comparing air fare - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

happybaby · January 30, 2007, 10:08 AM

checking for air fare to MCO this coming May..........

Air Tran 188.10 v Travelocity (Air Tran) 218.10

same exact flight

For all experienced travellers, is it best to book direct with the airline or use other sources? Or shop and compare? I assume booking thru travelocity they are getting a kick back.

Is this the norm to see the difference in the fares?

Still hoping for a cheaper flight when SW opens dates beyond May 10.

PStreet1 · January 30, 2007, 11:22 AM

Sometimes an announced airfare sale is actually available only a few hours--4 or so. Sometimes when that happens, the re-sellers (Expedia and Travelocity) have the sale fare available longer than the airline itself does. I would suspect that's what you saw.

Check out www.farecompare.com

scotlass · January 30, 2007, 11:27 AM

If the airline website shows a cheaper or the same fare, I would book throught the airline. That way, if there are any problems, the airline must rectify it. Also, the airline will give you FF miles to book through their site. Further, I'm not convinced that Travelocity or Expedia have better Customer Service, although I confess that I have not booked flights through them. Perhaps someone who has can post a reply.

irish · January 30, 2007, 12:28 PM

sorry, meant to start a new post.

nana7 · January 30, 2007, 12:50 PM

Am West is a dependable air line..but if South West Flys the same route, my choice would be SW.

Judy · January 30, 2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happybaby

For all experienced travellers, is it best to book direct with the airline or use other sources? Or shop and compare? I assume booking thru travelocity they are getting a kick back.

I do best with "shop and compare". As I recall, the airlines no longer pay commissions to travel agents including online sites such as travelocity. It's common for agents/sites to add a fee onto the fare.

DWM · January 30, 2007, 01:47 PM

Generally, the airlines have low-price promises if you book through their site. Not always the case, but in my experience it usually is true. The DOT website can show you flight performance/reliability of any flight you would want to check.

Chanook729 · January 30, 2007, 09:24 PM

Fare Compare!! I got a great deal on an Orlando flight in April. Next thing ya know POOF the price was gone.

talkamotta · January 30, 2007, 09:34 PM

Sometimes if you go to an alternative airport the prices could be cheaper. Take for example Tampa instead of Orlando. Not always but a few times that has happened to me.

Another example is using Dulles instead of Washington Reagan (National). I saved $400/rt.

Worth a try, if it can work for you.

rockedge · January 30, 2007, 10:00 PM

I will find at times that the published airfares on sites are higher than you can get by phone. Eg. There are times that I will find most sites have similar prices for a route but if I call the consolidator (instead of booking on their site) they will sometimes beat that web airfare by a significant amount. This doesn;t always happen, but it has happened often enough to me that I will also call around if I don;t like the fares that I see.

Sir Newf · January 31, 2007, 03:57 AM

Go to: www.kayak.com, best site for comparing flight costs.....

camachinist · February 2, 2007, 09:06 AM

I use FareCompare and Seatcounter and subscribe to ExpertFlyer for GDS access.

Fare mistakes and good deals are best accessed IMO by using FC's alerts matrix. SMS, RSS and e-mail is possible.

I only book through an online TA if it is a mistake fare that has zeroed but hasn't expired from their GDS access. YMMV, but ticketing sometimes does go through

. Otherwise, always the airline web site.

Pat

Noni · February 2, 2007, 09:40 AM

Try itasoftware.com.

January 30, 2007, 10:08 AM	#1
happybaby TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 622	comparing air fare checking for air fare to MCO this coming May.......... Air Tran 188.10 v Travelocity (Air Tran) 218.10 same exact flight For all experienced travellers, is it best to book direct with the airline or use other sources? Or shop and compare? I assume booking thru travelocity they are getting a kick back. Is this the norm to see the difference in the fares? Still hoping for a cheaper flight when SW opens dates beyond May 10.

January 30, 2007, 12:28 PM	#4
irish TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 836	America West Air??? sorry, meant to start a new post. Last edited by irish : January 30, 2007 at 02:20 PM. Reason: wrong place

January 30, 2007, 09:24 PM	#8
Chanook729 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: May 8, 06 Location: NJ Posts: 53 Resorts: Polynesian Isle	Ditto on.. Fare Compare!! I got a great deal on an Orlando flight in April. Next thing ya know POOF the price was gone.

January 30, 2007, 10:00 PM	#10
rockedge TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Oct 26, 06 Location: Socal Posts: 38 Resorts: Marriott Waiohai Resort on Cocoa Beach	Airfare I will find at times that the published airfares on sites are higher than you can get by phone. Eg. There are times that I will find most sites have similar prices for a route but if I call the consolidator (instead of booking on their site) they will sometimes beat that web airfare by a significant amount. This doesn;t always happen, but it has happened often enough to me that I will also call around if I don;t like the fares that I see.

January 31, 2007, 03:57 AM	#11
Sir Newf TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 20, 05 Posts: 273 Resorts: Westin-Kierland; Four Seasons-Aviara; HGVC; Laguna Shores	Go to: www.kayak.com, best site for comparing flight costs..... __________________ Sir Newf...that's my dog. Anna

January 30, 2007, 11:22 AM	#2
PStreet1 TUG Lifetime Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Rosarito Beach, Baja Norte, Mex., & Phx Posts: 736	Sometimes an announced airfare sale is actually available only a few hours--4 or so. Sometimes when that happens, the re-sellers (Expedia and Travelocity) have the sale fare available longer than the airline itself does. I would suspect that's what you saw. Check out www.farecompare.com

January 30, 2007, 11:27 AM	#3
scotlass TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Posts: 463 Resorts: Melfort Village Connemara Country Cottages La Vista Broome Park	If the airline website shows a cheaper or the same fare, I would book throught the airline. That way, if there are any problems, the airline must rectify it. Also, the airline will give you FF miles to book through their site. Further, I'm not convinced that Travelocity or Expedia have better Customer Service, although I confess that I have not booked flights through them. Perhaps someone who has can post a reply.

January 30, 2007, 12:50 PM	#5
nana7 TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 20, 05 Location: Illinois Posts: 350	Am West is a dependable air line..but if South West Flys the same route, my choice would be SW.

January 30, 2007, 01:47 PM	#7
DWM Guest BBS Reg. Date: Nov 8, 06 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 31	Generally, the airlines have low-price promises if you book through their site. Not always the case, but in my experience it usually is true. The DOT website can show you flight performance/reliability of any flight you would want to check.

January 30, 2007, 09:34 PM	#9
talkamotta TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 7, 05 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 1,273 Resorts: Sands of Kahana, Longboat Bay, Westgate Vacation Villas, etc	Sometimes if you go to an alternative airport the prices could be cheaper. Take for example Tampa instead of Orlando. Not always but a few times that has happened to me. Another example is using Dulles instead of Washington Reagan (National). I saved $400/rt. Worth a try, if it can work for you.

February 2, 2007, 09:06 AM	#12
camachinist TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Jun 6, 05 Location: Central California Posts: 2,305	I use FareCompare and Seatcounter and subscribe to ExpertFlyer for GDS access. Fare mistakes and good deals are best accessed IMO by using FC's alerts matrix. SMS, RSS and e-mail is possible. I only book through an online TA if it is a mistake fare that has zeroed but hasn't expired from their GDS access. YMMV, but ticketing sometimes does go through . Otherwise, always the airline web site. Pat

February 2, 2007, 09:40 AM	#13
Noni TUG Member BBS Reg. Date: Aug 28, 05 Location: Missouri City, TX Posts: 129 Resorts: Morritt's Seaside	Try itasoftware.com.

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