Never booked airfare online before...tell me this will be okay!

[Pooh93]

I just booked our American Airlines flight from St. Louis to Orlando for next June and did it online. Now, I'm nervous because I didn't use a travel agent! I know this is dumb on my part, but tell me this will be okay!!! I know thousands of people do this everyday!

Please don't tell me any horror stories!!

 

[timkin]

Booking online is the only way to go. I've never had a problem. Just keeping checking the price of your flight, if the price goes down you can possibly get a voucher for the difference to use on your next flight.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pooh93
I just booked our American Airlines flight from St. Louis to Orlando for next June and did it online. Now, I'm nervous because I didn't use a travel agent! I know this is dumb on my part, but tell me this will be okay!!! I know thousands of people do this everyday!

Please don't tell me any horror stories!!

You will be fine. It is NOT dumb and you probably got a lower fare than you would have through a TA.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Pooh93
I just booked our American Airlines flight from St. Louis to Orlando for next June and did it online. Now, I'm nervous because I didn't use a travel agent!

Nothing to be nervous about. Thats the only way I book our flights the last 3 years. Remember to also check in on-line for your boarding passes 24-30 hrs before your flight. If you are only adults traveling you can pick the exit rows for more leg room.

 

[NCRedding]

The one time we used a travel agent to book flights was the one time we didn't receive the correct information--this was the days before online reservation and confirmation, and our flight was moved from a pm flight to an am flight. Continental notified agent-agent didn't notify us--we missed the flight. Now, I always book on-line and do a confirmation online-it is the only way to go!

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
Remember to also check in on-line for your boarding passes 24-30 hrs before your flight. If you are only adults traveling you can pick the exit rows for more leg room.

On American Airlines, only passengers with "premium" (full-fare coach, non-discounted) tickets and AAdvantage (frequent flyer) Gold, Platinum and Exectutive Platinum members have advance access to exit row seat assignments — whether online, over the phone, or through a travel agent.

If your American Airlines flight is on any aircraft other than a 757 or A300, you'll have plenty of legroom anywhere in coach. But on leisure routes, such as on most flights to Florida, you'll usually be on a 757 — and these are being reconfigured to have "normal" coach legroom, similar to most other airlines.

Even if you have a seat assignment elsewhere in coach, you can always ask for the exit row at the airport. Exit row seats can be available because the elite AAdvantage members who had those seat assignments often upgrade to first class.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
On American Airlines, only passengers with "premium" (full-fare coach, non-discounted) tickets and AAdvantage (frequent flyer) Gold, Platinum and Exectutive Platinum members have advance access to exit row seat assignments — whether online, over the phone, or through a travel agent.

Thanks for the heads up on AA Werner but we only fly Continental and US AIR for FF miles and they both allow selection of exit rows.

 

[Jestocost]

As of their Nov. 1 cutback in St. Louis, American appears to be flying only MD-80s on the Orlando route. Prior to that, they flew some 757s, but they've gone to the smaller planes now that they're no longer using St. Louis as a hub and routing flights from other cities through Lambert.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Jestocost
As of their Nov. 1 cutback in St. Louis, American appears to be flying only MD-80s on the Orlando route. Prior to that, they flew some 757s, but they've gone to the smaller planes now that they're no longer using St. Louis as a hub and routing flights from other cities through Lambert.

The official American Airlines website shows that as of January 6, 2004, the two daily St. Louis-Orlando nonstops are changing from the current MD-80 (more room throughout coach) service to 757 (leisure configuration) service.

 

[inkkognito]

Booking online is the BEST!!
We've booked online with various airlines, such as American, United, and ATA, and have never had any problems. I love it because we can get the lowest fares (we usually check via Orbitz first, then book on the airline's own site) and choose our own seats. These days, you don't need an intermediary involved for air travel. I think you did a wise thing.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Pooh93]

Thanks for the encouragement! I will definitely check in online. (I did all this through www.aa.com, it was $5 cheaper than anyone else right now) According to the schedule, the plane is a 757 unless something changes. Our seats as of now are in row 22. I will confirm all of that when the time draws near! Even if they change to an MD-80, I've flown on those several times. Not exactly luxurious, but gets you where you are going!

 

[Joyciemc]

You don't sound dumb at all! But don't worry, booking online works just fine. I'm the dumb one- I've never bought tickets any other way than online,and honestly don't know how it would work without the computer. I assume you call the airline and they mail you actual tickets? I don't even know what an airplane ticket looks like!

Have a great trip!