How do you purchase your flights?

[waltfan42]

We don't fly very often, but when we have, we have almost always flown Airtran and bought from them direct. This time I am going to try and get a flight home into a different airport. Do you all typically buy directly from the airline or use Orbitz, or Pricline or something like that? Buying airfare is always so stressful for me. The most stressful part of the trip!

 

[siskaren]

I'll check Orbitz for prices, but then by from airline. I don't know about Airtran, but Southwest doesn't use Orbitz, so your only option for them is their website.

 

[dvcterry]

i've tried both & compared the prices. the problem with not going direct and through a third party when i booked the ticket was i could not choose the seat and it was a final sale, after checking with the airline direct they had options to select seats and refundable tickets. so live and learn. the flight also got bumped from one airport to another and there is nothing i can do at this point, can't contact the airline because i didn't book from them and going through another party just cost me more money because i have to add the additional driving time & possible hotel to stay before the flight, because they've also change the time to 6:00 a.m. departure from a further city then where i booked.

 

[canopynut66]

we tried the orbiz etc and it was a messy trip so for the last several years we just go directly thru the airline and for us air tran is the best and we always fly non stop . this wasting half or more of a whole day in an airport not what we want to do on vacation and really not saving that much. southwest will be taking over air tran soon and guess they only book themselves. I agree it can be stressful and doing it direct and non stop is less stressful for us

 

[rwdavis2]

You don't ever want to book with a third party like Orbitz, etc. if something goes wrong the travel company and the airline will point fingers at each other which will not help you. Some people do OK but if there is a problem you are stuck. I use the travel sites to compare flights from multiple airlines. I like Hipmonk.

 

[sam_gordon]

You don't ever want to book with a third party like Orbitz, etc. if something goes wrong the travel company and the airline will point fingers at each other which will not help you. Some people do OK but if there is a problem you are stuck. I use the travel sites to compare flights from multiple airlines. I like Hipmonk.

Also, I'm about 97% sure airlines have to match prices for their flights if listed elsewhere (ie: Delta flight 957 is $200 on Orbitz, it will be $200 on Delta's site). So I don't really see a benefit from booking a 3rd party site.

 

[klynn]

We don't fly very often, but when we have, we have almost always flown Airtran and bought from them direct. This time I am going to try and get a flight home into a different airport. Do you all typically buy directly from the airline or use Orbitz, or Pricline or something like that? Buying airfare is always so stressful for me. The most stressful part of the trip!

I always purchase directly from the airlines. All you need to do is purchase one-way fares on whatever carrier(s) you chose. You don't need to book both outbound and return from the same carrier.

 

[dawnhaze]

I fly Jetblue, so I just book through their mobile app. I never see their flights on the discount sites anyway.

I will compare prices using third-party sites like Kayak just to see what else is out there though.

 

[rwdavis2]

Also, I'm about 97% sure airlines have to match prices for their flights if listed elsewhere (ie: Delta flight 957 is $200 on Orbitz, it will be $200 on Delta's site). So I don't really see a benefit from booking a 3rd party site.

I doubt that airlines have to match any prices. Many times they sell seats in bulk to other sites. How do you prove it to the airline that another site is lower?

 

[dis_guy]

Buying airfare nowadays is actually easier than it used to be in my opinion.

You used to have to go online at odd hours, use your zen, do a bit of voodoo, just to get a better fare. Now, as long as you fly on Tuesday-Thursday you can get the best fares an airline has to offer, albeit at a much higher price than we used to pay just a few years ago.

Since United is our most convenient connection to the US, here's what I do. Plan your trip as far in advance as possible (like a year ahead) and keep an eye on the dates the farthest out fares are coming up for. When you see your dates come up on the schedule, wait because the prices will be high. In a few days to a week they will come down and that's the time to buy. In my experience, waiting any longer will only let you watch the fares go up. In the last few years, I have never seen them go down as the departure date approaches.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

 

[waltfan42]

Thank you for the great advice everybody. This was exactly what I needed to know. Thanks again!