Make an Offer on Your Next Trip
Three modern ways to bid on travel — and how to use each one without getting burned.
Post my trip for quotes »1. Let Specialists Compete for Your Booking
The most effective “bid” is also the simplest: describe your trip once and let several travel specialists respond with their best offer. Because each one knows others are quoting, you tend to see sharper prices, better cabin or room categories, and extras such as onboard credit, resort credits or free transfers.
- Fill in the free Official Travel Directory form with your destination, dates, travelers and budget. For cruises, use the Official Cruise Directory form.
- Up to 5 specialists reply with options. Compare the total price, what is included and the cancellation terms.
- Counter if you like: tell your favorite what another specialist offered. Then book, or walk away.
2. Bid for an Upgrade
Many airlines and several cruise lines run upgrade-bidding programs, often operated by third-party technology companies. After you book a standard seat or cabin, you may be invited to offer an amount for business class, a premium economy seat or a balcony or suite. If the upgrade is still available close to departure and your offer is high enough, it is accepted and charged; if not, you pay nothing.
Bid near the middle
Offers at the very bottom of the range are rarely accepted on popular dates.
Watch the calendar
Off-peak dates and longer routes or voyages give bids the best odds.
Know the cash price
Compare your bid with the price of simply booking the better cabin now.
Read the terms
Accepted bids are usually nonrefundable, and upgrades may change your seat or cabin location.
For more premium-cabin strategies see Buy Coach, Fly First, and compare business-class and first-class fares on AirfaresForLess.
3. Opaque Deals: The Modern Blind Bid
Opaque deals show you a price and a general description — “4-star hotel near the waterfront” or “nonstop on a major airline” — but reveal the name only after you pay. Suppliers use them to sell spare inventory without advertising a lower public rate.
| Good fit | Poor fit |
|---|---|
| Flexible city stays where any good hotel will do | Special trips where the exact resort matters |
| Short trips with no loyalty-status goals | Travelers who need to earn points or status |
| Plans that are unlikely to change | Anything you may need to cancel — most opaque bookings are nonrefundable |
Tip: Before buying an opaque deal, price the most likely hotels on RoomsCheap.com. If the saving is small, book the named hotel and keep your flexibility.
Make-an-Offer FAQ
What happened to name-your-own-price travel?
Blind bidding, made famous by Priceline in the late 1990s, has mostly given way to “opaque” deals where you see the price and the general area or star rating but not the exact hotel or airline until you pay. The trade-off is the same: a lower price in exchange for less choice.
How do upgrade bids work?
After you book, some airlines and cruise lines email an invitation to bid for a better cabin or seat. You choose an amount within a range and are charged only if your bid is accepted, usually a few days before departure. Rules and availability vary by company.
Is it rude to get several quotes?
Not at all. Specialists expect it. Be clear that you are comparing, give everyone the same details, and let the ones you don’t choose know.
Make travel specialists compete for your trip
Post your trip once — destination, dates and budget — and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes. The best offer wins.
Get up to 5 competing quotes »