Dons, is this allowed, a reward for some help??

UOcUK Poopscoop · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:03

To put a post up at some point to offer a paypal reward of £10 for whoever can find me the cheapest direct return flight to a destination?

I need to book in a couple of days but all these "cheap" flight sites are like trying to negotiate a maze!

Only second time abroad you see and could really do with some assistance. The destination country is very popular and hoping some of the guys on here could help me find a good price.

Dont want to make such a post if it contravenes any rules though!

Cleeecooo · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:04

I would only book direct or through a well known company like thomas cook.
If your flight gets cancelled then they cant try to pass the buck.

Scuzi · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:06

Loads of people will do it for free. I spend a lot of time scouring various sources for flight prices.

Dates, departure point, destination and preferred times please.

d_brennen · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:07

Where from and where to? Airports that is

Detroit_Waves · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:07

Negotiate a maze --> Can't be arsed

Gaz1988 · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:10

UOcUK Poopscoop · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:14

Detroit_Waves said:
Negotiate a maze --> Can't be arsed

Thanks for the very constructive comment. Its not laziness, its about being totally out of my element in matters such as this.

To the other helpful posters, I wont give details of destination etc. until I am ready to book and have an ok from the Dons. For one thing, a price obtained tonight may well change by the time I actually book in 2 or 3 days... as Ive already seen by monitoring a few "quotes".

Biohazard · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:15

UOcUK Poopscoop said:
Thanks for the very constructive comment. Its not laziness, its about being totally out of my element in matters such as this.

To the other helpful posters, I wont give details of destination etc. until I am ready to book and have an ok from the Dons. For one thing, a price obtained tonight may well change by the time I actually book in 2 or 3 days... as Ive already seen by monitoring a few "quotes".

Scuzi is just going to do it for you, give him the details.

[TW]Fox · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:16

UOcUK Poopscoop said:
Thanks for the very constructive comment. Its not laziness, its about being totally out of my element in matters such as this.

To the other helpful posters, I wont give details of destination etc. until I am ready to book and have an ok from the Dons. For one thing, a price obtained tonight may well change by the time I actually book in 2 or 3 days... as Ive already seen by monitoring a few "quotes".

Just ask, people will find it for you. You don't need to go giving tenners out.

Alternatively just put the details into http://www.skyscanner.co.uk yourself because thats all most of us will do for you anyway

Biohazard · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:20

Then offline?

:confused:

Ok

UOcUK Poopscoop · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:29

Scuzi, i'll contact you in a couple of days if thats ok?

That skyscanner site came back with some interesting results though. Once the money is in my account i'll contact you via your Trust if thats ok?

Thanks for the help guys, its been appreciated.

UOcUK Poopscoop · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:40

Just sent you a message via Trust Scuzi.

Once again, thanks guys.

Detroit_Waves · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:42

How can you possibly be out of your element?

All sites require the bare minimum of information from you: Travelling from, to and the dates, I assume you know all of these.

You put that info in, the flights available come back, you pick the one you want.

Im sorry, but if my 12 year old nephew was able to book a flight for me last week ( I just gave him my card to do it from) well them im sure you are well within your element!

Van Hellseek · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:43

Why the need for private message? You're travelling to a red-light district aren't you?

Just post the details here and others will help. :confused:

UOcUK Poopscoop · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:59

Van Hellseek said:
Why the need for private message? You're travelling to a red-light district aren't you?

Just post the details here and others will help.

I should be so lucky! lol

No, its just that I cannot book for at least a couple of days and the prices could well have changed by then.

OK... look....

Idea is to depart from Heathrow/ Gatwick near the end of May, say the 27th. Flexible in dates by around a week. Intend to return, 12- 14 days later say (again a little flexible).

Destination Houston (either airport), direct flight, no extras apart from travel insurance if they offer a good deal. No need of car or hotel. Just flight and possibly travel insurance if a good price.

Would also consider a flight to other destinations in the midwest, Arizona etc. if a bargain price was available!

