So I followed Mark’s advice and tried Mobissimo to launch me into this evening’s travel agent duties. Maybe 90 minutes later… I still have no tickets. Not Mobissimo’s fault, but it didn’t get me much further along the path.
For three “adults” and an “infant with seat,” I finally found a multi-city package (SFO to BOS to SLK then ALB to PIT to SFO on the return) which was relatively reasonable in mid-August via Orbitz (where Mobissimo led me). But every time I tried to select a package — the Book It! button — I got a frustrating message reading:
Because flight availability can change rapidly based on traveler demand, the flight you selected is no longer available. Please make another selection. (Message 100)
While I’m pleased they shared the number of the message with me, I was floored when this happened for every single flight I tried to buy. Finally, I broke down and, at the suggestion of my wife, I called Orbitz. Toll-free call, and I got to a real person quite quickly. That was good. The person on the phone suggested that I try again tomorrow, as he’d heard a few similar complaints today. Well, wouldn’t it be nice if message 100 made that issue a bit clearer? I asked the person to run the times/flights on his end, and he seemed to try, but ended up telling me to try again tomorrow. Which, as I have no other choice, I’ll do. But I don’t have to like it. This “internet expert” wants a travel agent, although I guess I’d have spent a lot of time on the phone with someone as they typed through the same screens.
At least I was able to rent a car for this weekend with little fuss.