I know this has been asked here before..

But has anyone done it? If I can get to Europe in the summer for 200 bucks I might as well right?

I have done Air Tech several times and Air Hitch once. The passes are very good for open ended travels in which all potential stops along the way are potential destinations.

I have always gotten on to flights on my first try though I have friends who have had worst luck. My one major problem has been incorrect flight information. If you want to get onto a flight always call the airline, pose as a normal passenger (don't mention the vouchers), and confirm that the flight exists and what day and time it is leaving.

I have had to to take Ryan Air around Europe because of faulty information and once I was stranded in Amsterdam for a day because they told me the wrong date. It was so much fun in the end but...

Notice there are three companies offering vouchers:
1. Air Tech - the most business like and costumer friendly outfit. There prices are also fixed and include most fees and taxes and so on. They are great to interact with.

2. Air-Hitch - they have a by appointment only ffice in the New Yorker Hotel and there prices do not include fees and taxes and will probably be more than USD$100 more than stated on their website. They are not as easy to get a hold of but once you do they are nice.

3. Airhitch - the mother of all the voucher operations is run as a non-profit by the guy who spearheaded the whole system, Robert. The main way to talk to Robert is through an AOL chat room. The guy apparently sits in his drty underwear in Martinique tapping away at his computer insane mandates to follow his specific protocol and global visions of suckers paying too much for airfare. Having any interaction with this guy is like being 8 months into a really bad relationship. I don't reccomend it.

quote:

Having any interaction with this guy is like being 8 months into a really bad relationship. I don't reccomend it.

haa- yes. I noticed this.

Thanks so much for the run down

have you used Air Tech during peak summer season to western Europe? I'm meeting up w/ a friend there and I do have a specific travel window, but I can fly into several diff airports in the region.

and GREAT synopsis of Robert Segelbaum, that guy is a character!

quote:

Originally posted by Clay:
I know this has been asked here before..

But has anyone done it? If I can get to Europe in the summer for 200 bucks I might as well right?

I was going to try Airhitch for summer 2007, but if you google "ever used airhitch", you'll find threads posted on various boards, and basically what I have learned is....airhitch is NOT good for the summertime, peak travel season. Because almost all flights are booked, and you'll likely be stranded for days at the airport. The system is best used during off-peak times, and when there's likely extra seats left over on flights.

And what is up with needing an "ASP = airhitch support person"?? If you read their website, they say you need to have someone you can call, who can chat with them while you're at the airport?? Just incase the flight you were given is not availabe, then this person (presumably a relative or friend) can chat with THEM and give you the next availabe flight info. This would be okay for leaving the US, but what about coming home?? You cant do this in some Berlin airport....or Krakow...or wherever!!!

I first heard of airhitch on Budget Travel mag website. I am certain that I will try it in the future. But who has that kinda open time?? College students, thats about it.

quote:

I am certain that I will try it in the future.

I wouldn't plan on it. There are quite a few very, very experienced and savvy travelers here on these boards, and if THEY can't do it, I wouldn't be so certain that anyone can.

If you can, more power to you, but the odds just ain't there.

Cant do what? Have they been effed over by Airhitch? The only bad things Ive heard is the incredibly rude staff, who apparently HATE when you ask questions.

Anyone thinking seriously of taking AirHitch should read the forum on Frommers. It is full of tales about AirHitch, mostly about the extreme rudeness and bizarre behavior of their staff. There are even a few choice responses from R Segelbaum, the founder of AirHitch. It is worthwhile reading if nothing else because you seldom run into anyone that misanthropic attempting to run a company (or "organization".) Some of the conversations with him read like great comedy sketches that would be funny if he weren't deadly serious.

Flying with AirHitch
http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX?11@101.0Mj0cwZ8fic^0@.ee9c0d4


If the link doesn't work, search for "Flying with AirHitch" on Frommers.com