Need Tips for Booking Last Minute Flight to USA & France

Bubbleshark on 13/07/2019 - 19:21
Last edited 14/07/2019 - 00:48 by 1 other user

Hi,

I would like to know if anyone ever had to book last minute flight, if so how is the smarter way around it?

To make the story short, I need to go to USA ASAP as someone in my family isn’t doing well in term of health … And as a matter of bad luck, I need to go to France to see my father who is suffering from heart and kidney failure so he can’t travel..

So far, my trip looks like that: Brisbane, 17th July > Tampa Florida, 19th of August > Paris, 23rd of September > Brisbane

I realize it’s last minute and going to cost me about $3300 (quote from Flight Centre), but even if you can’t buy time, is there a way to optimize the cost?

Thanks for any input

EDIT: I would like to thank everyone for their input, especially holdenmg and mustkill. I have booked my flights and I wish for everyone to enjoy their time to the fullest with their loved ones.

Travel Airfare

Comments

  • WreckTangle on 13/07/2019 - 19:25

    May be cheaper in reverse order?

    • Bubbleshark on 13/07/2019 - 19:32

      I need to go to USA first as the person just got admitted to hospital

  • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2019 - 20:26

    Can be cheaper adding a leg to get around the world ticket pricing.

  • holdenmg on 13/07/2019 - 20:26
    +5

    Hi,

    Using Momondo https://www.momondo.com.au/

    I get the following… Total AUD $2938

    BNE to LAX Virgin Australia 7
    LAX to TPA Virgin Australia 6720 operated by Delta

    TPA to DEN Frontier Airlines Flight 291
    DEN to CDG Norwegian Air Shuttle Flight 7176

    CDG to AUH Virgin Australia 7038 operated by Etihad Airways
    AUH to MEL Virgin Australia 7059 operated by Etihad Airways
    MEL to BNE Virgin Australia 309

    Alternative use Flightfox.com

    • Bubbleshark on 13/07/2019 - 21:10
      +1

      Thanks so much, I'm a bit in a panic about the situation and I'm really grateful for your help.

      • holdenmg on 13/07/2019 - 21:17
        +1

        No worries… let me just check and see if there is a way with less Stop-overs… still using Momondo.com.au as a search engine.

        Shorter/Better: AUD $2946

        BNE to LAX Virgin Australia 7
        LAX to TPA Virgin Australia 6720 operated by Delta

        TPA to DEN Frontier Airlines Flight 291
        DEN to CDG Norwegian Air Shuttle Flight 7176

        CDG to AUH Virgin Australia 7038 operated by Etihad Airways

        14h 55m stop in Abu Dhabi (AUH)

        AUH to BNE Virgin Australia 7123 operated by Etihad Airways

        https://docdro.id/uuvvNtu
        https://docdro.id/ukrZeRZ

  • mustkill on 13/07/2019 - 22:00
    +1

    Definitely not ideal but it's cheapest @ $2800ish with budget airlines and loads of stops:
    https://kay.ac/BARKhb

    Much better option @ $2946 here:
    https://kay.ac/69Xe4H

  • holdenmg on 13/07/2019 - 22:35
    +1

    Also: See http://www.abudhabiairport.ae/english/airport-information/tr… if you want a Transit Visa to spend the day in Abu Dhabi.

  • bobbified on 13/07/2019 - 22:46
    +1

    Seriously, if you need to be there asap, is the extra few hundred dollars here and there really going to matter?

    If you try to go budget, you probably won't be taking the quickest flights or you could be booking yourself into short transit times where you could risk missing connecting flights or budget airline conditions - all of which will probably cause you a lot of extra (and unnecessary) stress during your travels.

    Personally, I would be booking the flights that fit my own schedule and reasonably priced instead of trying to go for the cheapest.

    Fingers crossed that nothing bad will happen, but I would never forgive myself if "I missed something" because I was delayed because I was trying to save a few hundred dollars.

    Safe travels and I sincerely hope everything works out well for your family.

    • Bubbleshark on 14/07/2019 - 00:10
      +2

      I totally get what you mean and I do agree. But an expense of $3000 wasn't really forecasted and I'm trying to be more savy rather than cutting cost. Everyone who helped actually managed to find decent airlines without extensive layover and I can't say enough how grateful I am to them. You make a valid point, money can't take back the time that is lost.

      • bobbified on 14/07/2019 - 01:57
        +2

        I'm actually speaking as the person who, two months ago, "wasn’t doing well" while family and friends came to visit. A big part of me felt quite stressed from knowing that I'm causing this extra stress on the people close to me (ie, people taking time off work and/or traveling longer distances to come see me and of course their worrying and distress).

        I obviously made it through, but I saw and heard about the lengths that each person went to and I feel deeply appreciative of all their efforts.

        • Bubbleshark on 14/07/2019 - 09:21
          +2

          Good to hear that you are better

  • Bubbleshark on 14/07/2019 - 00:49
    +1

    Thank you everyone, one thing less to worry about

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