Travelocity/Expedia/Orbitz for Airfare?

[ibidforit]

Has anyone used travelocity, expedia, or orbitz to book their airfare? I thought that it might be cheaper to book directly through the airline's web site. I am seeing reduced fares on these 3 sites for airfare from Indy to MCO, but it is not showing up the same price on the ATA web site. Can anyone tell me why this is? Should I go go ahead and book through travelocity and pay the service fee? Will the fares go down on the airline site, or is this a special internet fare that I cannot get directly through the airline?

 

[safetymom]

The airlines that belong to Orbitz put so many seats up for sale on the site. Sometimes you can find that same fare on the airlines site sometimes you won't. You just have to keep checking both sites to see which one is cheaper.

 

[dtk'smom]

I booked through the ATA web site because with Orbitz's service fee it turned out to be cheaper to do it that way.

 

[minniecarousel]

We booked our flight through Expedia, because it was cheaper than anything else we could find on the Web. Checking the airlines own websites couldn't beat what we found on Expedia! It was only a $20 booking fee. (SWA was a HUGE disappointment! -very few seats at a reduced fare!

 

[califred]

I always check at Orbitz and then go to the corresponding airlines website.. that way I can see if they have the same rate and I didn't have to search through 8 websites .

 

[KathyR]

I have booked w/both expedia and travelcity before, and I have heard of plenty of people using orbitz w/o problems. I prefer to book via the airlines websites, but if the better price is through one of the other sites, then I will book w/them.

BTW-
I just booked ATA flights IND to MCO at about 1 AM this morning. After months of seeing a fare of $240pp for our Oct trip, there was a price drop to $146.50pp. That fare has not showed up all day since I woke up, so I am very glad I checked the fares before turning in late last night/early this morning LOL. I hope you get a great fare too!!!

 

[inkkognito]

ATA's wbsite should have the same fare as Orbitz. We fly them all the time...we first check via Orbitz for comparison, and when ATA is the cheapest (which is almost always the same), we've never had problems finding the same flights & fare on their site. If you fly them three times a year, sign up for their frequent flyer program and you'll earn a free companion ticket.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[ibidforit]

I went ahead and booked through Travelocity also from IND to MCO in October at the $150 price. When I checked back today, those rates were gone! It's back up to $245 now. ATA never did show those low rates!

Gretchen

 

[Buzzsgramma]

After checking for the past few mths....this morn around 10:00 am i booked 6 air-fares out of MDW to MCO in Oct for ....$175.00 (each) rd.trip. I have gotton them as low as $150......but since as late as last night they were still $271.00 i booked, thats a Sun to Sat. flight...i am thur agonizing over it...we always take ATA.....

 

[KathyR]

ibidforit-
Congratulations on your great fare! Now you can sit back and wait for the days to pass w/o having to worry about airfare It is always such a relief when I book our airfare. That seems to be the portion of our trip where the cost is not so predictable.

Buzzsgramma-
$175 is a great fare too! Congratulations!!! I would have booked at that rate too! Our fare just stayed at $245 FOREVER! Then, I just happened upon the $146.50 fare late one evening, and I of course snatched it right up! Anything nonstop under $200 is fine w/me Plus, ATA has the best flight times out of IND. 8AM departure w/a 10PM return

Have a great trip all

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Thanks KathyR I see you are a DVC.....BWV/WLV gal....sure love that BW....but my heart is at the Lodge...stayed there in Dec with our GS...and DH in a room....then switched over to the BWV later in the wk...headed back in Oct with DS and fam to the BW.....isnt it great to always have a place to stay...just concentrate on the air-fare and thats done.....so just enjoy

 

[KathyR]

Buzzsgramma-
Yes, the DVC is wonderful. I love having the accomodations taken care of. Our only planning there is which resort to pick since they are all so great! Airfare is our only concern when planning, and I am always happy to run accross a bargain on it

We are staying at the VWL for the first time this year, and I am looking forward to it. As far as WDW DVC resorts go: BWV (for location and decor) and OKW (for the big rooms and balconies and parking right outside) have our hearts, so it should be interesting to see where VWL fit in I am sure we will love it. We have stayed at 3 DVC resorts (BWV, HHI and OKW) so far, and have been in love with everyone for different reasons This trip we are trying 2 more this trip (VWL and VB) plus an old favorite (OKW), so we can't wait. Come on October

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I always check expedia, and orbitz. Iv'e booked with expedia 2 or 3 times, without problems.

Last night I found the flights from Ind to MCO on orbitz for $146.50, but on ATA web site, only 136.50. No $10.00 handling fee.

Just check the lowest price with that airlines web site before purchasing. Sometimes its cheaper, and sometimes not.



Have fun.

 

[disnygoof]

This is my first flight out to Disney, but I've made other flights here and there. *We ususally have driven to WDW before*

I've become a flight fare expert over the many times I've booked online travel, my friends email me all the time for me to book their airfare, LOL. Most often, I've found the best fares on travelocity and expedia. You can sign up for their low fare finders and they will email you when rates change for your selected itinerary(ies). For this trip, the lowest fare I found was on Orbitz. My friend uses this site religiously for airfare and I must say, it's a very user friendly site. So I vote for all three. I do extensive research first and look EVERYWHERE. The only thing I don't like about Orbitz is the way they do their car rental searches. You don't get told what the total amount is before you enter your credit card #, which irks me a bit. For car rentals, I'd rather go directly to the company's site.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[kosmo]

It depends on your home airport and destination, but from Grand Rapids, MI to MCO I find the best rates on Orbitz. ATA is always better through Orbitz than directly through ATA; however, this last time (last week) we ended up going Continental. I checked Orbitz and then Continental's site and it did end up being $5/ticket cheaper going directly through the airlines this time. I guess bottom line is to check EVERYWHERE you can for each vacation to be sure you get the best rate.