Saving Some Pesos by Buying on the ‘Net

Aeromexico, Mexico’s largest airline, has begun auctioning tickets on the Internet for travel up to 45 days in advance. Savings can be substantial. The auction is conducted daily on the Web site https://www.TheDailyAuction.com, which also handles ticket auctions for the German carrier Lufthansa.

As of last week, few people apparently had gotten the word about the auction, which Aeromexico began last month. A check on the site one day last week showed eight itineraries on auction, with only one drawing a winning bid: $150 total for two round-trip tickets between Atlanta and Cozumel, Mexico, in October. By contrast, the lowest fare for the same itinerary through Aeromexico’s reservations desk, offered to a caller the same day as the auction, was $404 per ticket--or $658 more for the pair than the auction price.

The number of tickets and itineraries varies each day; on the day checked last week, tickets from LAX to Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, were among those up for bid. As with most auctions, tickets are nonrefundable. Aeromexico and Mexicana also offer other Internet deals (See “On a Budget,” L16).