What is the best way to find airfare?

[stunna]

I'm sure this has been posted in different forms so I apologize if this is redundant. I have noticed some really great deals for resorts at various locations. However, when looking at flight costs, those have really seemed to offset the resort deals. I was wondering if there was any recommendation, outside of just checking a specific airline website, that may provide some good "reasonable" options. When traveling with a family, those airline costs just really seem to add up.

 

[WVMike]

I'm sure this has been posted in different forms so I apologize if this is redundant. I have noticed some really great deals for resorts at various locations. However, when looking at flight costs, those have really seemed to offset the resort deals. I was wondering if there was any recommendation, outside of just checking a specific airline website, that may provide some good "reasonable" options. When traveling with a family, those airline costs just really seem to add up.

I use Expedia.com. It gives you lots of options, plus you can also rent cars and hotels, and other stuff. There are a bunch of other websites that you can use, just try a google search on airfare.

 

[cmburch]

I use Travelocity.com

Set up an airfare tracker that e-mails when the fare changes by a specified dollar amount.

Also the ability to seach for lowest fares to a destination and the cheapest days to travel by looking at a calendar.

I also use them for comparing rental cars at different airports.

 

[DandyDon]

I'm sure this has been posted in different forms so I apologize if this is redundant. I have noticed some really great deals for resorts at various locations. However, when looking at flight costs, those have really seemed to offset the resort deals. I was wondering if there was any recommendation, outside of just checking a specific airline website, that may provide some good "reasonable" options. When traveling with a family, those airline costs just really seem to add up.

Good question actually as the answer changes....

Do you know how to open several Tabs on your browser? That may be a dumb question, but I didn't for a long time and I've known others. Very helpful tool.

Shopping the airline sites is probly the worst approach really. They used to track your cookies and bump the fares if you kept checking different dates, etc, then coming back - leading to panicked buys. They got worse tho as clearing airline cookies is no longer enough. They have sinister programs to ID your computer by a variety of things, like your chosen browser, applications, etc. Yeah, they are invasive, but legal. Check the airline sites for possible flights but be leery of fares. *

I don't like Expedia or Travelocity from my experiences and I have shopped extensively for myself and helping others. But then I don't trust any one site.

My primary source for shopping is Sidestep.com/Kayak.com, same site really, same log-in info once you register, and they do not seem to use your past searches against you as you continue to look at choices. They will search Expedia, Travelocity and several others, opening results on additional Windows on your Taskbar (wish they opened more Tabs instead), then give you a number of choices on their site - very often linking to the selected itinerary on the airline's site. That's how I first caught Continental bumping fares: Continental.com showed lowest fare at X$, then Sidesteop showed me the same itinerary at X-$100 and linked me to it on Continental.com which the latter had hidden from me.

But look on the airline site, Expedia on another Tab, Travelocity on another Tab, Orbitz on another, etc. Compare many, and then...

* Right before you are about to book, call the airline. Let the phone agent look as they are not held to the sinister programs their computers use, really. If they find you a cheaper fare for what you want and saves you enough to pay their fees, buy there. If not, say thanks and book yourself.

When you shop Sidestep, look at all of the options, including nearby airports, unchecking overnight itineraries, etc. You have a lot of controls, but learn to use them. If you are not ready to buy, set up daily email fare reports. Oh and don't believe them on their locations of hotels as they use Google maps and often are very wrong.

Give that a try and let us know what happens...?

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

I'm a fan of kayak.com , which allows you to compare several online 'quotes' for airfares: not just prices quoted by the airlines themselves, but also those offered by Expedia etc. I've also found some good deals on Faremax: Cheap Airline Tickets. Millions of Web-Only Airfares. .

 

[diver 85]

kayak.com.......start there.....

 

[scubamarketing]

Another vote for Kayak.com here, fast, easy to use and tons of options.

 

[diversteve]

I recently found this site. Matrix - ITA Software

ITA is a data aggregator for most domestic airlines, Kayak, Orbitz and others.
You can't book travel on the site but it will generate info that you can take to an airline or travel agent.

And there's an app for that also.

Google just paid $700 million for them. Facts about Google's acquisition of ITA Software

 

[koozemani]

I haven't had the oportunity to use kayak.com, but I generally use expedia. With expedia, lookup their rates first before moving on to other travel sites. Eventually when you come back to expedia, you'll notice that their prices have changed to match the best price found during your search. I was specificall looking at hotels when i noticed this.

If you can travel on short notice, I've seen some smoking package deals through Costco of all places.

 

[stunna]

Good question actually as the answer changes....

Do you know how to open several Tabs on your browser? That may be a dumb question, but I didn't for a long time and I've known others. Very helpful tool.

Shopping the airline sites is probly the worst approach really. They used to track your cookies and bump the fares if you kept checking different dates, etc, then coming back - leading to panicked buys. They got worse tho as clearing airline cookies is no longer enough. They have sinister programs to ID your computer by a variety of things, like your chosen browser, applications, etc. Yeah, they are invasive, but legal. Check the airline sites for possible flights but be leery of fares. *

I don't like Expedia or Travelocity from my experiences and I have shopped extensively for myself and helping others. But then I don't trust any one site.

My primary source for shopping is Sidestep.com/Kayak.com, same site really, same log-in info once you register, and they do not seem to use your past searches against you as you continue to look at choices. They will search Expedia, Travelocity and several others, opening results on additional Windows on your Taskbar (wish they opened more Tabs instead), then give you a number of choices on their site - very often linking to the selected itinerary on the airline's site. That's how I first caught Continental bumping fares: Continental.com showed lowest fare at X$, then Sidesteop showed me the same itinerary at X-$100 and linked me to it on Continental.com which the latter had hidden from me.

But look on the airline site, Expedia on another Tab, Travelocity on another Tab, Orbitz on another, etc. Compare many, and then...

* Right before you are about to book, call the airline. Let the phone agent look as they are not held to the sinister programs their computers use, really. If they find you a cheaper fare for what you want and saves you enough to pay their fees, buy there. If not, say thanks and book yourself.

When you shop Sidestep, look at all of the options, including nearby airports, unchecking overnight itineraries, etc. You have a lot of controls, but learn to use them. If you are not ready to buy, set up daily email fare reports. Oh and don't believe them on their locations of hotels as they use Google maps and often are very wrong.

Give that a try and let us know what happens...?

Thanks for the information. I must say that I most likely fell victim in the past as I watched airline fares go up and panicked. Mostly I travel with Delta and over the past years, I have noticed their fares steadily rising along with using Frequent Flyer Miles. Thanks to all about some of the other sites. I have looked before on travelocity but I had never heard of Kayak or some of the others. I just find it a shame that one can stay at a resort for a week which includes food and scuba diving, and yet the flight to and from is almost twice that cost.