from airlines,
hotel, travel agents car rentals) to make their complaint. They even have a section
on getting the lowest airfare, under "Research your rights".
U.S.
Department of Transport, Aviation Consumer Protection Division,
Information on making a complaint about airlines.
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Please report
broken links to:
info@gonorthwest.com
Northwest
Books
from . . .
Go Northwest!
Bookstore
Best selection of books on the
Northwest.
Click
here!
Air
Travel's Bargain Basement: The International Directory of
Consolidators, Bucket Shops and Other Sources of Discount Travel
by Kelly Monaghan. November 1999, 1st edition, 128 pages, Paperback,
(non-fiction). Over 300 sources to help you find the right wholesale specialist.
Order
now...
Discount
Airfares - The Insider's Guide: How to Save Up to 75% on
Airline Tickets
by George E. Hobart. January 2000, 2nd edition, 256 pages, Paperback,
(non-fiction)
A variety of strategies, with many phone numbers
and Internet addresses, for finding the best deals in many different
traveling situations.
Order
now...
Fly
Free, Stay Cheap!: 'How-To' Strategies and Tips for Free Flights
& Cheap Travel
by Vicki Mills. June 1998, 78 pages, Paperback,
(non-fiction). Learn how to travel to the world's most expensive destinations on a
shoestring budget.
Order
now...
The Worldwide
Guide to Cheap Airfares: How to Travel the World Without Breaking the Bank
by Michael William McColl. March 1998, 6th edition, Paperback, (non-fiction)
Order now...
 Visit our affiliate partner,
Economy Travel
,
for unique discounts on airfares from over 20 airlines. Their search forms are
relatively easy to use, and are a great way to compare prices across airlines.
Domestic fares also available. We always want to receive your email about your experience of their service.
 Adventure Guide to the Pacific Northwest
by Don Young, Marjorie Young
April 1999,
Hunter
Publishing, Paperback, 360 pages, (non-fiction)
Order now...
Beachcomber's
Guide to Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest:
Includes Vancouver, Washington,
Oregon, and Northern California
by Thomas M. Niesen, Michael K. Kunz (Photographer), David I. Wood (Illustrator)
May 1997, Hardcover, 220
pages, (field guide). Describes the unusual creatures and
remarkable features that abound in the marine habitats, such as sandy beaches,
estuaries, bays, lagoons, and rocky intertidal zones.
Order now...
 Best Places to
Kiss in the Northwest:
A Romantic Travel Guide
by Linnea Lundgren, Laura Kraemer. December 1998, Paperback, 7th edition, 576 pages, (non-fiction)
Using privacy, ambience, and location (or view or setting) as their criteria, each spot is
reliably rated for its romantic appeal.
Order now...
 Best Places
to Stay in the Pacific Northwest
by Marilyn McFarlane, Bruce Shaw.
July 1998, Paperback, 5th edition, 500 pages, (non-fiction).
Order now...
The
Chocolate Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest
by Bobbie J. Hasselbring
October 1999, Paperback, 320 pages, (guidebook).
More than 400 reviews of restaurants, bakeries, ice creameries, and
chocolate shops that make great chocolate products in Oregon, Washington and
British Columbia, as well as places to stay.
Order now...
Encounters
With a Distant Land:
Exploration and the Great Northwest
by Carlos A. Schwantes (Editor), Evelyne Pickett (Editor)
September 1994, Hardcover, 232 pages,
(non-fiction).
Essays from an August 1988 symposium analyze individual nations' involvement in
exploration, the role of Native Americans in the encounter experience, artwork resulting
from expeditions, and the process of publishing exploration history.
Order now...
Fodor's Bed
& Breakfast Pacific Northwest:
Delightful Places to Stay, Great Things to Do
When You Get There by Caragh Rockwood (Editor).
March 1999, Paperback, 4th edition, (non-fiction).
Writers with lots of experience in judging inns tell you what's wonderful about each spot
they inspect (fireplaces and four-poster beds, hot tubs and antique armoires, gourmet
breakfasts and lavish teas), and advise you on which rooms to reserve.
Order now...
Hiking
Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest
by Evie Litton.
