How to Use Priceline's Bidding Feature
Priceline is an online travel agent for booking discount airline tickets, hotels, and rental cars. Its "Name Your Own Price" feature allows users to bid on travel accommodations by selecting a general geographic area, a certain quality of hotel, and a price of the user's choosing. Travelers who take advantage of this feature do not know the exact details of their accommodations until the bidding goes through. If a bid is accepted, the bidder is notified by email, and from that point there are no refunds or cancellations.
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Instructions
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1
Go to Priceline.com.
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2
Click on "bid now" under any of the three accommodation icons: flights, hotels, or rental cars.
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3
Enter the location and dates of your desired accommodations in the pop-up box. Click "bid now."
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4
Enter your bid, name, and date of birth. Click the "continue" button.
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5
Type your initials under the "Important Information" section.
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6
Type your billing information and click the button labeled "buy my tickets now."
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Tips & Warnings
If you are booking a hotel, you will have to choose a zone and select a quality of hotel (from 1 to 4 stars) while completing Step 4. Make sure to carefully study the various geographic zones of your destination on Priceline's detailed maps. Selecting a particular zone can influence the quality and price of your accommodations.
If you are booking a rental car, you will have to select the quality level of the car you wish to rent in Step 3. For example, if you wish to rent a cheaper rental car, select "Economy" from the drop-down menu.
Once you click "buy my tickets now," you will be notified by email if your bid is accepted.
The "Name Your Own Price" feature is not available for every accommodation on Priceline.
If your bid is accepted, there are no refunds and no cancellations, absent extreme circumstances.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
