Why does the price change | Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews Forums

	when the site shows you a price…if you hit you want it…it increases by a couple of hundred dollors….and I already put in my gateway….grrrr……the taxes are already showing…ok..rant over and if this has been discussed…sorry….Thanks everyone.

Most sites only update the database used for the display every hour or so, so the data may be stale. When you say you want that package, it then does a live update into the actual inventory data base. ‘Usually’ the pricing information stays the same, but I have seen it go up by a few hundred dollars as you describe. I’ve also seen it go down, which is a pleasant surprise. Once you get that verified price you usually have a limited time, say 10 minutes or so, to complete the transaction.

	In the many times I’ve booked online, I have never seen this happen. However, it would be a most happy experience to see the price drop before I press the final button!

Agree with Bob. Prices are constantly fluctuating. I saw a big increase 2 days ago on some of the packages I am looking at. It could be a group booking or just about anything including weather that will cause the computers to make a change. There are times when the prices will go up on the weekend and other times they go down, just like gas prices. Almost always, prices will go down again in a few days. Just need to wait.Nothing sinister about a change in price while you are waiting for price confirmation. I’m guessing, the more people click to check availability of a certain resort at a certain date, the more likely the price will go up. I have no inside knowledge of this but if I were programming the computer, I’d be adding that to the mix.

When the price changes AFTER you confirm and pay is not fair and that does happen too. I know.

Some carriers offer up the tax discount mostly Sunwing" we pay the tax" when it’s over they take days to get the price changed on the front page so you get all excited thinking that the place is were you want it only until you go to book do the changes happen. Makes me angry as well.Sometimes if the resort is not seeing any movement they will change for a few hours or days to get some interest started then sell a room or 2 then BAM it’s back up again. Supply and demand.One day I was looking at my resort at noon and checked again @ 5pm and it was down $400 needless to say I was on it right away. Just be on it all the time checking 2-3 times a day cause that is how you get what you want for the price you want.

	….. When the price changes AFTER you confirm and pay is not fair and that does happen too. I know. You confirmed and paid, and then later they asked for more money? Never seen that happen, unless it was government fees, taxes or something like that.

	I missed that line. Just how did they get it from you as they need authorization. Unless the price went up when you tried to book for someone else. I hope that’s what they meant otherwise I’m not sure that would be a legal thing for them to do…take more money without your ok.

During the height of the fuel crisis, there were some T/Os that had a price ‘adjustment’ in the fine print if the price of fuel increased. You were stuck with the extra charge.I just happened to be looking at a Princess Cruise today – Hawaii for 15 days for $1099 – and they had the same clause in the fine print. "If the price of Texas Sweet Crude goes above $xx you may be charged an extra $xx per day." Wouldn’t it be you luck that the week you were leaving, there was another oil crisis. This is not directly linked to the O/P but there are times when you are hit with extra charges you are unaware of at the time. Just like the $5.50 charge to fly to the US now coming in.

It’s also amazing how many people are unaware when they book that you have pay extra to leave Cuba.

	OK, saw it. Haven’t seen that clause for a while …. Princess reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel, even if the fare has already been paid in full. That could be a big ouch. It always pays to read the fine print.

We had an instance a few years back where I found a suitable price for CL online, called our TA and booked. No sooner had I hung up the phone when I went back online for whatever reason and found the price had dropped substantially; I believe about $500 for both of us. Called the TA back immediately. She was able to contact the tour operator get us the better price. However, I booked CL for next March back about 6 weeks ago. Found a price that I thought was good and pulled the trigger. Took advantage of the early booking discount which we never have before. Just had a quick look this morning at pricing. Price has dropped by about $350 for this trip. Not going to bother pursuing that one. You win some, you loose some!!

Sorry, I got the quote a bit wrong. Price today was $90. So, the 15 day cruise I was looking at MIGHT have 15x2x$9. added on. Big Ouch. That’s probably why the $1099. price was hundreds lower than Carnival.

We’ve booked no more than 7 days prior for the last number of years and saved a ton for holidays. The last 3 times that I booked, the price went down within 48 hours of departure but you do run a risk of not getting the resort you wanted and you are not going to get the plane seats you wanted. I can’t afford Club Class seats anyway. Just don’t know how most on this site can afford it every time. Yes, I suffer but a few extra drinks make it liveable for 4 hours. Just sharpen the elbows a bit and cut off the knees in the airport lounge.

	I’ve only booked in advance once to save with the early booking discount, but I don’t do it anymore. I’ve been lucky ever since by booking, at the earliest, 2 months before the trip and more often than not, 3 weeks before. Much better savings than the measly $60/person discount. Just my opinion…

	The place we book, sells out of 2 week vacations, two months ahead. We can’t take a chance on a last minute deal and don’t want an econo room. (ROH)Any other place, I agree. Spin the wheel, take what’s available, go, and have a great time.

dax… club class is a bit more $ for us that book our trip but it’s so worth the extra.

