Where do you book your flights and why?
Sep 14, 2006 | 9:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Where do you book your flights and why?
I figure there are three types of online bookers:
1) Search Orbitz, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc and book there
2) Search Orbitz, etc but book at airline specific website
3) Search directly at airline website and book there
Which group are you and why (lower fares, package deals, no reservation fee, bonus miles, loyalty program, convenience/direct, selecting seats, promotions, etc)?
I'm in a marketing class and would appreciate your candidness.
1) Search Orbitz, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc and book there
2) Search Orbitz, etc but book at airline specific website
3) Search directly at airline website and book there
Which group are you and why (lower fares, package deals, no reservation fee, bonus miles, loyalty program, convenience/direct, selecting seats, promotions, etc)?
I'm in a marketing class and would appreciate your candidness.
Sep 14, 2006 | 10:12 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 218
Number 2
I use search engines to identify airlines, routes and fare information for the destination I am looking for.
Once I identify which airlines I prefer, I go to the specific airlines to book.
Just my preference, I could afford a booking fee but don't see the point.
Short
Once I identify which airlines I prefer, I go to the specific airlines to book.
Just my preference, I could afford a booking fee but don't see the point.
Short
Sep 14, 2006 | 10:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Westminster, Co
Programs: UA-2P
Posts: 77
Originally Posted by Michelle1380
I figure there are three types of online bookers:
1) Search Orbitz, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc and book there
2) Search Orbitz, etc but book at airline specific website
3) Search directly at airline website and book there
Which group are you and why (lower fares, package deals, no reservation fee, bonus miles, loyalty program, convenience/direct, selecting seats, promotions, etc)?
I'm in a marketing class and would appreciate your candidness.
1) Search Orbitz, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc and book there
2) Search Orbitz, etc but book at airline specific website
3) Search directly at airline website and book there
Which group are you and why (lower fares, package deals, no reservation fee, bonus miles, loyalty program, convenience/direct, selecting seats, promotions, etc)?
I'm in a marketing class and would appreciate your candidness.
I prefer to do buz direct with the airline, and earn as many miles as I can, plus the convenience of not having a 3rd party.
Sep 14, 2006 | 11:00 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,185
I always search with ITA first since it has the most powerful searches, then I book directly on united.com. (Yes, I'm committed. Or should be...)
Sep 14, 2006 | 11:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SEA and TUS
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UAL 1K 2MM, AA Million Mile Gold
Posts: 188
ITA then UA
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
I always search with ITA first since it has the most powerful searches, then I book directly on united.com. (Yes, I'm committed. Or should be...)
I do the same but it's hard to always get the same fares to come up out of UA as ITA.
I wish we could book through ITA
Sep 14, 2006 | 11:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 48
Originally Posted by redwall850
I use search engines to identify airlines, routes and fare information for the destination I am looking for.
Once I identify which airlines I prefer, I go to the specific airlines to book.
Just my preference, I could afford a booking fee but don't see the point.
Short
Once I identify which airlines I prefer, I go to the specific airlines to book.
Just my preference, I could afford a booking fee but don't see the point.
Short
I do the exact same thing. Plus, when I book on Delta's website I get a 500 mile bonus.
Sep 14, 2006 | 11:15 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: DL estranged 1MMer and lifetime gold, F9/CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat now dust, Spirit RIP
Posts: 42,202
I think the first choice for a lot of people is the airline's site, not as much for fee avoidance as for mileage and other bennies tied to site use. Even airlines like NW that aren't giving direct bonuses anymore are doing collect-and-win promos over time where the online bookings or check-ins are sometimes rewarded.
Sometimes, though, the airline site won't give you all the real options. UA is notorious for this. I used to book on Expedia more often than not for them.
Sometimes, though, the airline site won't give you all the real options. UA is notorious for this. I used to book on Expedia more often than not for them.
