Using Orbitz
 

If I book UAL on Orbitz, what am I losing? Do I still get miles? Can I request my E+ seats? What reasons are there for using or not using this service?

You will still get miles, but you'll lose out on the online booking bonus, and you won't be able to view or request E+ seating (you'll have to get them over the phone). There was a related discussion in the TravelBuzz forum last week:

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/009856.html

And don't forget that Orbitz hits you with a nice little $5 service fee!

I find that Orbitz can be great for searching a variety of combinations, but at least 90% of the time I end up booking on united.com for the aforementioned reasons.

Same here. I use Expedia or Travelocity to flight flight combinations (I find the latter extremely helpful. Sometimes it routes me ORD-DEN-LAX-SFO without me asking it) and then use united.com to book.


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When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!

I don't know about Orbitz or Travelocity, but the key to getting E+ seats (if you are Premier) when booking on Expedia is to NOT select specific seats, then when you are ticketed, UA will automatically assign you E+ seats (either window or aisle, depending on what's in your M+ profile). I sometimes find better fares on Expedia when its availability is out of sync with united.com

In any case, if you use Expedia or Travelocity, you might as well just call UA reservations after you book the trip to assign exact seats anyway, rather than chance the random seat assignment by UA.



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When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!

I would second that.

I just did an itinerary that is $405 on ual.com, but $334 on Orbitz and Expedia.

book on Orbitz.

Then wait for the ticket to be issued. This can take 10 - 15 minutes, to several hours or longer for an international trip.

Then call United and get seat assignments etc.

You can go to "My Stuff" on Orbitz and see your ticket number once it's been issued.

I also use Orbitz for searching around for flights, as the airline's system sometimes isn't the best, and if Orbitz has the lower fare compared to the website, then I'll book it on that and make the proper seat arrangements directly with the airline I'm flying. Otherwise it's great for comparitive shopping for leisure flights.

Bought two tickets to Hawaii this week. Orbitz routinely showed mid $500's per ticket. United's website, for the same flights, priced out in the mid $800's......It's Orbitz for me.......

I always check Orbitz first. It is easier navagation, and for certain routes, produces much more favorable fares that UAL.com and the telephone people cannot find.

Beware - If you use Orbitz to book and the fare goes down, they will not issue travel credits for the difference like UA does.

I lost $400 due to this and will never use them again.

I asked UA if they'd take over and issue the credits and they said the agency is responsible.