September 1998, Paperback,
revised edition, 344 pages, (guidebook)
Half-day to multi-day tours to
popular and isolated springs. Includes Idaho. Well-researched
guide features driving directions, highway access to trailheads, and map
coordinates.
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Going
Places: Family Getaways in the Pacific Northwest
by Ann Bergman, Rosi Williamson
May 2000, Paperback, 4th
edition, 580 pages,
(non-fiction)
Order now...
The Good
Rain
by Timothy Egan.
December 1991, Vintage Books, Paperback, 254
pages, (non-fiction). Seattle correspondent for The New York Times journeys through the Pacific Northwest, from
manicured gardens in Vancouver, B.C., to the precipitous peaks and brooding volcanoes of
the Cascade Mountains.
Order now...
 Green Collar
Jobs:
Working in the New Northwest
by Alan T. Durning
June 1999, Paperback, 114 pages, (non-fiction)
Job growth in the Northwest, in the form of the high
tech boom, software and other business services, health care, tourism, and a rocketing
stock market, has spurred a strong economy that is gentler to the environment. But the
Northwest's urban consumers are now a serious threat to the region's quality of life. Find
out what the challenges are for a Northwest struggling to adapt.
Order now...
Hidden
Pacific Northwest
by Eric Lucas.
May 2000, Paperback, 5th edition,
592 pages, (non-fiction). From the region's best-known
destinations, to quirky gems.
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Hiking
the Great Northwest: 55 Greatest Trails in Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Northern California, British Columbia, and the
Canadia by Harvey Manning, Vicky Spring, Ira Spring, Vicki Spring, Ara Spring.
December 1998, Paperback, 2nd edition, 208 pages, (non-fiction).
Showcasing the best of the spectacular,
unspoiled Northwest.
Order now...
Hot
Springs & Hot Pools of the Northwest
by Marjorie Gersh-Young.
January 1999, Paperback, revised edition,
220 pages, (guidebook). Covers Alaska, Canada, Oregon,
Washington, Wyoming, and Montana. Includes written directions, photographs
of each place, GPS coordinates, handicap access, clothing optional or
required, nearby campgrounds and facilities, descriptions of surroundings.
Order now...
James McNair's
Salmon Cookbook
by James McNair, Patricia Brabant (Photographer).
November 1987, Paperback, 96 pages,
(non-fiction). If they are not saving them, Pacific Northwesters are
eating them. Once you have traveled to the Pacific Northwest you will appreciate a
salmon cookbook with nostalgia.
Order now...
Misplaced Blame:
The Real Roots of Population Growth
by Alan Thein Durning, Christopher D. Crowther, Northwest Environment Watch
July 1997, Paperback, 93 pages, (non-fiction)
Analyses the causes of population growth
in the Pacific Northwest and comes to the conclusion that when we take
care of people, population growth will take care of itself.
Order now...
Museums of
the Northwest:
Discover the Best Collections in Washington, Oregon, and Lower
British Columbia by Harriet Baskas.
June 1999, (Sasquatch Books), 320 pages (non-fiction)
Order now...
National
Audubon Society Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest
by National Audubon Society, Peter Alden
May 1998,
1st edition, Paperback, 448 pages, (field guide). All-purpose field guide to the region's
flora, fauna, and geography. Learn about this diverse complex of
ecosystems known as the Pacific Northwest - alpine, desert, and coastal
areas. Use the guide to spot 1,000s of the region's wildflowers, trees,
mosses, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, mammals, and more.
Order now...
The
Nine Nations of North America
by Joel Garreau.
1981, out of print, (non-fiction)
Order now...
Northwest
Bounty:
The Extraordinary Foods and Wonderful Cooking of the Pacific
Northwest by Schuyler Ingle, Sharon Kramis, Barbara Kafka.
September 1999, revised edition,
Paperback, 304 pages, (non-fiction)
Well-chosen recipe selection framed in a
set of skillfully crafted essays full of culinary interest makes this book a
good introduction to the region through its food.
Order
now...
On the Road
Around the Pacific Northwest:
The Fly-Drive Guide to Oregon, Washington and
British Columbia by Fred Gebhart, Maxine Cass.
