What sites do you use for flights?

[DisneyWitch]

Hi there!

I'm getting ready to purchase airline tickets to MCO for our December 2014 trip, and although I've always gone SWA, I'm wondering if there are better deals out there. Let's face it, was a time when SWA was the cheapest out there, and I only had to go to one website.

But...am I the only one who is overwhelmed by the options? Now that I want to expand my horizons, I'm drowning in confusion! Do I go to each airline's website individually? What's a better aggregate site: Kayak, Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia? I want to get the best price for us, but I'm not really sure how to go about it.

Where do you guys go to find the best comparison rates for flights?

 

[mikehn]

Kayak is a good site to check. If you are willing to fly from Reagan Natl, you might find that Jetblue and US Air are the other two airlines competitive in price to SWA on flights to MCO.

 

[sam_gordon]

I suggest http://matrix.itasoftware.com/.

Whichever you decide to use, use it for research only. Book through the airline itself. The price should be the same. In fact, some airlines offer a "low price guarantee".

Also whichever site you use, make sure you're seeing the TOTAL cost. You may have go through a fake booking (don't put in CC#) to make sure they're not hiding fees & taxes.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I suggest http://matrix.itasoftware.com/.

Whichever you decide to use, use it for research only. Book through the airline itself. The price should be the same. In fact, some airlines offer a "low price guarantee".

Also whichever site you use, make sure you're seeing the TOTAL cost. You may have go through a fake booking (don't put in CC#) to make sure they're not hiding fees & taxes.

I normally agree with this, but I booked a RT ticket for a relative to fly this summer from the US to Istanbul for a cruise and Expedia charged me $1,600 for a trip on Delta/Air France. The cost was $1,000 more booking the exact same flights directly through the airline. I have no idea why, except somehow Expedia pulled up cheaper fare classes.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I just don't "get it" with Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline, etc. I've never found them easy to use, helpful or any great prices. I go directly to the airlines website and found their prices always the same and in some cases...better.

 

[sam_gordon]

I normally agree with this, but I booked a RT ticket for a relative to fly this summer from the US to Istanbul for a cruise and Expedia charged me $1,600 for a trip on Delta/Air France. The cost was $1,000 more booking the exact same flights directly through the airline. I have no idea why, except somehow Expedia pulled up cheaper fare classes.

Just out of curiosity, did you try calling Delta/AF and ask them to match the cost?

Delta is one airline that (at least now) offers to match the price... http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/planning-a-trip/booking-information/online-booking/best-fare-guarantee.html

ETA: I understand this may have been before Delta implemented their policy.

 

[dholmes1950]

I've gotten great prices on JetBlue out of DCA to Orlando (at times approx. $160.00 round trip). The terminal they use is super convenient -- the only downside is the parking prices.

 

[OKW Lover]

I like to use www.kayak.com to monitor the price of flights. You can set up an alert that will send you daily updates on the prices.

 

[ancestry]

Sometimes I use Kayak to get a feel for the prices but I only book the actually tickets themselves directly on the airline's site. For us, we only fly Jet Blue or Southwest -- the only exception being if Jet Blue and Southwest don't fly where we need to go.

 

[mikehn]

I normally agree with this, but I booked a RT ticket for a relative to fly this summer from the US to Istanbul for a cruise and Expedia charged me $1,600 for a trip on Delta/Air France. The cost was $1,000 more booking the exact same flights directly through the airline. I have no idea why, except somehow Expedia pulled up cheaper fare classes.

I agree, some times my firms travel agent gets fares lower than what's published on the airlines own website. I always wondered how, but never ask.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree, some times my firms travel agent gets fares lower than what's published on the airlines own website. I always wondered how, but never ask.

Many businesses negotiate with the airlines for reduced or consolidated fares.

 

[redrosesix]

I like kayak to track fares and to set my preferences eg. departure time, length of trip etc. but we usually book directly with the airline. Tbh I check the price on several sites.

I used Priceline to buy DH's RT ticket this year -- with 2 different airlines. I checked but couldn't get the same price buying from the airlines.

 

[dawnhaze]

I use Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline to get a general idea of what's available for certain dates and routes, but I always book directly with the airline. The last time I booked airfare through a third party, the customer service was an absolute nightmare when I had to get an issue resolved.