Who do you book your flights through?

[swimfin]

I've been reading a few threads that discuss problems some people have with Travelocity. This got me wondering, who do you book your flights through? I'm asking as we are hoping to do a European cruise and possibly plan to use a TA depending on pricing he/she can get. If I book my flights on my own, just curious what sites people like and why? TYIA! Cheers!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've been reading a few threads that discuss problems some people have with Travelocity. This got me wondering, who do you book your flights through? I'm asking as we are hoping to do a European cruise and possibly plan to use a TA depending on pricing he/she can get. If I book my flights on my own, just curious what sites people like and why? TYIA! Cheers!

Typically, we book our own flights.

That said, there have been a couple of instances where we used DCL to book our flights. Primarily the TransAtlantic cruises. The price difference on our first TA, was only about $100 each for DCL to book them, and we felt it was worth the "insurance" that, if there were issues, DCL would help us get to the cruise.

On our second TA, we did DCL air again, mostly, because of the flight issues flying from/to the west coast/Orlando/London/LA and transfers.

 

[JW9DVC]

American or Virgin.

 

[swimfin]

Typically, we book our own flights.

That said, there have been a couple of instances where we used DCL to book our flights. Primarily the TransAtlantic cruises. The price difference on our first TA, was only about $100 each for DCL to book them, and we felt it was worth the "insurance" that, if there were issues, DCL would help us get to the cruise.

On our second TA, we did DCL air again, mostly, because of the flight issues flying from/to the west coast/Orlando/London/LA and transfers.

THANK YOU PrincessShmoo!! You are always a great help! Another question if possible ... If I use DU for the OBC, can they book my flights through DCL and if so, can we ask to fly in a few days early so we can see Copenhaggen? Or if we go in a few days early the fights might not be an issue?

 

[swimfin]

THANK YOU!!

American or Virgin.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

THANK YOU PrincessShmoo!! You are always a great help! Another question if possible ... If I use DU for the OBC, can they book my flights through DCL and if so, can we ask to fly in a few days early so we can see Copenhaggen? Or if we go in a few days early the fights might not be an issue?

Yes, your travel agent can book the air flights through DCL, if that's what you want to go for. I don't know about whether you can fly in a couple of days early using DCL air, though. I know on other cruise lines that's often an option, but not sure about DCL.

We flew in on embarkation day the first TA, and the night before for the second.

 

[swimfin]

Yes, your travel agent can book the air flights through DCL, if that's what you want to go for. I don't know about whether you can fly in a couple of days early using DCL air, though. I know on other cruise lines that's often an option, but not sure about DCL.

We flew in on embarkation day the first TA, and the night before for the second.

THANKS again! I think since we would fly in early, we'll do the air on our own

 

[xlxo]

I use Expedia for my travels..... I used Travelocity at one time.... but found the website slow. Expedia bought out Travelocity in 2015.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I never use an online travel agenc like Expedia or travelocity for flights. I look st those sites to get an idea of cost and what airlines go where and then I go directly to the airline to book in my own. Have never found those inline agencies to be any cheaper. And when you book directly eoth the airline you have control over your flights in case something goes wrong. On occasion, for a complicated flight, I will ask my TA to book flights but mostly I book on my own,

 

[swimfin]

I use Expedia for my travels..... I used Travelocity at one time.... but found the website slow. Expedia bought out Travelocity in 2015.

THANK YOU!!! Good to know!

 

[xlxo]

http://time.com/money/3707551/expedia-orbitz-impact-travelers/

 

[dclpluto]

Usually American
aa.com
Sometimes I look at Expedia, travelocity but always book with the airlines directly

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Usually American
aa.com
Sometimes I look at Expedia, travelocity but always book with the airlines directly

Absolutely! Me, too! I learned the hard way after DCL canceled one of our cruises, and boy, did we get scr*wed with air, hotel, etc, we booked through Travelocity. Never again. I use Travelocity and Expedia to sort and research good fares /times that work for us, but that lesson taught me a lot about how consolidators work. The airline couldn't help me bc they don't get paid by Travelocity until we board the flight. Travelocity wanted to *change* our flights, not refund them. We ended up flying into a completely different state (TX vs FL) for our new cruise so changing them wouldn't work bc the airline we were on didn't fly directly there and would have taken a day just to fly there. So, now after I get an idea of which airline I'm looking for (usually American since Phila is a hub for them) and what time we want, i just keep checking back directly on the airline's website. Just a side note: I cannot tell you the time I wasted attempting to speak with a "supervisor " at Travelocity. It was an insulting and frustrating waste of time. Long story short, I finally wised up after a few weeks and got my credit card company involved (yes, Disney Chase Visa Premier) and with a sprinkle of magic dust, i miraculously received credit back on my credit card. Wow, the time I wasted on that lesson! That being said, I will use Travelocity for a simple hotel transaction if the price is better. However, you should always check directly with the hotel's website to make sure you're getting the best deal! Sometimes AARP may give you a better rate, too. Just check around and do your research!

ETA: I've checked Disney's air but the times and connections (we only do nonstop ) never worked for us, and this past time, our TA actually told.us not to use Disney air bc we could get better fares ourselves (i guess coming from PHL). I could see how, if flying internationally, a TA would be a good idea.

 

[diznymom]

We book directly through the airline.....either American or Southwest. We prefer American since they are a "participating" airline.

 

[JW9DVC]

I also use ItA matrix or

https://www.google.com/flights/#flt=x/m/030qb3t..2017-02-15*.x/m/030qb3t.2017-02-19;e:1;sd:1;t:e
Google flights.
My favs though are Virgin and American because I'm an executive platinum with them.
JW

 

[Laundress]

We book directly through the Airlines. For us its usually American. We use the other sites for research.

 

[DLM1980]

A recent dreams podcast I believe recommended using kayak to search all the discount sites at once for the best rate. I know my partner uses that but when he finds a flight within the budget he heads to the airline website to try an obtain the same or better rate....why go through a middleman if you don't have to

 

[BadPinkTink]

I use www.skyscanner.com to check prices, its similar to kayak and then I book direct with the airlines. Like @Cackyschmackers I had issues with a TA / Consolidator. I turned up at the airport for a transatlantic flight and was told at checkin by the airline that they had not received the money from the 3rd party booking agent and I was not BOOKED on the flight, only had a reservation. Long story short I ended up not going on my original itinerary and had to be rebooked for travel the following day on a different airline. NEVER.... AGAIN.... so now I am back booking direct with airlines.

 

[Dug720]

Book my own flights directly through the airline.

Just like I make my own cruise and/or hotel reservations myself directly through the cruise line and/or hotel.

 

[KashasMom]

I have booked many times with Travelocity (there have been times when their prices were cheaper than the airline's site). I've never had any issues and that includes at least one flight change.

I have a Chase United card so I book with them for big flights (Asia, Europe) whenever I can use ff miles. I like their partner airlines.

I like Jet Blue a lot and will book with then whenever I can - especially for those Florida cruise flights. Booked our upcoming Fantasy flights with them but noticed for the first time that their fares were not as good a deal as usual. That was disappointing.

We're stuck with American or Delta for many domestic flights. Not a fan of either.

I would NEVER let the cruise line book my air. Who knows what kind of flight - timing and stops(!) - you'll get!