- Jan 9, 2001
- 7,572
- 2
- 76
Are sites like Expedia, Orbitz, etc, really the way to go?
- Thread starter johnjohn320
- Start date
I saw on tv somewhere that booking directly at airline website might get you cheapest ticket because they don't have to pay other middlemen.
That being said, I don't know if other websites might help you discover good offers if you don't know exactly what you are looking for.
That being said, I don't know if other websites might help you discover good offers if you don't know exactly what you are looking for.
I've gotten my lowest fares by buying directly from the company's website like Airtran, Southwest, etc.
IronWing
No Lifer
- Jul 20, 2001
- 71,848
- 31,886
- 136
Yes and no. They are good but check the airline sites as well. Sometimes the agent sites have lower fares, sometimes the airline sites do. Often they don't have the same flights. Also, the agent sites allow you to build trips using multiple carriers, something the airline sites won't do.
NO! I used to, until they screwed big time. I ordered a ticket and Orbitz sent me a confirmation. I checked the airline ticket two weeks later only to find that I never had a ticket. I called up Orbitz and yelled at them an hour, but the best they would do is give me my money back in the form of a voucher +$150 (instead of just giving me cash). They didn't even send me the voucher until much later, so I had to pay for another ticket (that now cost $150 more).
When you use third-party sites, you are not actually buying a plane ticket. You are paying Orbitz/Expedia to ask the airline for a ticket. If they don't get it, they usually let you know immediately and don't charge you. Sometimes it gets messed up like in my case.
Using one of these sites is okay if you are ordering a ticket long in advance. If not, you're going to be in trouble when you find out that you didn't get your ticket and prices have skyrocketed.
Now days, if you are only buying a plane ticket, there is absolutely no reason to use these sites since airlines usually guarantee that their prices will be cheaper (usually by a few dollars). Use a site just to find which tickets are cheapest, then order the ticket through the airline directly.
When you use third-party sites, you are not actually buying a plane ticket. You are paying Orbitz/Expedia to ask the airline for a ticket. If they don't get it, they usually let you know immediately and don't charge you. Sometimes it gets messed up like in my case.
Using one of these sites is okay if you are ordering a ticket long in advance. If not, you're going to be in trouble when you find out that you didn't get your ticket and prices have skyrocketed.
Now days, if you are only buying a plane ticket, there is absolutely no reason to use these sites since airlines usually guarantee that their prices will be cheaper (usually by a few dollars). Use a site just to find which tickets are cheapest, then order the ticket through the airline directly.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
I know one of the airlines guarantees the lowest rate by booking with them rather than middlemen. Pick 2 or 3 three brands, go to their sites looking for flights, and pick the cheapest.
I use orbitz to see the prices among different air carriers and then go to the carriers website to purchase them.
I get better quotes by calling the airlines directly. It seems online ticketing is so much easier and people are generally lazy..hence they hike up the prices more. Calling them and asking for the best deal has always gotten me much better prices, sometimes by more than half due to cancellations etc. that do not get immediately registered online.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
I knew that, just seeing if you guys did.Originally posted by: mugs
Or go to the ticket price search engine, find the airline(s) with the lowest prices, then go to their website.
Booking with the airline, at the airport(of course 2+ weeks prior to your flight), is always going to be the cheapest.
I booked online, but had to pay for the ticket at the airport(I had a paper voucher). When I went to the airport they said they could get it $50 cheaper than when I booked online 4 hours before.
I booked online, but had to pay for the ticket at the airport(I had a paper voucher). When I went to the airport they said they could get it $50 cheaper than when I booked online 4 hours before.
Kerouactivist
Diamond Member
- Jul 12, 2001
- 4,665
- 0
- 76
I use a combination of Orbitz, farecompare, and itasoftware....
ITA is probably the best tool out their us regular peeps can use for finding the cheapest fares and dates of travel... by using their month long search....can save you some big bucks if your travel days are flexible...
Farecompare is nice if your booking travel for a random vacation in the future or to check and see what is the cheapest fare availible so you kinda know what your getting into and what you should be looking for......some warning though sometimes they post screwed up fares that are unbookable....
goodluck and happy hunting
ITA is probably the best tool out their us regular peeps can use for finding the cheapest fares and dates of travel... by using their month long search....can save you some big bucks if your travel days are flexible...
Farecompare is nice if your booking travel for a random vacation in the future or to check and see what is the cheapest fare availible so you kinda know what your getting into and what you should be looking for......some warning though sometimes they post screwed up fares that are unbookable....
goodluck and happy hunting
same for hotels.
call to pricematch if necessary but that's never happened to me. price was always same/lower direct.
also - farecast.com
edro
Lifer
- Apr 5, 2002
- 24,326
- 68
- 91
We used Hotwire for our last vacation and stayed in $250+/night hotels for $100-$150/night.
You book your hotel based on the city and the # of stars it is, without knowing the actual name of the hotel.
(you do get the general road/area of the hotel though)
Once you pay, you get the actual hotel name.
As long as you always get a 4 or 5 star, who cares what the name is?
We had great luck with it.
You book your hotel based on the city and the # of stars it is, without knowing the actual name of the hotel.
(you do get the general road/area of the hotel though)
Once you pay, you get the actual hotel name.
As long as you always get a 4 or 5 star, who cares what the name is?
We had great luck with it.
Bill Brasky
Diamond Member
- May 18, 2006
- 4,324
- 1
- 0
:laugh:
Every time I've checked with a real agent, it would have cost me at least $50 more to book through them. Maybe it's just a local thing, but never will I use a travel agent when there is an alternative option.
ultimatebob
Lifer
- Jul 1, 2001
- 25,134
- 2,450
- 126
Yeah... I use Orbitz to find out who has the cheapest flights, and then use the carrier's web site to actually purchase the tickets.
Orbitz royally screwed me once (the airline changed their departure time and they never bothered to notify me), so screwing them out of their $10 commission seems like poetic justice
Orbitz royally screwed me once (the airline changed their departure time and they never bothered to notify me), so screwing them out of their $10 commission seems like poetic justice
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