No interest in Florida/ NY etc.

As you can see, this is a very mid-life crisis, ad-hoc "thing" I am throwing together here!

Maccy · 5 Apr 2011 at 00:03

As mentioned in the thread, you don't need to go giving out money - people are (usually!) willing to help a fellow member

Detroit_Waves · 5 Apr 2011 at 00:24

UOcUK Poopscoop said:
I should be so lucky! lol

No, its just that I cannot book for at least a couple of days and the prices could well have changed by then.

OK... look....

Idea is to depart from Heathrow/ Gatwick near the end of May, say the 27th. Flexible in dates by around a week. Intend to return, 12- 14 days later say (again a little flexible).

Destination Houston (either airport), direct flight, no extras apart from travel insurance if they offer a good deal. No need of car or hotel. Just flight and possibly travel insurance if a good price.

Would also consider a flight to other destinations in the midwest, Arizona etc. if a bargain price was available!

No interest in Florida/ NY etc.

As you can see, this is a very mid-life crisis, ad-hoc "thing" I am throwing together here!

My personal experience and advice would be to not fly into Houston. I have done so twice before, and both times have been horrible experiences. Both times I was held in immigration for close to two hours, missing both connecting flights. My flights were under different circumstances, as I was staying longer than two weeks, and I fly to the states pretty frequently, so Im probably much more likely to be questioned I think, but still for every airport I have flown into, this is the only one that has given me any trouble in the sort. This doesnt mean you will certainly get hassle, chances are you wont have any problems at all, just my experience. I would personally take a look at Phoenix, however, if you are going without much to do, and are willing to go anywhere, im not sure Phoenix would be my first choice. Its a nice city, but there isnt a great deal to do there or see to be honest, and the same goes for Scottsdale just down the road. Some very cute places including Sedona and Flagstaff a bit of a drive away though.

UOcUK Poopscoop · 5 Apr 2011 at 00:25

Maccy said:
As mentioned in the thread, you don't need to go giving out money - people are (usually!) willing to help a fellow member

Yep, I suppose im getting a little jaded in my old age.

UOcUK Poopscoop · 5 Apr 2011 at 00:30

Detroit_Waves said:
My personal experience and advice would be to not fly into Houston. I have done so twice before, and both times have been horrible experiences. Both times I was held in immigration for close to two hours, missing both connecting flights. My flights were under different circumstances, as I was staying longer than two weeks, and I fly to the states pretty frequently, so Im probably much more likely to be questioned I think, but still for every airport I have flown into, this is the only one that has given me any trouble in the sort. This doesnt mean you will certainly get hassle, chances are you wont have any problems at all, just my experience. I would personally take a look at Phoenix, however, if you are going without much to do, and are willing to go anywhere, im not sure Phoenix would be my first choice. Its a nice city, but there isnt a great deal to do there or see to be honest, and the same goes for Scottsdale just down the road. Some very cute places including Sedona and Flagstaff a bit of a drive away though.

Thanks for the advice mate.

I will certainly consider other destinations but Houston is first on the list at the moment... though for no particular reasons in truth!

As for stuff to do? I'll be doing this on a budget, staying at youth hostels and the like. "Stuff to do will" will just be chatting to the locals, walks, a bit of sightseeing. Its all new to me you see, so just a wonder around a city or small town will be a fantastic experience for me.

In short, im easily pleased as far as this little venture goes!

Detroit_Waves · 5 Apr 2011 at 00:34

Although trying to keep within a budget, do you have any plans on hiring a car at all?

The only reason I say so, is all of my smaller trips through the midwest, all the best times Ive had, and all the best people Ive always met have been out of the big cities, and just in small random towns ive stopped for lunch at on a 45 minute drive out of the city, and ended up holed there for a few days.

Ive never actually been in houston longer than a connecting flight, but IVe been to both Dallas and Austin, and had cracking times in and around both.

Im sure youll have a great time wherever you end up though,and youll be able to survive on a small budget fairly easily!