I use all the sites you mentioned to compare prices but do not book through them. My preferred airline is Jetblue as we collect points there but if I can get better value on another airline, I will go with them. At this point in life, I am more for comfort and convenience.

I had issues with Expedia.

FWIW, in the past many years it seems harder to get a true deal.

I am hoping someone here has a trick to share to prove otherwise.

We had a snafu in Europe on a flight we had booked through expedia. The airline wasn't very helpful as it had been booked third party (Expedia). That was the last time we used one of those sites. Now we try to fly American for the miles and because it has a Philly hub. We book directly from the airlines. The prices seem to be the same.

Go directly to the airline. I have never ever used a travel agent.

Expedia adds a layer that can be a pain if there is an issue or you want to change, etc. That said i think they do show 1st class flights ... they may simply not be avail.

If IIRC you were doing BOS to ABQ w a stop; would not surprise me if there is no 1st on that route. Go Jetblue and get the xtra leg rm seats. Those are not bad. But IIRC they only have Mint, their 1st, transcontinentally and NY-FL.

Another option when it's all coach is buy an extra seat so you have 3 across. Not the same as legroom but can help.

There is no drawback with booking directly with the airline, but there can be many when you insert a third party into the transaction. Check out the TripAdvisor Air Travel forum for some eye opening information about online ticket sellers.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g1-i10702-Air_Travel.html

Ditto many above - use Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak as information but book through the airline and with the hotel if you are not using Airbnb. We had an issue with a hotel when we booked with Expedia and IIRC the savings for the headache was maybe $20/night - not worth it in hindsight.

I always book directly with the airline, as it's my understanding you'll have far greater customer service (and recourse) should anything go wrong. I'm currently in the midst of an argument over the legal connection time through Chicago O'Hare with Icelandair, and even if you do book directly with the airline, you can often count on them not giving an inch in matters of dispute. (I HATE dealing with the airlines; customer service absolutely stinks these days, but I'd rather deal directly than try to sort something out with an Expedia rep.)

Ten years ago or so, was getting on a plane and had the lovely back wall, by the bathroom, we don't recline seats. I made some comment and there was a steward standing nearby. He said "Bet you booked through ............." Well yes I had and that's what I got! The back row non-reclining seats.

Now I go through the airlines. Lesson learned.

I use Kayak to check prices and then book directly through the airline. Actually, I use Booking.com, but that site takes you directly to the airlines' sites for booking flights. It's different when booking hotels or rental cars.

We also book directly with the airlines, online has worked for us.

For hotels, we seem to get better prices and rooms by calling (using an actual telephone) and talking to the reservations person at the location where we will be staying.

I used a travel agent in the mid-90s to book for a trip to Scotland.

But that was then, and overseas.

These days I go directly to the airline.

Like most others, I get my flight info from Expedia and then book through the airline. I also check Seatguru so I don’t get the non-reclining seat in the back.

Actually, I am forgetting. I have also used Plat Amex a lot because of the free upgrades, and sometimes 2for1 biz or 1st, those kinds of things. They were always excellent. Instead of being an obstructionist additional layer when there was an issue, they dealt with the headaches when there was an issue and saved us the bother. I even had someone I worked with frequently and emailed her directly. So if you like having that service, you may consider it.

No other I’d consider first but Southwest Airlines

Thanks everyone! You confirmed what I was thinking — better to go directly to the airline. I have used Expedia once or twice without a problem, but I was probably just lucky.

Always direct through the airline’s website.

I used Expedia once, and NEVER, EVER again would I use that site. I also used SWA vacations and they never booked the hotel room- that was a major mess. If I hadn't called to confirm the hotel room a week before, I wouldn't have known there was no room available! SWA employs a second? or third? party that handles its hotel and car reservations. You are on your own if there is a problem. I have had good luck with Costco vacation packages. But, for the most part, I book my own vacations through the airlines and hotels.

I mostly use the airline websites. Even booking for China a couple of years ago, I was able to do it very easily on the Delta website and coordinate with the other people who were going on the trip. Last I used a travel agent for a major trip was when I went to Australia in mid-2000's. We had a specific date we needed to be in Melbourne and then there was a visa involved, but he took care of that. IIRC he was able to find us some extras for us and we also visited Sydney and Uluru.

A happy update to my issue with Icelandair: I received voicemail messages from two different people during the night, advising that they would place us on the later connecting flight at ORD with no change fee. The duty supervisor with whom I've been emailing even said, "Just email me to confirm, and you already have my email since we've been communicating." This is exactly why I always deal with the airline directly. As frustrating as it can be, at least you're communicating with those employed directly by the airline, and not a third-party vendor. It does seem to matter, in my experience.

I book directly with the airline, mostly United. I've had bad experiences with Expedia and hotels and airlines "missing" confirmations, so I've stopped using secondary sites.