Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Guidance for someone who doesn't book flights, ever.

The goal: Book a one-way international flight to HONG KONG from ORD (CHICAGO). I live too far from Chicago, so I must take a small connecting flight from the nearest airport SPI (Springfield) to ORD.

Pretty straightforward.

I immediately noticed (I'm using Kayak) that using "SPI" in the "From" field (and HKG as destination) yields a plethora of American/Delta carriers and flights. I can go from SPI-ORD-HKG all in one booking. That's fine, except I only want to fly Korean Air or some other asian airline (Japanese). It's more expensive but worth it to me. ....and this is where I get confused.

No asian carriers originate from SPI (obviously, as it's a local airport). So I'll have to book my SPI-ORD flight separately from the ORD-HKG flight. Does this mean that once I land in Chicago, I'll have to go claim my luggage, then go through security again, hit the Korean Air terminal and re-book my luggage? Or is there a way I can "connect" these two flights so they know to automatically get my luggage and put it on the correct flight so I don't have to go through security and luggage and all of that?

On Kayak, choose the American Airlines option. American codeshares with Cathay Pacific, so if you book this ticket, you will be on a Cathay plane for ORD-HKG. You could also go straight to aa.com to book, and it will be the same.

Cathay is the only Asian airline flying this route. If you want a Japanese or Korean airline, you will have to have another stop in Los Angeles or San Francisco.

No asian carriers originate from SPI (obviously, as it's a local airport). So I'll have to book my SPI-ORD flight separately from the ORD-HKG flight. Does this mean that once I land in Chicago, I'll have to go claim my luggage, then go through security again, hit the Korean Air terminal and re-book my luggage? Or is there a way I can "connect" these two flights so they know to automatically get my luggage and put it on the correct flight so I don't have to go through security and luggage and all of that?


1) most airlines have interline agreements so your luggage can be checked all the way through even if it's 2 separate tickets/airlines. A few exceptions but none that should affect you.
2)if it is two tickets be aware that if your SPI-ORD flight is delayed and you miss your ORD flight the carrier is NOT required to get you on another flight. Same with return.

if it is two tickets be aware that if your SPI-ORD flight is delayed and you miss your ORD flight the carrier is NOT required to get you on another flight.
Second that. Make sure to book everything on one itinerary.

The goal: Book a one-way international flight to HONG KONG from ORD (CHICAGO). I live too far from Chicago, so I must take a small connecting flight from the nearest airport SPI (Springfield) to ORD.

..

except I only want to fly Korean Air or some other asian airline (Japanese). It's more expensive but worth it to me. ....and this is where I get confused.


Check out http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ you'll find all your options there.

Btw, sometime a One-Way ticket could end up being more expensive than a Return ticket...

Try prices for roundtrip tickets - you may find that you save some money. Also, if you don't have a HK passport or other proof of right of adobe or similar, it will save you from some potential hassle getting permission to board the flight. I'm assuming you have that in order though. You could also see if you get away with attaching a "third" leg without substantial increase in fare if you're interested in going somewhere else from HK on a later date. If you are a student try some student airfare sites. I've been on LAX-HKG on Cathay, it was nice. I've also used UAL for the same leg....heh. Not so nice, but I at least got one of the "good" coach seats in an (aging) 747 where you get space between your seat and the window.