US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - US website fares vs. Orbitz

I just checked prices on an itinerary from MCO to BWI on 10/20, returning 10/25. Usair.com showed a lowest fare of $642.50, with the flights I wanted at $670.50. Orbitz showed several itineraries for those days at $354.00,
including the one I wanted. Orbitz did not show this as a special "web fare" or any other discounted fare. When I checked the fare rules, both BE101NZ and VRA10BSN were shown, I assume one for the outbound and the other for the return, though there doesn't seem to be any way to determine the fare basis for each direction or segment. For comparison, I checked a few other sites, Trip.com and Travelocity mirrored Usair.com, Expedia matched Orbitz.

Assuming they want people to buy directly from them, any ideas on why the US website doesn't provide the same fares as Orbitz and Expedia?

While on the topic of US online booking, has anyone ever been able to use the seat selection feature while buying a ticket on US's web site? Every time I have ever tried it, both before the redesign and as recently as a week ago, I get a RESPHONES error, and I can't continue with the ticket purchase. I have even talked to support about this, with no real help.

I have no idea why there are the variances in prices on the various websites, but I have noticed the same thing.

On the subject of seat selection I have seen something interesting (to me at least). I was buying a ticket from RDU to SEA and a friend was buying the exact same flights (getting out more!) I am a US2 and he is a US4 (we will both be going up a level)- The automatic seat assignments for me were in the "prefered" rows and his were in the far back. We were making the reservations at the exact same time. I have never been able to pick a preferred seat, but it seems that the booking engine is now smart enough to give you when you deserve it - cockroach or not.

[This message has been edited by Oxb (edited 10-05-2002).]

Orbitz will sometimes show availability in lower priced fare classes than US' own website. All I would say is book it if you want it from Orbitz, if you wait it may disappear. Sometimes you have to forego booking from US directly (and getting the online booking bonus) ...

It has been my experience that you really need to chack multiple sites prior to purchasing a ticket. While the initial poster indicated the Orbitz quoted a lower price on the desired itinerary, I personally have had no successing finding the lowest fare with them. My two most recently booked trips were through Expedia, and the US website would not give me the desired routing, had a higher fare, or would not price the trip at all.

I have had the experience in Sept of trying to book PHL-SFO RT at the lowest fare which at the time was $243 RT. USAir's site only let me select highly restricted days of the week, Tues-Wed out bound, Monday earliest return. I wanted to fly out Thurs back Sunday. I got the same fare on Orbitz and could fly any day of the week. Was happy to pay the $5 surcharge.

So I agree with the poster who said "check multiple sites". You never know.

I was originally planning to come in and make a new post for this, but this topic seems relevant..

Once again, I got nailed by the US website trying to book a fare before the sale expired. Was looking at PIT-DEN end of October, no Sat stay, for $325. Sale expired Sunday 10/6/02. Went in Sunday am and fares still there. Got busy and by the time I went back in to book at 9pm EST, fare sale was 'over' . But I could still buy exact fare on Orbitz, with $10 processing fee for tickets.

Didnt we decide a while back that this is caused by the US website being somewhere east of Eastern Standard Time? Anyway, if this happens to you, just try another booking engine.. Oh darn, no 1000 mile online booking bonuses ;-)

yes I find Orbitz easier to use to find flights than US's site. If I find what i want then I look at US and try and book there.

But in the past few months I've found Oribtz has MUCH better pricing on 2 occasions even paying the service fee.

On one ORbitz ticket they sent me an e-mail parking coupon that saved me $20 so it was a better deal.

Only thing is that I don't like the inability to pick seats on Orbitz, but U doesn't always show you the good ones anyway so I wind up calling to move the seats.

Now I find travelocity a pain, cause they will show lower prices then US, but at the end of the booking it always errors out on me. Travelocity explains that the fare is no longer available, but I can go right back in after they tell me that and see the fare.

Oh well as it was said before - try multiple sites

Completely agree - my experience has been that frequently Orbitz has lower fares for me (either flights based out of IND or PHL).