Your Weapon of Choice?
Jan 26, 2000 | 12:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Ashburn, VA (IAD/DCA/BWI)
Posts: 2,757
Your Weapon of Choice?
Which web reservation system do you use most often?
In my case most of online reservation were made at Yahoo/Travelocity and PreviewTravel. Whenever possible, I tried to use airlines website but I often found lower fares elsewhere. For example, I'm currently shopping for IAD-CDG tickets; UA site came up with $527 fare but I found $367 on both PreviewTravel and Travelocity. Extra bonus miles are nice but...
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"It is not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do, that makes life blessed." - Goethe
In my case most of online reservation were made at Yahoo/Travelocity and PreviewTravel. Whenever possible, I tried to use airlines website but I often found lower fares elsewhere. For example, I'm currently shopping for IAD-CDG tickets; UA site came up with $527 fare but I found $367 on both PreviewTravel and Travelocity. Extra bonus miles are nice but...
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"It is not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do, that makes life blessed." - Goethe
Jan 26, 2000 | 12:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 284
I always use Expedia UK. Travelocity UK is a joke, IMHO. 9 times out of 10 the same flight on Travelocity is up to 15% less on Expedia UK.
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Mark
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - Dr Martin Luther King Jr
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Mark
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Jan 26, 2000 | 4:35 pm
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: St Petersburg, FL, USA
Posts: 2,276
I haven't found anything as good as United Connection (the software version) in terms of speed or number of choices. For those who have used it, is anything on the web comparable?
Unfortunately I think it will be killed off very soon. Probably because it's _too_ useful.
Unfortunately I think it will be killed off very soon. Probably because it's _too_ useful.
Jan 26, 2000 | 4:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Posts: 181
Gosh, I miss Easy Saabre!
I had been using it for years, back when it was an offering on compuserve that I used to access at 300 a minute!
Travelocity is meant to be 'son of easy saabre,' but doesn't do it for me.
Like others here, i tend to use Expedia or Travelocity, then bring up the airlines own website to book so that I can get stuff like bonuses and upgrades.
Sometimes I get a better fare on the airlines site (like internet only sales on Delta), a few times a worse fare, but most often, it's exactly the same.
I had been using it for years, back when it was an offering on compuserve that I used to access at 300 a minute!
Travelocity is meant to be 'son of easy saabre,' but doesn't do it for me.
Like others here, i tend to use Expedia or Travelocity, then bring up the airlines own website to book so that I can get stuff like bonuses and upgrades.
Sometimes I get a better fare on the airlines site (like internet only sales on Delta), a few times a worse fare, but most often, it's exactly the same.
Jan 26, 2000 | 5:30 pm
#6
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,009
DH,
I've been noticing that recently, SABRE has been bringing back fares basis to Europe on UA that UA reservations have no record of.
An example is LGA-MUC via IAD. Lowest on UA was $370 in a V booking code. SABRE was bringing back $330 in a W booking code for the same flights. When I called UA about a W fare, they said none existed. I then made a reservation on travelocity using the W fare and called UA back with the record locator to inquire about the fare rules. Again, they said they couldn't find the W fare and even told me that it must be a consolidator fare. Needless to say, I purchased with SABRE instead.
I've been noticing that recently, SABRE has been bringing back fares basis to Europe on UA that UA reservations have no record of.
An example is LGA-MUC via IAD. Lowest on UA was $370 in a V booking code. SABRE was bringing back $330 in a W booking code for the same flights. When I called UA about a W fare, they said none existed. I then made a reservation on travelocity using the W fare and called UA back with the record locator to inquire about the fare rules. Again, they said they couldn't find the W fare and even told me that it must be a consolidator fare. Needless to say, I purchased with SABRE instead.
Jan 26, 2000 | 6:24 pm
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,496
Oh you got one of those acrylic mugs with the candies too?
I'd rather see booking by fare class like its predecessor EasySabre had, but for now Travelocity then Expedia, then AC Personal Ticket Office which I will likely use more once they introduce (they promised!) booking by fare class next month (my fingers are crossed but I'm not holding my breath).
I'd rather see booking by fare class like its predecessor EasySabre had, but for now Travelocity then Expedia, then AC Personal Ticket Office which I will likely use more once they introduce (they promised!) booking by fare class next month (my fingers are crossed but I'm not holding my breath).
Jan 31, 2000 | 1:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Programs: Delta DM 1MM, Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 315
I use yahoo travel ( http://www.travel.yahoo.com )most often. If traveling on a budget or self-employed like me and pay your own tickets, its domestic fare finder that tells you the choices by price and shows you calenders with your possible dates is nice. In response to you question about price DH, I had an airline reservation agent on the phone tell me that Travelocity (and perhaps others?) bulk buys some tickets and so they can sometimes offer a better price then calling the airline direct. If you find a flight you like on an airline that offers a bonus for online booking check if the price is the same there and use that service.
[This message has been edited by The Mile Dog (edited 01-31-2000).]
[This message has been edited by The Mile Dog (edited 01-31-2000).]
Jan 31, 2000 | 3:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Million Miler (mostly earned on CO)
Posts: 2,599
Like QuietLion, I use the web services to price shop. Then, if there's a bonus for booking over the web, I do so; otherwise, I call the reservations line.
I use Expedia, Travelocity, and ITN about equally.
I booked a number of tickets using Continental e-service last year and had problems on several occasions. I seem to have better luck over the phone.
I use Expedia, Travelocity, and ITN about equally.
I booked a number of tickets using Continental e-service last year and had problems on several occasions. I seem to have better luck over the phone.
Jan 31, 2000 | 3:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
Airfares: Travelocity to find the cheapest fare, then CO to book it.
Hotels: 50% Travelocity, 50% Call directly.
Car Rental: 50% Travelocity, 50% CO.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Hotels: 50% Travelocity, 50% Call directly.
Car Rental: 50% Travelocity, 50% CO.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Jan 31, 2000 | 3:17 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
I've been trying to find a web site that will allow me to originate in TLV stop in NY for a couple of weeks to and from LA. All the sites I found gives same day connecting flights since all it asks is where you'll start and to where do you want to go. If I break it up I don't get a thru fare price but it comes back as 2seprate rt's.Anyone have any suggestions, or yourself have done it?