Which site is best to use for airline

[stlsports4ever]

Hi everybody! Which of these sites is best for airline tickets? We are going in June 2007 by the way> travelocity, expedia, orbitz, priceline... Any help would mean a lot. Thanks.

Mr. Mike

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I start on Kayak to see which airlines fly to where I want to go, which ones have nonstops, the range of prices, and possible alternate airports. (Kayak does not include some of the low cost carriers.)

However, when it's time to buy the tickets, I go the airline website for the airline that I've chosen. Online travel agencies like Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz charge a service fee on each ticket because the airlines no longer pay commissions to them, so the only way they can make money from airline tickets is to charge a fee.

The airlines offer guarantees that their websites will not be undersold on published fares.

It is sometimes possible to do better with an unpublished fare, such as a negotiated fare that an airline might offer to an association or to convention attendees.

If you do a lot of research and you're flexible, you can save money by "naming your own price" on Priceline. I've never done so. I'd rather pick my airline and flight times.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I pretty much agree with Horace except... Kayak is a travel search engine, not a travel agency - so you just click through directly to the provider once you find a price you like on Kayak. They don't charge any fee, they get paid by the airline, hotel, etc, IF you link directly to that company.
A specific airline whose fares they include, that the online travel agencies don't, is JetBlue.

 

[bicker]

kayak.com and sidestep.com are both great places to find good airfares.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I agree with Kayak. I use to use Orbitz (still do check now and then) but have discovered Kayak, it is good. Even though I most often use the same airline, Midwest Airlines, whenever I can, I am not against saving money if the AA or UAL is a LOT less.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My personal favorite is Southwest.com. Their fares are reasonable and if they have a sale you can rebook online and keep the credit for 1 yr. Anyone can use the credits, not just the original passenger, and they can be used online for any SWA flight (We now have credits for $392!) Also you can download Ding to your computer and they will send you notices for drastically low prices, usually for the next month's travel. The current ding going on this morning is Chicago-MCO for $44 each way. I've gotten dings to MCO from Philly for $39 and last night's ding to MCO was for Long Island,NY for around $40.
There's never a change fee and their customer service is awesome too.
I love SWA!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Dan Murphy,
I noticed you live near Chicago. You might want to check this out if you plan on going soon.
Here is this morning's Ding:

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 1257 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Friday and Sunday, September 14 through September 30, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 1257 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 1506 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Saturday, September 11 through September 30, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 1506 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 2053 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Friday, September 11 through September 30, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 2053 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 2228 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Friday, September 11 through October 31, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 2228 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 2249 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Friday, September 14 through September 30, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 2249 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 2431 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Friday and Sunday, September 11 through October 31, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 2431 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $44 One-Way on Flight 876 Only!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Saturday, September 11 through September 30, 2006
- Fare may not be offered each way
- Fare is valid for travel on Flight 876 only

Chicago (Midway) to Orlando for $54 One-Way!
- Fare is valid for travel Monday-Saturday, September 11 through October 31, 2006 only

Similar deals are also listed for return flights through 10/31.