Anyone priceline.com recently for the Fest??

[nealbook]

I am trying to get my brother, a Jazzfest virgin, out for the first weekend of the fest. One stumbling block so far is the cost of airfare. Has anyone done the priceline thing recently and, if so, how were your results? Trying to get round trip from Phoenix to NOLA 4/23-4/27.

Thanks for any info!

[swag]

You can try Priceline, but I suspect flights are so full that you won't get much of a deal. Best bet might be to try alternate airports: for your dates, I see $600+ into New Orleans, but just $267 into Baton Rouge (70 miles away). Add on a rental car and youre still saving, or if really on a budget, Greyhound.

[MormonMatthew]

The couple of times I flew into Baton Rouge (to save $$$) there was a shuttle service that took you from the airport (Baton Rouge) to the Amtrak station in downtown New Orleans (just a little over an hour ride) for about 25 bucks.

This was several years back, but it was a better choice for me than renting a car would have been, and even with the shuttle fee, it was much, much cheaper than flying directly into N.O. without the 21 day advance ticket discount. (this was a last min. Mardi Gras trip I threw together)...........


Swag is the Priceline authority, and Baton Rouge really is an easy option!!!

[Zenwinemaster]

Mobile, Alabama is another airport that is an easy drive -- about 2 hours. (Baton Rouge is only an hour or so). Car rentals in most places can be found at a bargain because of the economy.

My girlfriend (now wife) and I had two years in a row where our flights through Dallas were canceled because of high winds in Texas and had to fly into Mobile instead. It's one of those tiny airports where you can be in your car 10 minutes after you get off the plane.

[nealbook]

Thanks everyone! Have generally been a lurker (and sometimes poster) on the boards for years, but I always know I will get good information if needed. Have a great Fest!!

[brush]

I used Priceline and got a flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans for $285 RT.
I'm flying in on Friday the 24th, get in around 11pm, too late for Friday's Fest, but early enough for to see a club show. It's a direct flight from LA. My return flight is also in the evening on thursday, so I'll be able to go to the fest that day. I have been searching for a cheap flight since October, I finally decided to try Priceline and it worked. I think if you try for dates that aren't too popular, like Thursday 4/23 and Monday 4/27 or 5/4, it might work for you too.

[Belle]

Thanks everyone! Have generally been a lurker (and sometimes poster) on the boards for years, but I always know I will get good information if needed. Have a great Fest!!

Your a senior member sweets!

[nealbook]

Your a senior member sweets!

True. But I am a senior member with 105 posts. Compared to you (and many others' whose posts I read regularly), I am a junior senior member!

But I also will cop to being part of the crew who was front row at that Robert Randolph show at the Saenger Theater a number of years ago thanks to my lurking one night at the right time. This board always has done me well!

[stlbarb]

True. But I am a senior member with 105 posts. Compared to you (and many others' whose posts I read regularly), I am a junior senior member!

But I also will cop to being part of the crew who was front row at that Robert Randolph show at the Saenger Theater a number of years ago thanks to my lurking one night at the right time. This board always has done me well!

i think the term is Associate Senior Member. ;)

[nealbook]

i think the term is Associate Senior Member. ;)

I can accept that!

[Jordan]

How about rental cars -- I'm getting killed all over the place any advice?

[freebo]

Associate Senior Member in Training... W00t!

[Lit]

How about rental cars -- I'm getting killed all over the place any advice?

I got a great deal on Hotwire a month or so ago, after watching for several weeks and waiting for a good price. I registered with Hotwire at the time so that I would be notified via e-mail when there was a price drop for rentals in New Orleans during my selected dates. Because of the number in our krewe I needed a minivan, and I had to go through several price drops that did not affect the minivan rates before finally getting one that did, and as result I saved more than $200 over the lowest rates I was being offered previously. After I purchased I learned that the company is Hertz.

[GratefulDawg]

I just booked a flight from N.Y. (LGA) to N.O. through Priceline for $230 for the second weekend (Wed. to Tues.).

Woo! I didn't think I was gonna make it this year!

[MormonMatthew]

Its shaping up to be one of the most affordable (at least for discount airfare and hotel) Fests in many, many years.......

Congrats on your bargaining skills!!!

[brush]

I haven't found many deals on flights this year, at least from LA. Hotel Rooms have been pretty amazing. Not quite as low as the $35 Hyatt Days, but still pretty good.

[MormonMatthew]

I got the lowest airfare I have ever found in my 13 years attending Fest......

Hotels also seem to be much less than in years past (though I have been staying with friends for a lot of the last several years, so I may be a bit off on that aspect).

I think the global economy is going to hit travel/tourism even harder than it has to this point; I am still wondering just how much Fest attendance will be down from the last few years.

For the sake of New Orleans economy, I hope for a great turnout---For personal reasons, if the night shows are no longer quite as oversold, overcrowded and overpriced, I will be just fine with that!!!