Priceline Express Deals

What are people’s experiences with the Express Deals? The fact you can’t see the flight info until after purchasing is a bit worrisome. But I also have flexibility for that Friday so is it worth grabbing?

This is about flights. There is some info you can see such as 0-1 stops, how much the price was and the discount along with the express deal price along with which possible airlines they can be and if it’s an early, midday or evening flight. So you can get some idea of what you’re getting

in travelby Hedgehogs4U

58%

13d

AvGeekExplorer

United States

13d

I’m not booking through a third party, and I’m absolutely not booking something that I don’t know exactly what it is.

SeagullFanClub

-2

13d

Thanks for the completely useless response

Jazzy_Bee

13d

I wasn't even aware it was available for flights. I have been happy with airport hotels with a shuttle service. I'm a few hours away from international airport, so usually either going or coming home I need a room.

If you know the city you fly from and where you fly into as well as date I would consider it, especially if you don't have loyalty benefits for a specific airline. Be aware it could be a 5:30 am flight, or at 22:30, meaning your whole day is shot.

Hedgehogs4U

13d

They do give you a close to a 6 hour window prior to booking

Jazzy_Bee

13d

Seems it is not something offered on their Canadian site.

BeardedSwashbuckler

13d

I thought every flight is on ITA Matrix at the lowest possible price. Does Priceline have some kind of deal that undercuts that system?

Hedgehogs4U

13d

I didn’t even know about the Express deals until today. I think it’s plausible that Priceline has some kind of deal that undercuts that system. This might be a way to push flights that tend to not fill up

Lower-Grapefruit8807

13d

Always always always book direct

jescereal

13d

I book third party with Priceline all the time. Just make sure it’s not a booking you need to be flexible with

Hedgehogs4U

13d

You’ve used the express deals before too?

21stCenturyJanes

13d

You are more adventurous than I. I won't even book through a third party, much less trust one to have my best travel plans at heart. Some things are worth paying for!

Hedgehogs4U

13d

I needed to be there Saturday morning, but my event is requiring check in earlier than I would arrive. I thought 2 hours early than the event was enough time but seems it is not. However Friday gives me more flexibility so why not save some $$ if possible

less_drama_guy

13d

It's absolutely a deal if you have a flexible schedule, non-urgent travel and are not flying spirit/frontier. Was able to snag flights that are 50% cheaper than the ongoing price using the express deal.

Hedgehogs4U

13d

Any other advice/tips I should know?

less_drama_guy

13d

Not sure if I have any tips. I only used it for short distance non stop flights. Once the flight is booked, the risk is the same as typically booking with a third party site.

closeted_cat

13d

I’ve never had an issue with them. I’ve used express deal flights a couple times and it’s literally just like any other Priceline booking. Usually it’ll tell you what the price of the flight would be very specifically, and you can use that to compare against their other listings to see if it’s a flight you’d be ok with. For example if Priceline says a 5 am spirit flight is 217.52 but then says “express deal! Original price 217.52 but you pay 194.36” then you can be pretty confident you’re about to get a shitty spirit flight.

Just be aware of the hazards of booking third party. If you’re ok with that risk, express deals are no more risky than any other booking.

Hedgehogs4U

13d

Oh ok! That’s what I was doing! I was able to narrow the midday flights to a few that had the same price. In this case it’s $457 but I’m paying $204. There are currently only 2 options with that price. It’s not bad but neither are non stop. A single flight

1I1III1I1I111I1I1

13d

Are you talking about flights or hotels?

For hotels, you can see the hotel photo and throw it in to reverse image search, and be confident on what you're getting.

For flights, never do that, for several reasons, one of them being that if you have any flight change, you're completely F'd

Hedgehogs4U

13d

I’m talking about flights. Actually edited my post to reflect now :) You can do something similar with the flights. They give you some info prior such as 0-1 stops, how much the price was and the discount along with the express deal price along with which possible airlines they can be and if it’s an early, midday or evening flight.

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