Hello and Question about best place to buy Airfare

[MalibuBob]

Greetings all - I met my wife in Novosibirsk and married back in 2003. We've had our ups and downs but everything worked out.

That said.. I have been through practically everything you may be about to go through. If you have a question, let me know.

I need something from you all, and that is a good source for decent airfare from LAX to Novosibirsk in May 2014.

Right now I find round trip tickets on Aeroflot for about $1400 at a low. (coach class)..

My wife needs to go visit her mom and the kids are grown and need to see their grandmother (she is 80) so I'm biting the bullet and buying tickets...

Need 3 that are fully changeable for a reasonable fee. She will be there for 3 months and the kids for 1 month. I'm open to a couple of hops at different airports to save money.

Let me know (send me an email or PM) and glad to see this forum still exists. Thanks!

Bob

[Daveman]

Hey Bob,
Welcome (back) to the Asylum. 

As for airfare there are a plethora of options.  My personal favorite is:
http://brandnewtravel.com/airline_tickets.html

800-790-8960

[JayH]

Bob,
I have a price of $1222 at first look.
If you can pm me your precise hoped dates and indicate flexibility on dates-- I can get some precise info for you.

Added later!!=== down to $1153 .
From time to time airlines do promotions and offer discounts -- I think a target of about $950 may be possible here.
The cheapest fares may have a cost involved to change-- but even so- it can still be cheaper even after incurring cost to change.

[MalibuBob]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll visit the link suggested and also contact you Jay to find out what might be available.

[Daveman]

Also Bob,

Don't hesitate to call the phone number. They may be able to find some options not available through a normal internet search.  They've surprised me a couple of time. 

[MalibuBob]

No problem there.. I ain't skeered... Ya gavaru! 

It's funny to me that I'm about 70% fluent (listening) and 20% (speaking) and I owe it all to listening to my wife scream and cuss at the kids when they made her mad..

[Daveman]

Hah! so you'll be able to cuss at them when you call.    That should work to your advantage!

Did you really learn solely from your wife? or independent study as well along the way?

[MalibuBob]

Hah! so you'll be able to cuss at them when you call.    That should work to your advantage!

Did you really learn solely from your wife? or independent study as well along the way?

In all seriousness it was just through listening to conversation. I have picked it up fairly well. Never cracked a book. I did study all the travel phrases before I went.. forgot them all promptly.

Yes, I can cuss and get in a fight in a heart beat.

[MalibuBob]

Just an update ... the "BrandNewTravel" link produced a price that was a little higher than Orbitz, so perhaps nothing special there. They keep calling but the prices are not changing.. counterproductive to a point.

There have to be some deals out there.. just have to find them.

[JayH]

Bob-- most likely the cheapest price will be  a special on the LA-MOW  leg. The MOW-NOV leg is showing at about $290-- at some time it could be "on sale" price or at least some specials.I would look on the airlines that service that route websites for the best price--or at least a comparitive one.
It is often possible to get a price matched/bettered somewhere else-once you have a price.
I would also look closely at total travel times-cheapest may not be the "best" !!

[jmana]

This site: http://matrix.itasoftware.com/#session=5674ac09-b2ab-4571-8ccd-51fe28b856c1 is awesome for finding the best deals on when to fly and which airline.  You can't book through it, it's just a software company that the airlines use, but you can literally find the cheapest flight with this website. 

[TheTraveler]

make sure to book all flights thru a travel agent or through the international carrier airline.

that way if a late-arriving flight breaks the connections, the international carrier will be responsible for fixing the problem. (new tickets, hotel if necessary, etc).

[calmissile]

make sure to book all flights thru a travel agent or through the international carrier airline.

that way if a late-arriving flight breaks the connections, the international carrier will be responsible for fixing the problem. (new tickets, hotel if necessary, etc).

Agree!!  Booking seperate segments with individual airlines can be a nightmare if there is a problem.
Good advice!

[jmana]

Agree!!  Booking seperate segments with individual airlines can be a nightmare if there is a problem.
Good advice!

Hmmm, but it can save you a boatload of $$$!  I wonder if trip insurance would cover if you miss a flight due to a previous flight being majorly delayed?  Probably not, right?  I guess if the cost difference isn't too much, then book with the same company at the same time, but for me if it's a price difference of say, 33%, I'd leave plenty of time between flights and chance it.