Cheapest and reliable flight website??

[mom of princessx2]

We are planning a trip to London over Thanksgiving this year and need budget airline tickets. It is a budget trip because my sister and her husband are moving over there for a year so we really only have to pay for airfare and don't feel like we can pass on this opportunity. We generally only vacation at WDW and can drive so I am not sure where to begin.
Orbitz looks pretty reliable but I am wondering if anyone has used Priceline or CheapOAir.
Any info would be a big help!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

No. Buy directly from the airline. Use kayak.com to compare prices, then click through to the airline to ourchase. You can also look at itasoftware.com for pricing, or hipmunk.com
Tgese are all search engines or pricing sites. They don't sell you anything.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Due to taxes and fees, it's expensive to fly in and out of London. It's not likely you'll find any bargains.

Book directly with the airline you choose. You might want to look at Icelandair if you live near an airport they serve. I did a search for the week of Thanksgiving leaving from JFK and you can currently get a RT ticket for JFK-LHR around $900, which is a great price (1 stop).

If I were you and had firm travel dates, I would book soon.

 

[mbowk99]

Due to taxes and fees, it's expensive to fly in and out of London. It's not likely you'll find any bargains. Book directly with the airline you choose. You might want to look at Icelandair if you live near an airport they serve. I did a search for the week of Thanksgiving leaving from JFK and you can currently get a RT ticket for JFK-LHR around $900, which is a great price (1 stop). If I were you and had firm travel dates, I would book soon.

I use google ita matrix to compare prices. You can use it to look at an entire month of departure and return dates to find the cheapest days to fly. It works for domestic flights, too. Works best from a real computer, not a phone.

https://www.itasoftware.com/travelers/

 

[mom of princessx2]

so I have tried a few suggested but Kayak just directs me to Expedia and then the flight says Sorry this flight at this price is no longer available. I must be doing something wrong with that one! I also tried the direct website for AA (liked times best on this flight from orbitz) but it was $150 more per ticket than Orbitz?? This is stressing me out more than getting an ADR for BOG!!!!

Thank goodness we do have the dates cemented so as soon as I find something I can grab it!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Generally - aka my experience - that low fare through Orbitz won't be available when you actually try to buy it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I think the best prices are going to be about $1225/person/coach, give-or-take a little.
2) This early in the year, don't look for any major bargains.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

1) I think the best prices are going to be about $1225/person/coach, give-or-take a little.
2) This early in the year, don't look for any major bargains.

I disagree. I have purchased a lot of tickets to Europe, and the prices haven't been dropping much after they have been released for the past few years. As I already posted, you can get RT tickets on Icelandair from the east coast to LHR for Thanksgiving Week for about $900. That's a great price. Highly unlikely it will be cheaper later in the year, unless there is a mistake fare, there is a price war or sale, or gas prices continue to drop and airlines lower prices (doubtful).

 

[bearzabout]

Sign up for an email service like the one through Travelocity that will tell you when the price for a given route changes. Prices change many times a week but you can spot trends and over time, you will know what is a good deal.

For example, airfare from Chicago to Honolulu can range from $800-$1200 but will occasionally fall to $600. You have to be ready to pounce when you see a good price, but it takes homework to know what a good price is.

 

[msupulski]

I used Cheapoair when I flew to London and had no problems with them at all.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I used Cheapoair when I flew to London and had no problems with them at all.

I would hit the like button but there isn't one!! Seems the best deals I am finding are not directly through the airline but more the "travel" websites. I am going to keep looking for another week but am ready to pounce on a deal.

 

[hollypoast]

I like airfarewatchdog.com. You can put your dates in and they will track your flight and send you email alerts when the price drops.

Agree with other posters, book with the airline directly.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

For Europe, I always find cheaper prices through cheap tickets or something like that than the airlines. I flew Lufthansa to Barcelona in September and my ticket was half of the price than what was showing on the Lufthansa site. I flew one way, RDU to Barcelona, for $750. For whatever reason, one-way was about as expensive as r/T. I thought tix to London were cheaper IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, because I was looking into flying to London then getting tix on a cheap domestic airline from London to BCN.

I think I looked at cheapoair, kayak, and 800flyeurope if i recall correctly.

 

[mom of princessx2]

For Europe, I always find cheaper prices through cheap tickets or something like that than the airlines. I flew Lufthansa to Barcelona in September and my ticket was half of the price than what was showing on the Lufthansa site. I flew one way, RDU to Barcelona, for $750. For whatever reason, one-way was about as expensive as r/T. I thought tix to London were cheaper IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, because I was looking into flying to London then getting tix on a cheap domestic airline from London to BCN.

I think I looked at cheapoair, kayak, and 800flyeurope if i recall correctly.

That is what I am finding as well. Seems right now I am finding RT tickets for around $1200 and on the direct site they are around $1400 each. That is a huge difference. Orbitz and cheapoair seem to be the lowest currently.

 

[Candleshoe]

I like using Kayak and Southwest websites together.

 

[dgthree]

I find the Kayak app on iPhone or iPad to be more useful and less frustrating than their website.

Second Airfarewatchdog.

I think MSN Travel still incorporates FareCast buy date technology on their site, too.

 

[hockeygirl14]

I've used cheapoair a couple of times. No problems and good rates if your dates are flexible. Otherwise I use expedia and check the airline sites individually. Skyskanner is also a great site!

 

[mikehn]

The travel websites are setup to default to the lowest fare itinerary, which may or may not work for you. So on the surface, they look attractive until you see the details.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Check Skyscanner.com. After you check their offerings, scroll down to the bottom of the page for about another dozen sites to check. My DD#2 goes to London from Orlando a couple of times a year, and I'm her flight guru. She went in early December for $980 R/T on Aer Lingus. Excellent flight times for her (7:30 pm-ish departure from Orlando, and noonish departure from London.) One brief stop in Dublin each way, and on the return flight, immigration was completed in Dublin, so she just had to walk off the plane in Orlando.

According to a travel expert on the Today show, the best times to check for lower fares are Sundays and Wednesdays. Good luck, and have a wonderful trip!

Queen Colleen

 

[I_Heart_Disney_4_Lyf]

We always do Kayak. I like it because you can select the best times from all of the different airlines in addition to the prices.