Vanity - Best sites for air travel

4/5/07 | 4everontheright

[4everontheRight]

Help!! I haven't flown in 6 years!!

[4everontheRight]

The family will be traveling to Alaska this summer for a two week vacation...first one in 6 years. I have looked at several web sites but I wanted the knowledgeable opinion of FReepers. Which site have you found to be:
Cheapest
Fair pricing
Best values
Etc.

Also, are some days better to travel then others?

Any advice is appreciated!!

[Mr. Jeeves]

Just take Alaska Airlines and save yourself the trouble. They are better than any of their competitors on the routes, and have more flights.

[Random Access]

If SAS doesn’t go there, you don’s want to either.

[rhombus]

I find going directly to the airlines works best. If you haven’t flown in 6 years, do me a favor and study up before you go through the security lines. I fly frequently and it is frustrating to be behind clueless people that don’t seem to realize what to do when they get to security.

[stockpirate]

I like to travel to France, where I can see all of the lod actors that left the US after Bush was elected.

[JamesP81]

I’d avoid any travel sites like Orbitz or Expedia. I’ve always found I can get cheaper fares by buying tickets directly from the airline. The web page of the airport you’re flying out of is usually a good place to start.

[goldstategop]

Priceline, Hotwire, CheapTicket and Travelocity. Be aware that with Priceline, bids are only available on "blind" flights - meaning you will NOT know the name of the airline or your flight time until after your bid is accepted. They're still great for scouting out cheap flights though.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[4everontheRight]

For the most part, that is where my husband has looked...Expedia and Travelocity. Their fares didn’t seem that great to me.

[Petronski]

Cheaptickets.com booked both my Europe trips. Working with them is a breeze.

[Gamecock]

http://www.kayak.com

[4everontheRight]

” I fly frequently and it is frustrating to be behind clueless people that don’t seem to realize what to do when they get to security.”

I know exactly what you mean. Probably by the time we travel at the end of June, the rules will have changed again!

[goldstategop]

They're still good for making price comparisons. But you can sometimes get great deals directly from the airline websites. It pays to shop around.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[RockinRight]

Use Orbitz or Travelocity to see what airline is cheapest, then go to the airline’s own site to book it. Orbitz and Travelocity have a few dollars extra they charge to book it through them, but it’s a great tool to use to see who’s the cheapest. ;)

[HardStarboard]

I fly Alaska Airlines - usually up and down the “lower 49” coast. Good airline. There are no great airlines anymore.

Go to their site...AlaskaAir.com and look for the best deal you can get. Then try to better it on something like Travelocity, or Expedia.

Lowest fares are usually on Tuesday thru Thursday. Sometimes Sat or Sunday flights may be lowest.
Get tickets as far ahead as possible - the closer in to
flight day, the higher the fare.

[RockinRight]

Where are you flying from and to?

[goldstategop]

Yep. Sound advice. Priceline is great for snatching up heckuva hotel deals. If saving money is your concern, try bidding. But if you have extensive travel plans, its best to book your trip through a travel agent.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[BARLF]

I’d avoid any travel sites like Orbitz or Expedia. I’ve always found I can get cheaper fares by buying tickets directly from the airline. The web page of the airport you’re flying out of is usually a good place to start.

I've found that to be true.

4ever,have you considered a cruise?

[xjcsa]

If you’re flying to Alaska from South Carolina...probably Delta or United will be your best bet. Try delta.com and united.com. As people have mentioned, Alaska Airlines does a good job, but unless you want to drive to California to catch your flight they won’t do you much good; they don’t fly anywhere near South Carolina.

[alisasny]

I use QIXO.com to get rates. And then go to the actual carrier. The same rates are almost always available less the handle fee QIXO charges. So check it out and get a good idea of how much the flights will cost.

I usually QIXO at different times of the day and over a few week period also before I do buy my tickets.

Enjoy!!!

[JRios1968]

Delta and Alaska Air are mileage plan partner airlines, so you might want to consider linking your plans between Delta and Alaska Air...