Internal flights, price quotes, fair prices

[Philb]

Over the past couple of weeks I have been busy making arrangements for my upcoming
trip to Russia in June.  I need to do quite a bit of traveling within Russia.  So, as in the
past I have contacted the usual list of travel agents asking for airfare quotes.
The quotes that I received ranged from $275.00 to $350.00.  I did not think this was
unusual.  Well, this time I also asked a friend of mine in Russia to obtain quotes for these
same flights.  This quote was for $180.00 for an identical itinerary.  By the way, this
quote was obtained using my passport number and was not a fare reserved for Russian
citizens.

Now, I do not mind paying additional money for additional service (convenience, the
ability to use a credit card, etc.).  It just seemed to me that a (roughly) 30 to 50 percent
markup is a bit steep.  

I was wondering what others do in regards to the booking of flights within the FSU and if
anyone else thought we were being gouged when booking these flights through the usual
travel agents.

[odeccaman1]

... in response to Internal flights, price quotes, fair pri..., posted by Philb on Apr 22, 2002

are common in Ukraine too as there can be big price differences in simple everyday products. In a criminal society I think this attitude comes naturally to merchants. Have a good trip

[BrianN]

... in response to Internal flights, price quotes, fair pri..., posted by Philb on Apr 22, 2002

http://www.go-russia.com/tissa.htm

[Philb]

... in response to Re: Best Link that I have..., posted by BrianN on Apr 23, 2002

These prices are no longer current through this agent.  I received a quote of $276.00 through them

[BrianN]

... in response to Re: Re: Best Link that I have..., posted by Philb on Apr 23, 2002

No use then... that one get's the boot from my favorites folder.

Thanks for the update.

[BrianN]

... in response to Internal flights, price quotes, fair pri..., posted by Philb on Apr 22, 2002

There are wayz to do this... but I'm going the straight route right now and pay the extra 200 bucks I guess...

I've got too much @#$% going on at the moment to pis around with it.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Internal flights, price quotes, fair pri..., posted by Philb on Apr 22, 2002


I'm looking at a trip to Ukraine, and see prices of $1400!

Where are you getting these prices of $250 to Russia???

[Stan]

... in response to Where?, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 22, 2002

I just called my connection in Chicago and she told me about $860.00 round trip from Chicago to Kiev but the seats were filling up fast.

[BrianN]

... in response to Re: Where?, posted by Stan on Apr 23, 2002

Same thing to just about anywhere, tis the warming up season for visiting russia, and the seats are filling up fast, and the fares are going up quick!

[Philb]

... in response to Where?, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 22, 2002

I was refering only to the flights within Russia. In my case from Moscow to Novokuznetsk.

[wsbill]

... in response to Where?, posted by MarkInTx on Apr 22, 2002

Or flying in from Germany, France or Italy.