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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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Best selection of books on the Northwest.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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)
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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.

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kiss.jpg (8242 bytes)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.
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bestplaces.jpg (6806 bytes)Best Places to Stay in the Pacific Northwest
by Marilyn McFarlane, Bruce Shaw. July 1998, Paperback, 5th edition, 500 pages, (non-fiction).
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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)
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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.
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The Nine Nations of North America
by Joel Garreau. 1981, out of print, (non-fiction)
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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.
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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
.
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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.

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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!
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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).
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smart.jpg (6112 bytes)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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
.
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