HAS ANYBODY USED ''RIDEGUIDE To fly THE U.S. URGENT:

[piclarke]

Hi I need to get to Florida to crew on a boat urgently and I can get to Honolulu or L.A. on a Commercial airline. I thought I might try "rideguide" from Honolulu to L.A. or/and onto Florida, then Boston to L.A. or/and onto Honolulu to save the Owner/Skipper some dollars. Does anybody know or have used rideguide can confirm this outfit really works.
"Rideguide" is a way to fly on non Commercial airlines, bypassing travel agents and Commercial airlines.

Rideguide has a web site at.

www.rideguide.com/backpack.htm

I would appreciate any communication on this subject urgently.
My e-mail address is -- philclarke@ihug.co.nz
A KIWI with short arms and deep pockets.

[RangerE]

Being a veteran of unconventional air travel, I''ll throw in my 2 cents. Regarding the mainland US portion of your journey, you''d probably be better off going commercial. There are usually a couple airlines offering pretty cheap fares one way from coast to coast. Your pacific crossing is the most expensive leg of the journey. If Rideguide is for real, that is the leg that could save you some money. Problem is I doubt there are many Rideguide style aircraft doing the pacific from NZ. I could be wrong though. My big problem with Rideguide is that it looks like a website designed primarily to sell a book. Read the testimonials... they are hilarious. Do they praise Rideguide for helping them get a cheap hop on some nifty Learjet??? Nope... all but one praises RG for merely sending the book. Sorry about the cynicism. I hope I''m wrong. TW

[piclarke]

Thanks ranger E.
You are right there is no non Commercial Flights flying the Pacific. So Ride guide does not apply untill one arrives in the U.S. or Europe. The fares from N.Z. are cheap on the Commercial flights,however the flights in the U.S. and especially the return flights from U.S. are double that of N.Z. or Pacific flights. The airlines appear to be really hitting the travelling public in the U.S. since September the 11th / especially one way fares. I was quoted Boston to L.A. as $980 U.S. I can fly N.Z. to Hawaii for $550 U,S. and to L.A. $750 U.S. return, and to Florida $900 U.S.return.
The price quoted Boston to N.Z. was $1250 U.S.a one way ticket. ouch!!

[piclarke]

Thanks ranger E.
You are right there is no non Commercial Flights flying the Pacific. So Ride guide does not apply untill one arrives in the U.S. or Europe. The fares from N.Z. are cheap on the Commercial flights,however the flights in the U.S. and especially the return flights from U.S. are double that of N.Z. or Pacific flights. The airlines appear to be really hitting the travelling public in the U.S. since September the 11th / especially one way fares. I was quoted Boston to L.A. as $980 U.S. I can fly N.Z. to Hawaii for $550 U,S. and to L.A. $750 U.S. return, and to Florida $900 U.S.return.
The price quoted Boston to N.Z. was $1250 U.S.a one way ticket. ouch!!

[RangerE]

Hey Phil:

I assume your itinerary is:

-Fly from NZ to FL
-Sail from FL to Boston
-Fly back to NZ from Boston

Your best bet looks like the $900 RT from NZ to FL. Then get a flight from Boston back to FL to link up with your NZ return. FYI... there are flights on America West from LA to Miami for around $225. Frontier goes Boston to LA for around $250. And there are tons of flights from Boston/Northeast down to FL. You need to check online or get the local newspapers from the cities you''re flying out of.

[piclarke]

Hello Ranger E

You must be a Travel Agent? yes! Many thanks because its looking good.

Phil:
KIWI with short arms & deep pockets.