June 1998, Paperback, 372 pages,
(non-fiction).
Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia are treated as
a single destination, linked by a network of recommended routes.
Order now...
Outlaws
of the Pacific Northwest
by Bill Gulick, Wayne Cornell (Editor)
June 2000, Paperback, 216 pages, (non-fiction).
Gulick believes the bad men and women of
the Northwest never have received the recognition of their counterparts in
other parts of the West, although their exploits often exceeded those of
better known outlaws.
Order now...
Pacific
Northwest:
(Compass American guide)
by John Doerper, Greg Vaugn (Photographer)
March 1999, Paperback, 2nd edition, (non-fiction).
Doerper knows the region well and manages to weave in apple, cheese, and oyster tours of
Washington; a guide to Northwest wineries; literary and historical extracts; as well as
topical essays on subjects ranging from potlatch giveaways to Columbia River explorations.
Order now...
Pacific
Northwest:
an interpretive history
by
Carlos Arnaldo Schwantes.
June 1996, Hardcover or Paperback, 570 pages, (non-fiction).
The economic and social history of the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) from
the time of the first white-Indian contact to 1987. A comprehensive and balanced
history which demonstrates that the region is indeed distinctive. Excellent text for
learning more.
Order now...
Pacific
Northwest & Alaska on the Loose
University of California, Berkeley, and associated students.
February 1995,
2nd edition, Paperback, ? pages, (non-fiction)
A guide for those wanting to
travel on the cheap in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
Order now...
Pacific
Northwest Berry Book:
the complete guide by Bob Krumm, James Krumm.
July 1998, Paperback, 132 pages,
(non-fiction)
Tips and quips on how to harvest and enjoy the berries in northern California, Oregon,
Washington, British Columbia, Idaho and northern Nevada. Makes a great souvenir or
present as you tell tales of the variety of pies to be found on dessert menus!
Order now...
Pacific
Northwest Road Atlas and Drivers Guide:
Oregon, Washington, Southwestern British
Columbia and Western Idaho: 2000 Edition. July 1999, Thomas Brothers Maps, Paperback, 384 pages, (non-fiction).
Order now...
 Pacific
Northwest Travel-Smart
by Jena MacPherson. April 1999, John Muir Publications, Paperback, 2nd
edition, 272 pages, (non-fiction). Includes scenic routes off the beaten path, and maps out a one- to three-week route to the
best of Washington and Oregon.
Order now...
Passage
to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings
by Jonathan Raban. November 1999, Hardcover, 448 pages,
(travelogue). A narrative of solitary travel through a vast and chilly
landscape. Raban, a master travel writer and Londoner resident in Seattle describes
his sailing trip up the Inside Passage from the Puget Sound to the Alaska Panhandle.
Full of literary and historical references, for example the voyages of explorer
George Vancouver two centuries before.
Order
now...
Purple
Flat Top: In Pursuit of a Place
by Jack Nisbet. April 1996, Paperback,
196 pages, (narrative). The title sounds like a punk haircut, but it refers to an inland area of
the Northwest spanning northeastern Washington and the western region of
Montana. Resident, Nisbet's perceptive narratives are based on
newspaper columns he once wrote for the Chewelah Independent.
Order
now...
Quick Escapes
Pacific Northwest:
32 Weekend Trips from Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver,
B.C. by Marilyn McFarlane, Christine Cunningham.
August 1999, Paperback, 4th edition, 336 pages, (non-fiction).
Includes: destination highlights, activities for morning and afternoon, choice restaurants
and lodgings, special events and festivals, shopping, local sources of information,
detailed, helpful maps.
Order now...
Rough Guide
Pacific Northwest:
Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon
by Tim Jepson, Phil Lee. July 1998, Paperback, 2nd edition, 656 pages, 59 maps, (non-fiction).
For the dynamic cities of Seattle and Vancouver, you'll find the
stylish and critical hotel, restaurant, club and bar reviews invaluable.
For those seeking adventure, the Rough Guide offers expert guidance into
the great outdoors, including hiking trails and detailed maps.
Order now...
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