Online airfare booking - Expedia, Orbitz, etc.

[hoffmann2828]

Hi everyone, I am a first time poster to this area of the board, and have a few questions I'm sure ya'll can help me with.

First, is booking through some of the travel sites any better/worse than booking directly with the airline?

Second, do any offer something better than the other? I see they all have no booking fees (at least the ones I checked out), but is there anything special that one has and another doesn't?

Third, what if the price goes down for a flight after it's booked? Am I S.O.L.? Do any offer a price guarantee or something?

Fourth, what else do I need to know that I haven't thought of? LOL

Thanks in advance everyone!

Jenny

 

[skiingfast]

Generally there is no difference booking through a third party site for airline tickets. Sometimes when you see a good deal, it won't be available when you try to book. They dod have deals on hotel rooms or rentals, sometimes this is why packages are attractive through them.

You can do name your own price and get a deal but you probably won't find convenience on how you travel. Multi stops early or late flight times.

Try www.bing.com/travel/ it will compare many sites at once and tell you where the best deal is. It also has a indicator on if you should wait to buy.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've booked airfare through Travelocity and Orbitz. Both were for trips that would not be changed and when I was completely comfortable with the airfare.

At least one of the main sites has a "guarantee" that if someone else books the exact same trip that you did, and got it for less, that they'll refund you. Hasn't happened for me yet!

So once you book, you want to just STOP looking at airfares, because there's nothing you can do unless someone else books that exact set of flights for less.

If you normally fly on Southwest or the other couple that will consider giving a credit if the airfare drops, and if you know you can't resist looking at lower airfares, I wouldn't book with a booking site like that...just book with the airline...

 

[seashoreCM]

I suggest staying away from them and booking directly with the airline, car rental company, hotel, etc.

Like the little girl with the curl on her forehead: When they are good they are very very good but when they are bad they are horrid!

Sob stories abound. Caveat emptor.

Because commissions are very low and they don't get more for spending more time with you, they often resist making adjustments including arranging a better flight you hand picked after the airline cancelled your original flight. Also they may have bulk purchased seats on hand that they offered you a good price on but after a cancellation they have to get fresh stock at higher prices directly from the airline to give you your second choice.

 

[skiingfast]

At least one of the main sites has a "guarantee" that if someone else books the exact same trip that you did, and got it for less, that they'll refund you. Hasn't happened for me yet!

If this is about Orbitz, which runs commercials with the hovercraft. They only do this price assurace for hotel room.

 

[skiingfast]

Try www.bing.com/travel/ it will compare many sites at once and tell you where the best deal is. It also has a indicator on if you should wait to buy.

When I mention that this copares sites, it compares the airlines' sites fares which serve both airports. it also compares the airline's fares to 3 party travel sites rates. It's very comprhensive.

I have found the best part is that it will show all the flights for a day while I've seen airline sites that have reduced options. I don't why this is when there are seats on the plane. I imagine the airline is trying to fill certain planes.

 

[Inkmahm]

First, is booking through some of the travel sites any better/worse than booking directly with the airline?

I have used Expedia and Orbitz in the past. I now ONLY book direct with the airline unless it is some kind of weird trip where I need to use more than one airline and I want everything ticketed together. Only had to do this for our Alaska trip in 2008. You're much better off dealing direct with the airline if you have any changes at all after booking. Also for getting seat assignments on some airlines like Airtran.

Second, do any offer something better than the other? I see they all have no booking fees (at least the ones I checked out), but is there anything special that one has and another doesn't?The Orbitz price guarantee only applies to your EXACT trip. When I looked into it at the beginning of the promotion, the fine print was that someone had to be on your EXACT trip. That meant leaving on the same flight and returning home on the same flight on the same days. What are the odds of that EVER happening? To me, that price guarantee is worthless.

Third, what if the price goes down for a flight after it's booked? Am I S.O.L.? Do any offer a price guarantee or something?Depends on the airline. I believe Southwest will give you cedit to use in the future for the price difference. Airtran will also give you credit to use in the next year.

Fourth, what else do I need to know that I haven't thought of? LOL Keep checking airfare online once you've found flights that you'd like. Airfare goes up and down all the time for the same flights. I watch and try to buy on a day when I think it is at a low point unless I am flying during a really popular time. Then I buy when it is reasonable and watch for a price decline later (normally on Airtran.)

Thanks in advance everyone!

Jenny

Good questions! Hope I helped.

 

[bumbershoot]

Price AssuranceSM:

Once your booking is confirmed on Orbitz, we start tracking to see if another Orbitz customer subsequently books the same flight or hotel reservation on Orbitz at a lower price.

Looks like they do it for flights, too, which is what I noticed when I booked with them.

I still didn't expect to get anything, but they do have the program.


Now, they have the "Orbitz Low Price Guarantee", which is indeed only for hotels.

 

[skiingfast]

Here is the skinny on what happens on Orbitz if you find a lower fare.

"Orbitz Low Fare Promise
If you book an airline ticket on Orbitz.com and then find a lower airfare for the same flights, dates, airline and travelers on another Web site, you may be entitled to a $50 coupon per ticket toward your next Orbitz booking."

Here's the details.

http://www.orbitz.com/shared/pagedef/content/legal/lowFarePromise.jsp?popupsDisabled=true

Notice that if you find a better deal you only get a $50 coupon to book on orbitz for another flight in the future.

You don't get a lower fare on the flight you booked. You are in fact in the same position booking it on Orbitz as you are through anyone else, screwed into taking the fare you booked. This is how the economics of airlines works.