skip to main content

on-line airline booking

21 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm trying to do all the planning for a multi-city trip in September and the airline sites are driving me crazy! There are flights listed on something like Travelosity that don't seem to be listed on Alaska Air, etc. I don't want to go through an "agent" like Travelosity, but I don't mind picking their electronic brains if it would help sort out my options. Are there any sites that deal with lots of airlines that you folks use? I'm dealing with Los Angeles to Anchorage and then Fairbanks to Seattle to Los Angeles.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

gandbb
21 years ago
I guess I don't understand why you have a problem with Travelocity. I like it. Are people having difficulties with it or is it a questions of principles?
toad_ca
Original Author
21 years ago
Actually, I know very little about these sites. And later in the day, I gave Expedia a try and found what looks like a pretty good deal. So here are my new questions:
1. How much do these folks charge? (couldn't really find that out easily on the site.
2. How do I get seat assignments when their equipment apparently doesn't cover the airlines I'd be using? Can I call the airlines AFTER going through Expedia?
3. Are there any risks with using a secondary site to book a flight?

Thanks for your help!
Related Discussions
Make your own recipe book on line
Q
Comments (3)
Great site and great idea! I have one problem with it though, that background. I found it very difficult to read text on it. It just really bothered me. Thanks for the info. It's a great idea.
...See More
~Bankrupt Airline Bites Local People
Q
Comments (13)
LOL Well, lindsey, obviously it can be done....having an itinerary and not memorizing or committing the airline to membory for four months. My friend also also missed the news about the bankruptcy. That happens on sheep ranches. Even if she had known the name of the airline, it wouldn't have done her any good. Her money was gone and that's a shame. She works very hard for what she earns. I used to have a great travel agent but she retired. She booked our honeymoon, several anniversary trips and the big one to Hawaii on our tenth. But could a really good agent foresee this happening? With the exception of one trip, each was booked several months in advance for the best savings. We've considered booking an Alaskan cruise for early next fall but now I don't know. With the rising cost of not just fuel but everything else, even the most solvent airline could be out of business in just a few months. What's the name of your agent IG? Would she book for a person clean across the country? LOL Lori
...See More
Do I have any airline recourse?
Q
Comments (38)
true.. but this isn't your typical destination. A few years ago the number of visitors was wayyyy lower.. now it's a primo destination. A lot of the origination markets are new-- and still finding the schedule sweet spot to stay profitable and also manage crews, fleet and maintenance .. and minimize operational delays and cancellations-- again, it's not as simple as you'd think-- especially when so many origination cities have limited flights. I know it is frustrating-- but it's not like flying to London.. or even Cusco. Glad you were able to make it work with your reservations. Who knows, maybe that extra day will make your trip! Maybe you'll find a special restaurant or fit in an extra day trip or see a rare bird.. whatever! I know you like to turn negatives into positives..
...See More
PLAY airlines review
Q
Comments (18)
K- We'll be waiting for your trip report too. Welcome back! I was doing a lot of weekend trips to CA and Frontier had great prices and times and direct flights from Denver so I often picked them. But I got so disgusted with Frontier's treatment of people at the gate that I did some research about it. Apparently, some of the gate people at Frontier are contract employees and get a cut if they find a non-compliant bag that needs to be checked. That's why some gates are very lax about bag rules and others ding people when the bag is an inch too big. I expect low frills when I pay for a low fare but don't expect to watch people get abused while I am boarding a flight. It's especially galling watching gate agents yell and finger-wag at people who are clearly not seasoned travelers.
...See More
Gina_W
21 years ago
I've been booking online for years - that the only way I do it anymore. I use cheaptickets.com.

None of them charge you anything, just like a travel agent would not.

There aren't any risks as far as I'm concerned. Just use one of the major travel sites like Travelocity, Expedia, etc.

Any way you book a flight is going to go through an online computer system, whether it's through a ticket desk at the airport, by phone to the airline, with an agent, or through an online service. In all of the cases, I would call the airline directly to confirm your reservation a day or so later. You can find out about seat assigning at that time.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Home Style: Enhance the Lines You Have

Make the most of your home's best features by extending lines, reinforcing shapes and continuing curves

DECORATING GUIDES On Trend: Home Decor That Draws the Line

By Mari Richards

And what a bold, graphic line it is. This abstract and geometrical art, furnishings and accessories will stop you in your tracks

EXTERIORS Where Front Yards Collide: Property Lines in Pictures

By Mitchell Parker

Some could be twins; others channel the Odd Couple. You may never look at property boundaries the same way again

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Brick, Wood and Clean White Lines

By Becky Harris

A family kitchen retains its original brick but adds an eat-in area and bright new cabinets

VACATION HOMES Houzz Tour: Clean Lines and Whimsy in a Rustic Ski House

By Becky Harris

Contemporary furnishings and whimsical accessories lighten up a Western-style vacation home in Wyoming

FLOORS Floors Blur the Line Between Inside and Out

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

Feel the Magic of a Floor That Seems to Flow Right Outside

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: Strong, Modern Lines Stand Up to the Trees

By Mary Jo Bowling

Modernism takes kindly to the New York woods, with double-height ceilings for openness and a burbling creek for music

KITCHEN DESIGN Bright Modern Kitchen With Smooth Lines and a Relaxed Vibe

A peninsula separates zones in this open-plan family kitchen and dining area with a streamlined design

REMODELING GUIDES Style Update: Tile Gets in Line

By Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

Install Your Tile in a 'Stacked Bond' Grid for an Clean, Modern Look

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Clean-Lined and Casually Coastal

By Becky Harris

New Pieces, Weathered Accents and Collections Create a Beachy Vibe

Sponsored

17 Reviews

The Leading Interior Design Studio in Franklin County