whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

havent done so in so long....obviously i need a vacation


also, is it true about better deals on tuesdays?

TIA

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

Where are you flying? I pretty much always book Jetblue when flying between NY and FL, they seem to have the best prices when I price around. Also, yes I have seen prices are the best on tuesdays.

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

vegas, baby!

ok, ill look tuesday.. and do you book directly through jetblue or on another travel site?

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

people have told me to use kayak.com cause it searches a buch sites so you can see what the best deal is.

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

Check Tuesdays after 3...I would try Southwest and Jetblue.

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

I usually use Kayak to compare flights and then book directly from the airline.

Kayak does not pull Southwest though so you will have to look at them separately.

Keep in mind that JetBlue allows one free bag per person and Southwest allows two - if you are checking a bag on another airline it will add about $50 to your airfare... (I've made this mistake before!)

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

I do a couple of things. Yes airfare typically is cheaper on Tuesday night wed morning. But it can depend.

I do a few things - I always end up booking directly through the airline - but I price out on expedia, kayak.com and I go to each airline.

I find say for disney for example that I check - jetblue, delta and southwest. The past 2 trips - Delta was the cheapest for the 1st (there weren't bag charges then I don't think), the 2nd trip jet blue was the cheapest. We were thinking of going this august but switched to a cruise instead - but I found that southwest repeatedly came in cheaper than the other lines. (this time for example - it was $950 or so to MCO from islip - but jet blue and the other lines wanted $1350 + and that didn't include the luggage charges).

One thing to make sure you factor in - extra charges.

With major lines like delta you have no luggage allowance - so you need to figure out how much you think you will bring and factor that into the bottom line cost.

Jet blue allows one checked bag - so again if you think you will bring more than one checked you should figure that into your cost.

Finally southwest you don't pay for bags at this time - you get 2 free - BUT - if you want that earlybird check in where they check in for you - that is $10 per person per leg of your flight - so figure for 2 that is an extra $20-40 depending on if you only want it going down or back (you don't have to do this at all but some people like it so they don't have to stress about checking in at the 24 hour mark).

Some other things to consider - some lines - charge extra for more leg room, preferred seats etc. So make sure you look at all those charges when comparing prices.

The nice thing that just recently went through is that now airlines have to show the total price - so before it would say $99 one way and $150 return - BUT those fares didn't include all the taxes and charges. Now you will see the price each way that includes all charges.

Keep in mind that places like expedia etc do charge a small fee to book with them. Additionally if you have to change your flight etc - I am pretty sure you have to go through them whereas if say your flight is changed by the airline you can go straight through the airline to make the change. I haven't found the major sites to be much cheaper than booking directly through the airline - but that is why you do have to shop around etc.

Message edited 2/24/2012 9:51:43 AM.

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

I search all the big ones:

hotels.com
Expedia
applevacations
cheap caribbean
orbitz
travelocity
priceline
hotwire
etc.

I booked a trip earlier this week. I had been keeping an eye on prices and expedia and hotels.com (same company and prices) were consistently cheaper than the other sites. For example, our trip was consistently $300+ cheaper on there than the other travel sites. Maybe they ahd a good deal with that specific location.

Also check out kayak.com

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

thanks everyone...very helpful!

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?

I also LOVE Jetblue. I always try to book on them!! If i'm going on vacation I first look at the destinations THEY fly to then decide on where I'm going to go!!

If not Jetblue; I check Kayak; and travelocity. However I always book directly through the airlines. I prefer dealing w/them as far as pricing.

Re: whats the best way (website) to book airline tickets?