I started saving $25.00 a week 10 years ago just for my trips x 52 = $1300 No biggie most spend that and more a week at Timmies! So now I just save an extra $5.00 more and that’s my club class.

I have a trip cup and that’s where the cash goes and I even do this for a friend as she has trouble not dipping into her cup from time to time. Now she can’t cause she knows I will not give it to her. LOLI’m a 6′ tall woman and I need my space and the friends I travel with are all over 6′. Nothing worse than the seat in economy when you that big. Have done Canjet Select with emergency seats not to bad. Club Class for me is the only way to fly.

Would love to try Emirates Air first class, now that’s the way to travel ;D

Now you’re talking! ;D Those commericals do wet the appetite, don’t they? When I win a lottery, I’ll be booking.

	Hey travelchick…my daughter actually flew on one from Australia to New Zealand and said even economy was amazing compared to anything we offer here in Canada. When she boarded they came with a damp cloth for her to refresh herself. Can you imagine that and fed twice during the flight.

	Sunwing gives you hot towel , before your meal as well …even on short trips (from TO) to Cuba ! Plus the champagne , in economy as well, is just a bonus

Sunlover, you’re entitled to do whatever you want with your money.I’m 6′ also and find steerage to be a PITA. However, for me, the cost is simply not worth it. I’d rather spend the money on a better resort that I can get more enjoyment from for 7 days. I just load my ‘Droid with plenty of good music and close my eyes and 3 hours of being squished ain’t so bad.We’re always way under the weight limit, so the extra baggage allowance means nothing. I’d rather pay $20. extra and give steerage an extra 4" of leg room for everyone. It always seems to me that the carriers are purposefully squeezing more seats into steerage so they can make a huge profit on Club Class.

Just my opinion and as I noted, probably not that common on this forum.

Sunwing gives you hot towel , before your meal as well …even on short trips (from TO) to Cuba ! Plus the champagne , in economy as well, is just a bonus

Sunwing is very good for that, I agree.

dax… club class is a bit more $ for us that book our trip but it’s so worth the extra.

I started saving $25.00 a week 10 years ago just for my trips x 52 = $1300 No biggie most spend that and more a week at Timmies! So now I just save an extra $5.00 more and that’s my club class.

I have a trip cup and that’s where the cash goes I’m like you, sunlover, it’s club class all the way :). I keep one of those coin sorters on my dryer and any change found in pockets goes into the sorter. It adds up over a year as I have $326 now with still 3 months to go. It goes towards our trip and gets used for things like an overnight in Havana, a box of cigars, use of the Plaza Premium lounge at YVR and VIP lounge in Varadero. So many ways it can be used to soften our expenses and you don’t even feel the pinch of this saving trick. Some people #### about loonies and toonies but I love them….chachink ;D
We’ve booked no more than 7 days prior for the last number of years and saved a ton for holidays. The last 3 times that I booked, the price went down within 48 hours of departure but you do run a risk of not getting the resort you wanted and you are not going to get the plane seats you wanted. I can’t afford Club Class seats anyway. Just don’t know how most on this site can afford it every time. Yes, I suffer but a few extra drinks make it liveable for 4 hours. Just sharpen the elbows a bit and cut off the knees in the airport lounge.
Dax, you are very lucky to have the freedom to book last minute. You must have a very agreeable employer or are retired

(oops, should have used spell check…fixed, now )

Bringing this old thread back up since it happened to me this morning. I have a group of 8 that were wanting to head to Cayo Largo but Melia Cayo Santa Maria came up at $667 incl taxes on many, but not all sites. I knew this resort was better suited than Cayo Largo and cheaper so I started making calls to book for early Jan.Whoops, prices changed at some sites while I’m looking up the phone number for an agent. $300 higher pp is a bit of a difference.I called TripCentral and was told the new price. I protested (gently but firmly) that their site was showing $667. a few minutes earlier and that iTravel2000 was still showing it now. The TA agreed to try and said she would call Transat and call me back ASAP. She called back as promised and Transat agreed to take the $667 price if I had my credit card ready to book, which I did.Goes to show that prices do indeed jump all over the place, minute by minute. Some sites hours later are still showing $667. on the search but once you input details, the package jumps in price $300. or is no longer available. Probably the price will come back down in a few weeks but with a group, you need extra care.

I only look at prices tax included just in case someone thinks the extra $300 was tax – not so.

dax, I am so happy for you that you got the original price you saw and were prepared to pay right then and there. Good for you on insisting firmly to get it.

My dear mum used to say, "If you don’t ask, you won’t know (or receive)"

After reading about several people here (sunlover and steffie, for instance) saving extra change for Club Class, I am now doing it as well. It is amazing to put just $10 away each week and watch it grow. Comfortable travel, more luggage weight, and some pampering in the air: here we come! ;D After seeing this suggestion for years, I am finally implementing it and am pleased to be doing so. Thanks for the reminder about it!

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