any reason not to mix & match airlines?

[mom2val]

?

 

[uva185]

I would personally have no problem mix-matching airlines but just keep this in mind (especially if your trip is during the winter).

If there is a problem (delay, cancellation, etc) to your outbound flight the airline will usually work with you to modify your return if need be. They will not be able to do this if you booked your return on another airline. This is especially relevant in the winter when a big storm can delay you for days. When the airline issues you a weather waiver (allowing you to cancel) for your outbound dates you will still be expected to take the return flight regardless.

Also, if you decide to change or cancel your trip you will have to pay a change fee to each airline you booked with.

 

[NancyIL]

I like AirTran's morning non-stop flight to Orlando, but their even earlier non-stop flight from Orlando is a little TOO early! I usually book my return flights on Delta or American, even though they are connecting flights, just because I'd rather leave later in the day.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Keep in mind that buying a one way ticket on a legacy airline, such as AA, is going to usually be a lot more expensive than buying one on AirTran or SWA.

 

[NancyIL]

Keep in mind that buying a one way ticket on a legacy airline, such as AA, is going to usually be a lot more expensive than buying one on AirTran or SWA.

I haven't found that to be the case for my one-way flights on American and Delta to Orlando. The one-way fare is usually the same whether I book it as a one-way or half of a roundtrip. There is a big difference on international flights, however, between one-way and roundtrip airfares.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

As long as its only one carrier for each direction I would not see any issue with it. If it works better for you and your family then I would do it.

 

[mom2val]

!

 

[NancyIL]

I just bought a one-way ticket from Orlando to Bloomington, IL in December on Delta @ $92 + taxes ($113.40)! I could've gotten the same fare going to Orlando, but I'm holding out for AirTran to have sale fares for travel beyond Nov. 16.

 

[corster]

No problem. I do it all the time.

 

[Brian Noble]

Keep in mind that buying a one way ticket on a legacy airline, such as AA, is going to usually be a lot more expensive than buying one on AirTran or SWA.

I haven't found this to be true for several years now, on DL or before that NW. The days of round-trip/saturday-stay discounts seem to be long gone, at least for my market.

 

[TDC Nala]

No reason at all. I do it often. Just keep track of both airlines' change/cancellation policies if you should need to change anything.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

The only down side would be if you needed to make a change or cancellation. Then you will be paying penalties to both airlines.

 

[AndreaDM]

We did this on a trip to Puerto Rico 2 years ago and it saved us a bunch of money with no issues at all!

 

[PHXscuba]

While planning a visit to my brother, who lives overseas, he remarked that the US is one of the few places where booking round-trip on the same airline is expected. He flies all over (mostly Asia) and said in most parts of the world airfare is booked one-way.

If one airline has better times/prices going and another is better returning, I'd say go for it.

PHXscuba

 

[castle1]

Keep in mind that buying a one way ticket on a legacy airline, such as AA, is going to usually be a lot more expensive than buying one on AirTran or SWA.

We bought one way tickets on American in May. They were only $89 per person from Texas to Florida.

 

[AutoSlash]

A great search engine to combine multiple carriers is ITA Software. They have a really flexible interface and you can search from multiple cities to multiple cities by separating the airport codes by commas. Example:

From: JFK, LGA, EWR
To: FLL, PBI, MCO

You can get to it at matrix.itasoftware.com.