How much overpriced is Tom Backer?

[danimaztani]

I have heard everyone here suggest against Austin Travels because it is a rip off. Is it really true? How much price difference there is between picking a ticket yourself vs. getting it arranged by Backer. Also, what about the advantage of "open return" that Backer offers you. Does it happen often that you have to change your flight date and pay 100.00??
Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks

[singer]

Danizmantani:

The main difference with Austin travel is you pay a $50 travel agent fee. Tom has always been upfront with the fact of the fee and it is listed separately on my credit card invoice. The "main" reaon for dealing with Austin travel is if you want the open ticket. Tom will assign a seat for you on the flight where American Airlines will not assign a seat on an open ticket. The most important reason for using Tom is he will switch the ticket for no cost and as with my son Tom adds additional flights and will switch you to another flight automatically if you tell him in advance. This can help if you have problems with connecting flights due to all the departure problems on theAmerican Eagle flights.

Hope this info helps.

[razorback831]

It doesn't matter if Mr. Backer assigns you a seat. If someone bought a dated ticket (even after you) and they don't have space......often the case at the end of the semester.....you will be the first one bumped....

[Linus]

american airlines here does not care what kind of ticket you have or if it show an asiigned seat or not
i had an assigned seat
i was let on the plane about to leave
i was asked off the plane because i was the last person to check in that did not have checked baggage...not the last to check in but the last to check in without checked baggage...AA was too lazy to bump the last person that checked in because they did not wnat to have to search for their luggage
my advice is get there 4+hours early
i was there 3 hours early when this happened
there were even empty seats but since dominica is not able to fuel planes at all times, they have to fly here with extra fuel causing the plane to be heavy meaning they cant take as many people

[Dru]

I agree with Singer that you are basically paying Austin Power Travel $50 to do your work for you. If you can use a phone, a computer, and a calendar, you are probably capable of making the arrangements yourself. In addition to saving the $50, you may end up with a cheaper rate if you bother to shop around. The other advantage is that you won't have to put up with his rude staff. On the other hand if you are a busy executive running a multi-million dollar corp and have dollar bills flying out of your gluteals, then pay him the money and save yourself the time.

Interestingly enough, methods that work one time may be pricier the next time you try. I have had good luck with Priceline, Orbitz, Gorilla Air, and dealing directly with American Airlines using the Ross discount code. If you call AA directly, make sure you only deal with the international flight desk by calling 1-800-433-1790. The Star File # used to be 16731 for the Ross student discount, but I believe it recently changed. (haven't kept up with this aspect, as my kid will no longer need a flight unless she returns there for diving :lol: )

The important thing is that you try a variety of methods. I have found that I actually get a better price by waiting until the last few weeks of departure. I have also found that the time of day that you investigate matters...I seem to get the best rates right after midnight or in the early morning hours. Also play around with the days that you come and go....coming and leaving during the week ends days as opposed to the week days makes a difference. You may try to utilize a variety of airlines, too...don't feel like you have to stick with just one. I would have to admit that my worst experience was with ATA...it was a horrible ordeal, and all of their employees were rude, short-tempered, condescending, and their weight restrictions for luggage were very limited (50 pounds for your single checked bag as opposed to 70 pounds allowed by other airlines) Regardless if you are using an airline that you previously used, be sure to check with the airline(s) each time you fly to make sure that the weight restrictions have not changed, or you will be ditching or rearranging your suitcase contents at the airport. That can be particularly disturbing to other passengers in line, if you are there pulling out your unmentionables while they gaze at you.

The other thing to consider is if you can leave your home town very early in the a.m., you will be able to make it through Puerto Rico in time to land in Dominica while it is still daylight. They were going to install runway lights at the Mellville Hall Airport...anyone care to give us an update on the progress? I would avoid Canefield Airport at all costs, as it has had significant structural damage, and it reportedly wasn't too safe even before the huge sinkhole happened.

Best of luck to you as you beging to plan for your important journey. Hope this helps. :wink:

[jim]

unless things have changed since i was there, a reserved seat means nothing, and an open ticket is evenworse. moving your ticket date around is also no guarantee that you will actually leave on that day. I did find one thing though. After 1st, I bought my tickets form the travel agent in portsmouth. they will NEVER bump a dominican purchased ticket. as for the runway lights, i still check out a dominican news website, and in it a few weeks back they mentioned lights were to be installed in the end of october, but then the labor unions got mad, and held up the whole thing, as the job had been "farmed out" to a foreign firm. they stated that due to legal wrangling, they expected about a year delay.

[awdc]

I have heard everyone here suggest against Austin Travels because it is a rip off. Is it really true? How much price difference there is between picking a ticket yourself vs. getting it arranged by Backer. Also, what about the advantage of "open return" that Backer offers you. Does it happen often that you have to change your flight date and pay 100.00??
Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks

I PM'ed you. As for me, I've always had good service with Tom Backer. I never did try booking directly with AA but he usually saves me ~$250 than if I went with online travel sites.