How do you book a flight?
 

I thought it might be fun for people to share their process of booking flights.

Say you are going DTW-MCO. What is your process for finding a booking the flight on Delta. What websites do you check, routing etc...

Edit: the DTW-MCO was random. share whatever.

One-way searches DTW-MCO and MCO-DTW to find the flights I want. Most direct routing if time is important, perhaps a more circuitous routing if I have time and want the MQMs. Check the number of preferred seats filled compared to the number of F seats open to gauge chances of upgrade. Then DTW-MCO round-trip. Search by schedule if my chosen options don't come up, and if still nothing, a multi-city search. Price the itinerary. Use an online travel agency like Expedia or the Big O to compare prices to other carriers.

Use http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ to check fares. Use kayak.com to confirm and click through to book through Delta.com. Rarely do I go to Delta.com to book.

My process is pretty simple....I go to Delta.com, find the flights I want, copy and paste it into an email, send it to the company travel agent and she books it

I use the Matrix, adding in (carrier DL, zero or more connections) in the advanced boxes for outbound and return. Search for best time or relatively cheap fare that nets the most MQM :-)

I prefer redeye flights on the outbound, as I won't have to take time off work on that day.

Then to book, I'll try Delta.com, and type in a multi-city itinerary if i have to, if that doesn't work, I book through Kayak/Orbitz or even call customer service

Priceline 1% cash back posts like clockwork via ebates.^

I use DL.com for straight forward itins, but anything multicity etc always use ITA to confirm price/fare, and Kayak to book. So +1 to this suggestion.

I use Delta.com to find my flights and email a screenshot or the flight numbers to my corp travel agent. I hate the process because it adds $30 to every ticket but the man likes to keep tabs on us.

Yes I use the same process. (I hang my head in shame but I do also use Expedia directly - without Kayak).

Ditto. But then again I learned from the best. :)

I use kayak to find the flight/routing I want at a price that makes sense (it's all about the sliders), then try to find the same itinerary on Priceline via Upromise for 2% back. If the mon morning/thurs eve flights are getting pricey, Priceline usually won't even show them because their site won't bring anything back that is significantly more costly than the cheapest routing of the day (usually opposite the times I need to fly). In those cases I can usually find the routing on either Expedia or orbitz for 1% back. Worst case scenario: DL.com

Just checked out ITA - really cool! But: What are the downsides of booking through delta directly? Do you find cheaper (delta) fares on ITA?

My main reason to prefer delta.com is the 24hr cancellation policy, that has been really useful when I change my mind or prices drop.

Corporate travel - I have to book my corporate travel through the corporate TA, and their intranet website.

Thus... I use the ITA tool to find the best DL flight, then open the search results up to determine if any other carrier would be cheaper at the same time. At this point, one of two things happens... 1. If DL is cheaper or within $50 (policy), I go to the travel site and book it. or 2. If DL is more than $50 more... I attempt to identify whether there is a flight on those dates or times that does not have an alternative, and then will even re-evaluate the entire itinerary. Worst case, I'll end up booking on the other carrier, as is policy.

Personal travel - Well, now I use the ITA site to find my flights and then book directly on Delta.com

You can't use the 24 hour rule if booked thru a 3rd party?

Depends on the 3rd party, I'd guess.

My corp travel site lets me "hold" a Rez for 24 hours, instead of the 24 hr cancellation rule. The "hold" even gets a pnr, can get upgrades, and shows up on dl.com.