Who to buy airline tix through?

[Beth76]

I'm planning on buying airline tickets today and Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia and the airline (Am West) are all the same price. Which would you purchase from and do you have a reason? I've purchased from travelocity before with no problems, but just wondering if perhaps it's better to go directly through the airline.

 

[Christine]

I usually do my price-checking through all of the above places you named, but I seem to always end up purchasing through the airline. It is always as cheap, if not a few dollars cheaper that Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. If you find a cheap flight on one of these, write it down, and then go through the airline and find the same flight. I've never NOT seen the discounted price come up. Usually Travelocity will tack on an extra $5 or so for their processing fee or whatever it is.

 

[helenk]

I use Travelocity and the others as a search engine only, I have found that going through the airlines directly is cheaper and I have a better choice of flight times.
My mother uses Travelocity when she has to book flights that need more than one or two stops before getting where you need to be, and she likes them.

 

[OhMari]

I've stayed directly with the airline. Sometimes Travelocity has decent packages hotel/travel/car. But the airline usually has the best price. And most will let you get a e-ticket 24 hrs before your flight to check in.

 

[Ava83]

When I book in the end I go to the airline, the prices should be the same and no handling fee (usally?) I have been using Southwest for everything so I have no idea any longer.

 

[Beth76]

Sometimes Travelocity has decent packages hotel/travel/car.

We don't need a car or hotel, just the air tix. I think I'll just stick with the airline then. Thanks everyone!

 

[RachelEllen]

A lot of the airlines seem to give you extra ff miles for booking directly as well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I always use the airline. No fees, frequently some extra FF miles (500 or so) and I think a lot easier if you need to make a change or alteration. Enjoy the trip.

 

[cardaway]

I use Travelocity and the others as a search engine only, I have found that going through the airlines directly is cheaper and I have a better choice of flight times.

I've found this to be true as well, at least for the last two years.

Odd though, before that it seemed to be the opposite. Not sure why things changed, but I've used Travelocity before because they were cheaper at the time.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I've found this to be true as well, at least for the last two years.

Odd though, before that it seemed to be the opposite. Not sure why things changed, but I've used Travelocity before because they were cheaper at the time.

Same here. I used to book all the time through Orbitz because their prices were almost always cheaper, but these days it seems that after all the fees and everything that gets added on, going directly through the airline almost always is cheaper (or at least the same price) as the sites like Orbitz and Travelocity.

 

[Blondie]

I deal strictly with the airline as well, always have.