Sep 15, 2006 | 7:54 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Million Miler (Lifetime Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,533
I'm almost exclusively in group #3. Once in a while I'll use Travelocity or Orbitz to get an overview of prices, but almost always I just watch fares at united.com and book there. Since I fly UA unless it doesn't take me somewhere (which is rare), I stick to that Web site. I get 250 mypoints, extra EQMs for paying with UA Visa online, and UA booking bonus. So why book elsewhere?
Sep 15, 2006 | 9:30 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Most of them
Posts: 369
If domestic I login to CO, book there if reasonable.
Most $ spent overseas and I call Air Brokers International. Sharon gets me the bottom line on how cheap I can do business class. Then I try to get BA or CO or similar to get there and depending on the cost differential make my call.
I guess I don;t fit in any of the above.
Most $ spent overseas and I call Air Brokers International. Sharon gets me the bottom line on how cheap I can do business class. Then I try to get BA or CO or similar to get there and depending on the cost differential make my call.
I guess I don;t fit in any of the above.
Sep 15, 2006 | 10:19 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: dfw
Posts: 163
i do the same. however, if multiple carries/legs involved i may end up to purchase from expedia... to make them fit best to my travel plan.
Originally Posted by redwall850
I use search engines to identify airlines, routes and fare information for the destination I am looking for.
Once I identify which airlines I prefer, I go to the specific airlines to book.
Just my preference, I could afford a booking fee but don't see the point.
Short
Once I identify which airlines I prefer, I go to the specific airlines to book.
Just my preference, I could afford a booking fee but don't see the point.
Short
Last edited by chrisaa; Sep 15, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Sep 15, 2006 | 10:37 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SORT OF HOMELESS
Programs: 14 years AA exp, but no more; & 1MM+, QR-PLT (ow EMD) MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 8,104
#2 for me
I do the search everywhere, ultimately book direct on chosen airline web site. Get bonus miles for booking online is main reason. Avoid commission (if applicable) another.
Sep 15, 2006 | 10:47 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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Posts: 31,670
Originally Posted by Michelle1380
I figure there are three types of online bookers:
1) Search Orbitz, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc and book there
2) Search Orbitz, etc but book at airline specific website
3) Search directly at airline website and book there
Which group are you and why (lower fares, package deals, no reservation fee, bonus miles, loyalty program, convenience/direct, selecting seats, promotions, etc)?
I'm in a marketing class and would appreciate your candidness.
1) Search Orbitz, Travelocity, Sidestep, etc and book there
2) Search Orbitz, etc but book at airline specific website
3) Search directly at airline website and book there
Which group are you and why (lower fares, package deals, no reservation fee, bonus miles, loyalty program, convenience/direct, selecting seats, promotions, etc)?
I'm in a marketing class and would appreciate your candidness.
For personal travel, I usually do 2, unless there is a multi-airline combination that is cheaper/more convenient, then I do 1. Mostly to avoid Orbitz add-on fees.
Sep 15, 2006 | 11:12 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,469
1. Check prices Kayak.com
2. Validate prices on .bomb
3. Book wherever it is the cheapest
I find that the search engines do a better job of finding alternate pricing for the same flights. Most recent example...
SEA-SFO-MUC-IAD-SEA w/ UA flight #s is pricing around $800.
But this itinerary found on the search engines (orbitz & t'locity)
SEA-SFO (LH#/UAmetal)
SFO-MUC (LH#&metal)
MUC-IAD (LH#/UAmetal)
IAD-SEA (UA#&metal)
prices @ $604.
I'm ok w/o the 1000 mile online booking bonus. Seems like a nobrainer to me.
2. Validate prices on .bomb
3. Book wherever it is the cheapest
I find that the search engines do a better job of finding alternate pricing for the same flights. Most recent example...
SEA-SFO-MUC-IAD-SEA w/ UA flight #s is pricing around $800.
But this itinerary found on the search engines (orbitz & t'locity)
SEA-SFO (LH#/UAmetal)
SFO-MUC (LH#&metal)
MUC-IAD (LH#/UAmetal)
IAD-SEA (UA#&metal)
prices @ $604.
I'm ok w/o the 1000 mile online booking bonus. Seems like a nobrainer to me.