Cash started planning the vegas trip several weeks ago, but I couldn’t commit till just recently.  Looking to join my two friends on a fun trip less than a week away, flights were way too expensive.  After a few days of configuring hotel packages, investigating greyhound routes, and deliberation over the safety of hitchhiking, I decided to give name your own price flying a try.

Priceline has two options for purchasing tickets, conventional and name your own price.  When doing a preliminary search you are presented with various conventional options.  You see the flight time, the airline, and all the other details before you purchase.  Alternatively, as they tempt you from the sidebar, you can name your own price and save an average of 40%.  You select the days, put in your credit card, and then make a bid that they usually deny.  If your bid is accepted you are immediately issued a non-refundable, non-changable, ticket for whatever time they feel like giving you on your selected days.

I spent a few days making bids that weren’t accepted, so I was used to the cold hard rejection that priceline so unconcernedly dishes out.  I did a double take as I tabbed back to the window that had previously submitted my bid when I noticed a new unfamiliar screen.  My price was accepted, ticket issued, but departing at 8pm.

Fear rushed through my mind.  I would miss a whole day of partying.  Why hadn’t I chosen a day earlier? Can I get a refund?  I’ll pay $25 or $50 to try again!  After a bit of frantic clicking I realized I was stuck with the ticket.  Lesson learned, but there were drinks to be drank, pools to be swam in, buffets to gorge on, and blackjack tables to throw away money at.

In a moment of inspiration I googled standby flying for non-refundable tickets.  It turns out most airlines allow you to fly standby on earlier same day flights at no extra charge.  I went to my airlines home page, searched their customer care directory, and the information was repeated; same day, direct or same connection, free to fly standby.

Not convinced my discount priceline ticket would work, I called the airline.  Not only did they confirm my eligibility, but after checking the flight inventory, they told me whether or not desired trip would be a good candidate for flying standby.

So, I’ve got the ticket for 50% off any conventionally listed ticket, and I’ve got a good chance of getting on the same flight as my friends.  Hell yeah priceline.  Hell yeah vegas.